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If you spend any time at all trying to make sense out of current events, if you are casually concerned about what’s happening in your community, if national, international, and worldwide events have your interest, you might be categorized a conscientious news junkie, and have become a target. Media outlets of all stripes have targeted you, politicians of all stripes have targeted you, and advertisers of all stripes have targeted you. Beware! of being spun like a top, as all of the above are presumed experts at speaking on your behalf. I cringe, and the kenny red flags go up when I hear political spokes people say: “the majority of American people……”, as if they actually speak for me, and have been given permission by me to speak on my behalf - NOT! Their job is to convince you, and I to conform to their belief system, and to fit us under their wing as some sort of demographic number as opposed to a living, breathing person; (if you don’t want to be a victim, then know what you believe). Let us examine what their telescope is focused on, what they are looking for, and where under their wing one might be placed: male, female – black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Indian - yearly income, level of education, home owner or not, smoker or non smoker, drinker or non drinker, beer or wine. The list goes on, and on. Search engines now have the ability to track individual web activity, and then fit you into a category/demographic. That gathered information may then be sold. There is one last thing about these demographic groupings that might be offensive to some. I can’t speak for you, but I’ve yet to see, hear, or read of an official “Disabled” category/demographic. Could it mean that we are not concerned about our communities, national, international or worldwide events? Could it mean we don’t access media of any kind? Could it mean we don’t vote, or even buy goods of any kind? Or could it be that once again we are the last to be picked on the playground of life? For what it’s worth, I will not be left out, and will continue to speak at the voting booth, and with my dollars. Those two demographics (voters, and consumers) speak the loudest.

In a recent one on one conversation I had an opportunity to share a little about what I consider to be the many advantages of being disabled from birth. Yes, I realize the entire world is set on able bodied hinges, and we, the disabled community bring up the rear as an afterthought in many cases. I also realize there are a myriad of disabilities, and each have their own proclivities that make them, and their hosts the elephant in the room everyone is aware of but simply don’t know how to address or respond to, consequently in many case we are ignored or profiled. Except for Gods’ angels, and loving families, living a disabled life can be a cruel existence. For some of us slumber never overtakes us because of nagging pain(s). For many of us the pain of passing glances without a commitment to engage leaves a painful, wanting longing. For many of us the frustration of our brain seeing a matter thru is quickly thwarted because our limbs are like stubborn children, and decide they will not to cooperate. For many of us life is experienced on the sidelines while the A Team plays the game. For many of us we see the world thru the words of others because the light of day or night never pierces our eyes. How then can there be any advantage to being disabled from birth? It is because we know the pain of being left out, it makes us compassionate, and we are then able to help our fellow man. We know the pain of pain; it makes us strong, so that we in turn can encourage others to fight thru. We know the pain of being ostracized; it allows us to love others. We know the pain of healing; it gives us a message of endurance. We know the longing of site, it opens the world of imagination for those who have eyes but cannot see. One of the many truths I impressed on my now adult children as they were growing was that life wasn’t always going to be a cakewalk, but life was to be lived to the fullest, and that is something we all have to do.

Floating Wheelchairs are way cool, I tried one on Cape Cod Mass. I was able to stroll on the sand and then right into the water for a dip.......... and the use is free.

Here is a poem I've had published. It was written before I became a wheelchair user but is even more relevant now...

Gameface

You think you've seen me happy,
You know you've seen me smile,
But you've never seen me fall
Screaming, lonely in the night,
All you've seen is Gameface
My mask for the crowd,
All you've seen is Gameface
And that's all that you're allowed.

©2011 M Leon Smith