Despite the wide acceptance of GHWB's "Americans with Disabilities Act," most Americans, or an increasing number, it seems, are not really "comfortable" around the handicapped and have no interest in saving their lives or getting them therpy. I wonder what GHWB had in mind when he signed that disabilities law. Obviously, it is meaningless (ignored by both his sons in this case) and an unfunded mandate on business.
I used to regularly visit a nursing home as part of a church group. We would have children with us often, but as the children grew into teenagers, being around the frail older people began to disturb them, and they would stop coming...the reminder of mortality was just too much, I guess.
The same is with people who are sick and handicapped. We don't want to be in that condition so we try to ignore it away...but it is part of the human condition.
Life is God's gift. It's not always joyful, or fun, or pleasant. It is often painful, sad, grieving, HARD. But it's the journey, how we use it, that matters. And that matters whether you are brilliant or simple. It matters that there are people in need for others to care for. It matters that there are people to care for people in need.
Denying it doesn't change the reality.
But it can surely impact our moral choices for the worst.