The writer did what I call "creating moments of happiness" for the flight attendant. It is within our power to create moments of happiness for other people. For people we know, we know their needs, and we can act to fulfill that need. Like a friend of mine who sends birthday cards to his long, retired teacher. If we see someone scrounging for food, isn't it easy to go into a restaurant to pack some food and a bottle of drink for that person? We do whatever is within our power to help, so we don't have to break the bank. The writer certainly made the day for one flight attendant, who would probably remember with quiet gratitude the deed done for her.
What is good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander? Maybe some type of double standards are acceptable?
You mean, for you, just a hug will lead to all that? Oh, wow!
No one can understand more the pain, stress and problems that parents of children with disabilities have to go through than the parents themselves. I do not know the situation, but I do hope that there are enough parent support groups that are reaching out to help these parents. And that incident of the man staring at KT and making ignorant and uncalled for comments ... I guess it is only one of many unpleasant incidents that has happened to RY. I can only repeat what I have always said, and that is, there should be more public awareness of disability issues. Related government authorities and companies from the private sector should play a greater and more active role in creating public awareness by carrying out campaigns with the purpose of informing and educating the public on disability related matters.
That's what almost every "taman perumahan" in the Klang Valley has done. I am looking forward to the day when the authorities come out and declare that denying the public access to public roads in a "taman perumahan" is illegal, and issue a directive for all RA's to dismantle the security barriers into the "taman."
Yes, you don't something like that on other people.
A very good write-up on freedom. The concept of freedom as explained needs some digesting too.
I am glad you brought up the fact about public roads being blocked in a residential area. I really think the authorities should put a stop to the management committee of a residential area from blocking access to the roads that should belong to the public and not just the community. Personally I think the situation is really ridiculous and against the law, but there seems to be nothing we can do about it, short of someone being denied access taking the case to court.
That's why public awareness of the problems faced by people with disabilities is important. That's why using "people first language," that is, mentioning the person first and followed by the mention of his disability, is important. "People first language" emphasizes the person as a person who happens to have a certain disability that is preventing him/her from achieving what he/she could have achieved if he/she does not have the disability. That guy is doing what a lot of others are doing, demonstrating prejudice and condescension in his attitude towards people with disabilities.
Poverty can have a distressing effect on the education of a person. There are many children like Ahmad who have to come out to work to help alleviate the financial problems of the family. Without the benefit of a good education, many of these children cannot aspire to jobs that will help them get good monthly incomes in future. Of course there are the fortunate ones who somehow manage to overcome the odds to be financially successful, but I think these are more the exception. Poverty with parents determined to give their children a good education, and poverty with parents expecting or needing their children to help in the monetary contribution can produce different results. I am so glad that we have a teacher determined to help people like Ahmad. Bless you Cheryl.
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Ruckus