| I wanted to make a site dedicated especially to my cousin Brent. He is one amazing guy. He's eighteen, his favorite bands are the Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Brittney Spears and anything else you can dance to. Brent loves girls, he loves them almost as much as he loves dancing (he's an amazing dancer)! Brent, for the most part, is normal; but he is not ALL normal. He has DOWNS SYNDROME. Some info on what makes people with Downs Syndrome different from those who don't: People with Downs are usually slower, they have flatter faces and droopy eyes, they are extremely affectionate and have a life expectancy of about THIRTY years. Now, I know that most of you people out there have seen people, like Brent, who have Downs Syndrome or maybe another form of handicap, I also know that most of you have made fun of them. Perhaps you don't think that it bothers them; that they don't understand what you are saying. I'm going to tell you a story that might make you think twice the next time you decide to make fun of someone with a handicap. One day I was hanging out with Brent at our grandma's house. Brent stubbed his toe and cursed God's name. I said, "Brent, don't say that, it hurts God's feelings." He replied, " I don't care, I don't like God." I asked him why, not expecting a valid answer. The answer I got was, "because God made me like this. I want to be like you, not handicap." "What do you mean, 'like me'?" I asked. He said "You know, human. Why did God make me handicap Kels? How come I can't be human?" |
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| Brent |
| I was shocked, hurt, completely dumbfounded. What should I say? I had no idea, I was totally flabberghasted... This is what I came up with: "Brent, you are human, just like everybody else. God just chose you to be like you are because your strong, and he knew you could handle it." That may sound silly to you, but it made all the difference to him. Anyway, the point is, you may not think they understand, but they do, and they don't like it. It hurts them. They are human beings trying to live and enjoy their difficult, limited lives and no one has the right to abuse them for that, or any other reason. ESPECIALLY not over appearance, or lack of ability and intelligence. Leave them alone, let them dance in the courtyard if that's what makes them happy. Don't you think they deserve it? I certainly do! |