They Call Them Retarded?

[The Crusader]

They Call Them Retarded?

And they call some of these people "retarded"...A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry.
The other eight heard the boy cry.  They slowed down and looked back.
Then... they all turned around and went back......every one of them.
One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said,"This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why?
Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

[sincereheart]

What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

 

[JudgeNot]

Thanks for the story, Crusader.
My younger brother – he’s now 44, has cerebral palsy - he has never walked, has to be fed, bathed, etc. and has the basic mentality of a 4-year old.  Over the years I’ve been involved in Special Olympics from time to time and I can attest that your story speaks the truth of these individuals and their larger than life hearts.

We can certainly learn a lot from the “retarded”: those whom some in this world would abort or euthanize.  

[Willowbirch]

Our 30-year-old friend is retarded; her mind functions like a five year old. She loves people very, very deeply. It is an unending source of delight for her to sit down and look through photo albums, even if she has no idea who the pictures represent. She laughs and talks and asks for more photos.   She loves to celebrate birthdays, and will make the whole crowd sing "happy birthday" with her at church, while she stands proudly hugging the recipient of this joy. She would sing to anyone. She knows Jesus, perhaps in a deeper way than us "smart people" do sometimes.

[JudgeNot]

I find this article very disturbing.  It is a good indication of how some view the special people among us:  They would kill them.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36763

[sincereheart]

From the article:

One of the British government's leading advisers on genetics has provoked an uproar by suggesting it may be acceptable to kill babies with ''defects'' soon after birth.

What's next? Seeking out adults with 'defects' and killing them? Wait! That would be all of us!

 

[Whitehorse]

Good point!

[Willowbirch]

Good point!

Agreed!  

[elisabeth]

tha'ts a great story, crusader, thx for posting