Physically Disabled in the so-called Third World

The World's Worst place to be Disabled

I think I could write a ton on this video. There is so much more going on than just how bad these people are treated. There's first world white wealth and crushing African poverty. The picture says a lot already. There's the west telling others how they should be doing things.  There's religion being misused for wealth generation (or is that the real point of religion along with control of course). 

And a ton of questions... 

1) How much danger did this woman put herself in, knowingly or unknowingly? 

2) Did she consider what would happen to these people after she talked to them? 

3) What was her goal? 

4) Does she know what white privilege is?  (How would this be viewed if presented by a poor African?) 

 5) What are other countries like? 

6) The world's best place to be disabled?

I'm not asking to be critical. These are just a few questions that popped into my mind as I watched this. 

TANGENT   

What is the point of prayer to an all powerful all-knowing all loving God? Doesn't he / she know what you need long before you even think to ask? I'm an agnostic. If there is a such thing as a CAPITAL-G god, they must be so far removed from what we are taught, its not even funny.      

Help with Independent Living (North Carolina)

North Carolina Independent Living Counsel 

Not in North Carolina? No worry, your state should have something similar. 

Joy A. Shabazz Center for Disability Rights  

Piedmont Triad area North Carolina. 

If you can think for yourself, you can do for yourself. And the cool thing is you don't have to go it alone. There are others willing and able to help out. Looking at the unemployment and poverty numbers for those with physical disabilities and doing nothing is simply not acceptable. People, we have to do better than this. I'm working with the two groups listed above. Now, what can you do? What are you going to do?

End poverty prison now!

 

Readings 8.11.15

Ward Foley (Scarman)

 

Beyond Legal Protections 

Paul Longmore

A Ragged Edge Online

More Choice!

The arrow of time only goes one way. Let's see; infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adult, middle age and old age. I may have left some out but you got the idea. A lifespan only runs one way. There are two paths I'm thinking of here. One, let's call the Hotdog Bites in Your Pizza Crust Path. The other, The Salad Eaters Path. Now, the Hotdog Bites in Your Pizza Crust Path at first sounds like a lot of fun! All the yummy fat grams, salt, carbs and what ever the hell else is in hotdogs is right tasty, I admit. Now I'm just to old for Hotdog Bites in Your Pizza Crust Path. Just typing these words make my arteries harden and constrict a little. But yeah, I love beer, bread and red meat just as much as the next bloke. But I can see where this leads and you can too. Look around the next time you are out and about. All of those people who are so large they can hardly walk, the laboring breathers who could barely climb a stair case and struggle just to get out of a car or minivan are headed for a very hard and expensive old age. I'm not making fun of overweight people, that's not the point. It is a simple truth. Eating a high fat content diet leads to obesity and all the baggage that goes along with it. Consider The Salad Eater's Path.       

The Salad Eater's Path is simply eating healthy. For me, this does not mean being a radical vegan who gets all offended when a friend orders a hamburger. I see it as balance and moderation in what I eat. You know, just go easy on the meat and starchy stuff and more heavy on the fruit and veggies. I try and go organic when possible. What good is a healthy diet composed of carcinogenic herbicides and pesticides? Sure, those taking The Salad Eater's Path mat get diagnosed with something terrible and sometimes even drop dead despite a healthy diet. And the occasional lucky fool survives a horrific car crash because he or she was NOT wearing a seat belt. Life is about risk management. Basically, The Salad Eater's Path is just a lot less risky. To reduce the risk of a terrible old age, add exercise. So far this is pretty general and applies to everyone. Look here. Add a physical disability into the mix and things change.

Now as a person with a physical disability, I think the two paths have a multiplier effect. The Hotdog Bites in Your Pizza Crust Path I feel is going to age me much faster. I'll be able to do less and less for myself the longer I'm going down this tasty trail. The last things I need are insulin shots and oxygen tanks. I don't want to be what paramedics refer to as a human train wreck and you don't either. I want to keep the independence and mobility I have as long as possible. You should too. The sun will still come up tomorrow if I get a big Mac and wash it down with a coke. But If I do it two or three times a week, I'm officially on The Hotdog Bites in Your Pizza Crust Path. For me, this is okay once every few months. That's probably still too much. I never said I was perfect. I like you, dear reader, am a work in progress.                 

arm powered roscooter.

Ask yourself this question. Would 65 year old you thank you for your diet choice or slap you silly? Try to make the right choice.