Comments on: Abandon cynicism all ye who enter here

Abandon cynicism all ye who enter here

theora55 — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:28:17 -0800

2 very moving stories about high school kids with heart.

By: davejay

davejay — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:03:05 -0800

Hot as a pistol! seriously, though, my wife and all her friends are teary-eyed over the basketball one today. and though I am not teary-eyed, I can't disagree with the amount of awesome.

By: six-or-six-thirty

six-or-six-thirty — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:20:31 -0800

My first thought was 'Actually, I think they have Down's Syndrome." sorry

By: Phire

Phire — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:25:14 -0800

Aw. Aw. Awwww. The second one made me all teary.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:27:23 -0800

There's a young man with Down syndrome who bags groceries at my local store. I always try to engage him when I'm at his checkstand, but I've never been successful. He's just not very conversational. But last night as I was walking out of the store, he was walking in. I'd had a pretty rotten day and was just ready to get home after running a bunch of errands, so mostly I was focused on finding my car. But as I walked out the doors, I ran almost smack into him. He took a step back, paused for a minute, all with his characteristically straight face. (Uh-oh, I thought.) He then put his hands behind his head, fingers laced together, and grinned. He flapped his elbows in a sort of quirky dance move and started singing Tom Jones' She's a Lady: "She's a lady / whoa whoa whoa / she's a lady!" He smiled at me and went into the store and suddenly the day wasn't so shitty anymore.

By: StrikeTheViol

StrikeTheViol — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:45:57 -0800

I knew a guy with Down's syndrome in high school. He was quite happy, of course, but I remember just how badly he had his own special wish--- getting laid. Wherever you are, Brendan, I hope you're getting some, and that one day some alt-weekly will write about it.

By: chudmonkey

chudmonkey — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:16:29 -0800

Thanks for posting these, theora55. Heartwarming, indeed.

By: Mental Wimp

Mental Wimp — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:19:06 -0800

My first thought was 'Actually, I think they have Down's Syndrome."<> Down Syndrome or trisomy 21, take your pick.

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:21:24 -0800

Not really that heart-warming, in all honesty. Perhaps because of the weird feeling I get reading in this context. It just seems cheap that these stories are so often used as placeholders for the "human interest" story-of-the-day. Much like the "squirrel on waterskis" is dropped in whenever they need "zany animal story." It diminishes the true zanyness, is what I'm saying.

By: DecemberBoy

DecemberBoy — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:07:28 -0800

TL;DR version: Two kids with Down's syndrome play in a high school basketball game and get elected Homecoming queen, respectively. Everyone pats themselves on the back over what good people they are for letting the disabled kids win one. Your grandmother will forward you one or both of these stories a month from now, likely with added references to Jebus.

By: telstar

telstar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:15:51 -0800

Jesus let the disabled kids win the Homecoming crown! And interested Decemberboy's grandma. Totally miraculous!

By: epj

epj — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:53:45 -0800

The homecoming queen story is very touching, precisely because it doesn't seem to be the usual "normal kids are nice to the disabled kid" situation. From the comments of Anne's classmates, the power of inclusion--"normal" children and children with special needs being placed in the same classroom--becomes clear. It seems to me that these students really *do* see Anne as a person, that she didn't win a pity vote. She won because of the person she is, and that is worth celebrating.

By: plinth

plinth — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:55:38 -0800

Minor correction - in the United States it's "Down syndrome" (ref: National Down Syndrome Congress Language Guidelines). For a slight break from the typical heartwarming story, there's this story about Megan Bomgaars who is a cheerleader on a competitive high school team. It's different in that, yes, she tried out for the squad and the team and coach did some legwork to try to understand what it would mean to have a team mate with Down syndrome. That they accepted her and remain supportive and competitive is huge. It's a very stark contrast to Jason McElwain, who is a boy with autism who was allowed to play in the last game, but otherwise wasn't a player on the team. Megan Bomgaars plays on an inclusive team. A truly inclusive society wouldn't think any of these stories out of the ordinary.