Comments on: Behold the Cripple! (Sep, 1930)

By: Aimeslee

Aimeslee — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:34:42 +0000

As an arthritic “cripple”, I could not disagree MORE with Charlene’s opinion. To me, the essay means that everyone is crippled with something, even if it’s mediocre standards, and we must all work against that which limits each of us. Except on days of my worst pain and joint stiffness, I have an invisible disease like those the author speaks of, and his words are inspiring to me. If you haven’t walked my walk, then please hold your tongue (or typing fingers) and take some seconds to try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. This author’s advice is what can truly unite us as imperfect beings and begin to tear down the wall of prejudice against the crips. A physical deformity often makes for a cheap shot and a difference that is really not there at all.

By: David Moisan

David Moisan — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:24:05 +0000

It’s truth that for people with disabilities, like any other minority group, have to work twice as hard as “regular” people to be respected.

By: Charlene

Charlene — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 07:24:21 +0000

No, the message is that you’d better conform, conform, conform to what other people expect of you. Push, push, never be comfortable, never enjoy yourself, just keep pushing and pushing and pushing and never rest and never for one micro-second enjoy yourself, because you must Push! Yourself! at all times! or you’re a bad person who is letting everyone else down!

Evil mindset. Truly evil.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:49:12 +0000

Don’t get distracted by te “Non-PC” language. Crippled, handicapped, handi capable, disabled, differently ables–whatever. They are all just words. I has born with a birth defect in my left hip, does that make me “defective”?

The message is a good one. People need to reach beyond “good enough”.

By: David Moisan

David Moisan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:39:26 +0000

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr. I’m reminded, in that era, when a child was born with a disability, or a man was crippled in an accident, that many people thought the child or the man must have made God mad at them.