We All Get Discrimination From Normal People !

[Karl Otto]

Some on here complain or point out discrimination from others whom do not understand their disabilities. That happens all the time these days. For a matter of facts, it has been going on since I was a yong boy. I am now 57 years old and, I still feel the brunt of it even today.

People whom are normal in body and spirit cannot really understand people with disabilites. They may talk a good game and tell you they understand. In reality they do not understand and just want to be polite. Until they themselves wake up one day and find that they too are now disabled, they will not truly understand.

Being a disabled person is not the end of the world but, the beggining of a whole new world and, a new way of seeing that world. So, discrimantion will always be with us, normal people being the way they are.

As for me, I do not know or understand how it is to be normal. I have never been normal so, I do not know how that would feel like. Even my own children are not normal so, I have no experience in the matter.

[ravenwoodglass]

Being a disabled person is not the end of the world but, the beggining of a whole new world and, a new way of seeing that world. So, discrimantion will always be with us, normal people being the way they are.

As for me, I do not know or understand how it is to be normal. I have never been normal so, I do not know how that would feel like. Even my own children are not normal so, I have no experience in the matter.

I like the way you put this

"Being a disabled person is not the end of the world but, the beggining of a whole new world and, a new way of seeing that world."

Even though we are different that doesn't make us any less valuable. It often makes us think more of others who are also a bit different and more likely to not judge people by appearances or the way they may talk or walk or the clothes they wear or what they can or cannot eat or drink. Yes it does give us a new way of seeing the world and it isn't always a bad thing.

[shadowicewolf]

Too true.

[Oscar]

I think I must be missing something here. Please help me.

What is a "normal" person?

Is he male?

Is she short?

Do they have red hair?

Is their skin dark in color?

Are they left-handed?

Do they speak Swahili?

Are they vegetarian?

Do they believe in God?

Please help me understand what "normal" is so I can figure out if I am normal.

[kareng]

I think I must be missing something here. Please help me.

What is a "normal" person?

Is he male?

Is she short?

Do they have red hair?

Is their skin dark in color?

Are they left-handed?

Do they speak Swahili?

Are they vegetarian?

Do they believe in God?

Please help me understand what "normal" is so I can figure out if I am normal.

That's funny. Normal is a medium height woman with pale skin, freckles and reddish hair. And she has a dog named Cooper.

Grouches in trashcans are not normal. They are interesting and funny.

I kinda think the point really is that everybody has something others think is odd or different. If it's not my weird eating habits, it's the fact that their dogs obey me better than the owners or my flower plantings aren't color coordinated or we put up mult colored Christmas lights instead of tasteful white ones. ok.... Maybe the above woman isn't normal

[kareng]

Forgot to add this: my hub is in Human Resources. He was reading an article that suggested that most of the population qualifies as disabled in some fashion. A bad knee disables you if you are a roofer but not if you work in Human Resources. Celiac keeps me from life long career ambition as a beer taster.

[Karl Otto]

The closes I can discribe normal is as follows:

When, I was a child and young man growing up people treated me different. I did not know why, it always bothered me greatly, their in difference to me. All the people whom counted would laugh and tell me, I was ok, healthy and not worry about it.

The problem was, I was always getting nausea and sick allot, more so than the other children. I did not know why because, I did not have anyone around me smart enough to see the truth or point it out if they did know.

Normal children played baseball, football, and did other fun activities. I did not have that opertunity. I was alway thin and whisppy type of young man. One that spent most of his time being very under weight for my height. Sickly and having your mother go around saying you had bad and thin blood as an excuse for your sickness.

I was made fun of for my disabilities from a very young time in my life.

Normal people seem to be heatlhy, strong, and well ajusted people whom, get everything good out of life.

Disabled people must fight for every scrap of food, clothing, and services they get. Normal people do not.

Normal people go to the right schools, have normal dates, get married to healthy women or men. They pretty much ride off into the sunset and live life to the fullest. There willing and able to take what ever life throws at them and the weather any storm that comes their way. Disabled people do not have that luxury.

I could go on forever like this and many, many sample to compare the normal with the abbey normal people. Once I found out that out what I had and had been suffering from all my life, life started to make sense to me again. I now understand why the people treated me different from others in my past life. With age comes wisdom most of the time.

[Gemini]

The closes I can discribe normal is as follows:

When, I was a child and young man growing up people treated me different. I did not know why, it always bothered me greatly, their in difference to me. All the people whom counted would laugh and tell me, I was ok, healthy and not worry about it.

The problem was, I was always getting nausea and sick allot, more so than the other children. I did not know why because, I did not have anyone around me smart enough to see the truth or point it out if they did know.

Normal children played baseball, football, and did other fun activities. I did not have that opertunity. I was alway thin and whisppy type of young man. One that spent most of his time being very under weight for my height. Sickly and having your mother go around saying you had bad and thin blood as an excuse for your sickness.

I was made fun of for my disabilities from a very young time in my life.

Normal people seem to be heatlhy, strong, and well ajusted people whom, get everything good out of life.

Disabled people must fight for every scrap of food, clothing, and services they get. Normal people do not.

Normal people go to the right schools, have normal dates, get married to healthy women or men. They pretty much ride off into the sunset and live life to the fullest. There willing and able to take what ever life throws at them and the weather any storm that comes their way. Disabled people do not have that luxury.

I could go on forever like this and many, many sample to compare the normal with the abbey normal people. Once I found out that out what I had and had been suffering from all my life, life started to make sense to me again. I now understand why the people treated me different from others in my past life. With age comes wisdom most of the time.

Do you really feel this way just because you have Celiac Disease? I was also a sickly child and about as malnourished as a person can get, when I was diagnosed at the age of 46 and I do not in any way feel like I am disabled. I do not have to fight for everything I need because I have a job and earn the money to do so, like everyone else. I work with truly disabled people and they have the same attitude. There is a man in a wheelchair who has worked here for years and if you even attempt to open a door for him, he gets all BS about it and wants to do everything himself. He doesn't want to be treated any differently so we don't.

You can get anything any one else can out of life, with the right mindset. Everyone has disappointments in life but you have to adjust, pick up and move on. If people treated you differently then all you have to remember is there are a lot of dopes out there and you cannot control how they think. All you can do is ignore them.

[Karl Otto]

You have good point and it just very well may work for some people but, again not all. We as human beings are a some of all our experiences in life and, our educational backgrounds.

See, I lived on the other end of the stick of life than you did. First I came from a dirt poor family. Church mice had more than we did. Second, my background is of that of whites and nativ americans. We held a mixture of Christianity and Native American beliefs which again set us appart from other people. Third, I have been at the receiving end of many cruel treatments by my fellow man since, I was a little child. Even when, I was in the US Military, I was on the receiving end of many cruel jokes and be shuned by my fellow soldiers. Since, I did not drink, chew tobacco, smoke, or use drugs. They did and beat or attempted to beat me when ever they could. Remember these are our fellow American Soldier whom could do no harm to others, right? People never gave me any after school jobs like other students. The employers would say, I looked to skinny and sickly to work for them. Parents had no money and I could not associated with the other guys back then, whom had parents that gave them money or had after school jobs. {Discrimination} Sometimes, I had memory problems or severe nausea, shaking and seizure ativities. People whom said they were your friends, started shying away from you when they noticed you had problems. Doctors lieing to use or not informing you of you disorders and names for your sicknesses. People calling you crazy all the time when you had symptoms that could not be explained. No one coming to your house to visit you when you were married. Neighbors that would talk to you only when they were forced to do so, not volunmteerly. I had the miss fortune of living in place where they neighbors did not like the same things I do. I was interested in computers, pc games, and watercolor and acrylic art works and drawing. I still cannot find any of my current neighbors that are interested in these things. So, we are the some of all our past experiences. I have the disabled label attached to me and the general public will not let me forget it, either. Just like the Jewish People in WWII, I have a yellow star attched to my lapel.

[brendygirl]

When I do my explanation of my dietary needs to servers or other people, I say that my co-eaters are "regular" and that I am "special". I never use the term normal. Sometimes I playfully expound upon regular: plain, run-of-the-mill, ordinary, white bread, etc.

[Gemini]

You have good point and it just very well may work for some people but, again not all. We as human beings are a some of all our experiences in life and, our educational backgrounds.

See, I lived on the other end of the stick of life than you did. First I came from a dirt poor family. Church mice had more than we did. Second, my background is of that of whites and nativ americans. We held a mixture of Christianity and Native American beliefs which again set us appart from other people. Third, I have been at the receiving end of many cruel treatments by my fellow man since, I was a little child. Even when, I was in the US Military, I was on the receiving end of many cruel jokes and be shuned by my fellow soldiers. Since, I did not drink, chew tobacco, smoke, or use drugs. They did and beat or attempted to beat me when ever they could. Remember these are our fellow American Soldier whom could do no harm to others, right? People never gave me any after school jobs like other students. The employers would say, I looked to skinny and sickly to work for them. Parents had no money and I could not associated with the other guys back then, whom had parents that gave them money or had after school jobs. {Discrimination} Sometimes, I had memory problems or severe nausea, shaking and seizure ativities. People whom said they were your friends, started shying away from you when they noticed you had problems. Doctors lieing to use or not informing you of you disorders and names for your sicknesses. People calling you crazy all the time when you had symptoms that could not be explained. No one coming to your house to visit you when you were married. Neighbors that would talk to you only when they were forced to do so, not volunmteerly. I had the miss fortune of living in place where they neighbors did not like the same things I do. I was interested in computers, pc games, and watercolor and acrylic art works and drawing. I still cannot find any of my current neighbors that are interested in these things. So, we are the some of all our past experiences. I have the disabled label attached to me and the general public will not let me forget it, either. Just like the Jewish People in WWII, I have a yellow star attched to my lapel.

Karl....I have more in common with you than you may think, my friend! Although I was not dirt poor, my family did not have much money at all when I was younger. I was brought up in the 1960's and 1970's so people were not so much hung up on material goods, like they are today. I am not a materialistic person, even though I could afford to be. My husband and I live very simply because the world is not such a secure place anymore and the need to have a nest egg is so much more important. We sacrifice today to make our future more secure...for whatever that's worth!

I am sorry you had such a horrible experience in the US military. If what you say is true, I can see that happening. People can be horrible today and all the bullying that kids endure is proof positive of that. There are many adult bullies who cannot control their behavior....that's why so many are medicated. I was bullied a bit in my youth but I had my ways of fighting back. It won't work for everyone but I did things to defend myself I would get in trouble for today. I have no regrets about what I did then but it's sad to think it has to be this way. I get frustrated with people today because of the lack of manners and courtesy but always try to remember there are other good people out there and try to surround myself with those. Easier said than done but I understand your frustration totally. Society is out of control and you wonder when it will stop.

The neighbor thing....my neighborhood was invaded by immigrants and many were illegal. It's happening all over America. I grew up in an immigrant neighborhood but they weren't the same immigrants we are getting today. I grew up with educated, European immigrants who embraced America and wouldn't think of speaking in their native tongue outside the home. They were all gems and we had a good relationship. Not so today. To make a long story short, the neighbors I have do not make any attempts to become part of our culture, except to make money to send back home. They are not educated and honestly, never poke their noses outside to even begin to make friends. I gave up and, like yourself, I have zero in common with them. It is an extremely diverse neighborhood and you know what? It doesn't always work. That's the big joke with diversity and integration...it doesn't always work. People end up hanging out with their own kind and there's nothing wrong with that. It's human nature. Not that people are causing problems but they all ignore each other. All their friends are from South America and that's who they socialize with. I don't care anymore because I have nothing to talk about with them either. I am polite to them when I do see them but that's about it. Your problem is everyone's problem, Karl. It's really hard to find good neighbors who you can share idea's and have a cup of coffee with. I am planning on moving but have to wait for the market to improve to sell my house. I want a community to live in with people like myself who share my ideals and I can make friends with. You don't always find this with today's culture. It would be nice if I could have a friendly League of Nations to live around but it probably isn't going to happen. It's a downright b_itch sometimes!

I know it is hard to shake off your feelings of being different but you do not wear a yellow star of David like the Jewish population was forced to wear for identity purposes. You may be unique compared to others but that doesn't mean you don't have worth. Of course you do! Work on that because you certainly don't sound like a dope and probably have more to offer than you think. Above all, and most importantly, ignore the dopes and be your own person. It works for me and probably, for many others.

Have you tried weight training to build muscle? It is working wonders for me!

[Karl Otto]

Not to say, I do not have friends, its to sat they live a long ways away. Most of them are sick with various sicknesses. I do help out my immediate family with the knowledge computer repair and accounting training from my college days. After service, I went to college a few hours a day, to use up that military free college money. But, at the same time, I was going to college sick as a dog. My fellow college student class mates would see me having to be excused every other from the classroom. They would ask questions of me and, turn up their noses at me for not having a job at the time. Once, they saw, I was not well, they shied away from me. Some thought I had aids, others thought, I had some kind of craziness or mintally ill, or wierd nervous condition. They all, started shunning me after that time. Every month, I would go to the VA Hospital and complain of various symptoms and sicknesses. Each time, no tests were give or lab tests. The US Government would had out more narcotics and send me on my way home. Thos meds almost made me died of heart attacks and sent me to the emergency room too many times. When neighbors and fellow students seen the meds they wouldn't even speak to me ever again.

No company would give me a job, stating I was too sick looking and un-healthy in their opinion. Longterm un-employment.

I lived on welfare, food stanps, and in rat, roach, infested appartment with two sons to support. No help from the US Government what-so-ever. People on the streets believed the Veterans Adminsitration over top of me labeled me plain crazy and nothing more. Later, 5 years back, the VA Hospital told me they had made a mistake in my diagnosis after all these years and, I confirned the civilian doctors report of Hyperinsulinism Hypoglycemia and Celiac Disease. THen, they claimed, I was born with these conditions so, they do not owe me nothing in way of compensation. It was all part of the US Government's long standing battle over compensation. All the guys whom, I served with at the same bases, have already gotten their compensation a long time ago. During this time, I have been discriminated against by close relatives, neighbors, and the US Government. I was a 10 year veteran with an honorable discharge. Just imagine what it would have been had I gotten a dishonorable discharge.

[Gemini]

Not to say, I do not have friends, its to sat they live a long ways away. Most of them are sick with various sicknesses. I do help out my immediate family with the knowledge computer repair and accounting training from my college days. After service, I went to college a few hours a day, to use up that military free college money. But, at the same time, I was going to college sick as a dog. My fellow college student class mates would see me having to be excused every other from the classroom. They would ask questions of me and, turn up their noses at me for not having a job at the time. Once, they saw, I was not well, they shied away from me. Some thought I had aids, others thought, I had some kind of craziness or mintally ill, or wierd nervous condition. They all, started shunning me after that time. Every month, I would go to the VA Hospital and complain of various symptoms and sicknesses. Each time, no tests were give or lab tests. The US Government would had out more narcotics and send me on my way home. Thos meds almost made me died of heart attacks and sent me to the emergency room too many times. When neighbors and fellow students seen the meds they wouldn't even speak to me ever again.

No company would give me a job, stating I was too sick looking and un-healthy in their opinion. Longterm un-employment.

I lived on welfare, food stanps, and in rat, roach, infested appartment with two sons to support. No help from the US Government what-so-ever. People on the streets believed the Veterans Adminsitration over top of me labeled me plain crazy and nothing more. Later, 5 years back, the VA Hospital told me they had made a mistake in my diagnosis after all these years and, I confirned the civilian doctors report of Hyperinsulinism Hypoglycemia and Celiac Disease. THen, they claimed, I was born with these conditions so, they do not owe me nothing in way of compensation. It was all part of the US Government's long standing battle over compensation. All the guys whom, I served with at the same bases, have already gotten their compensation a long time ago. During this time, I have been discriminated against by close relatives, neighbors, and the US Government. I was a 10 year veteran with an honorable discharge. Just imagine what it would have been had I gotten a dishonorable discharge.

Your story is common here with regards to going to doctors forever and being blown off or told you're crazy...been there, done that! It is maddening but this is the sad state of US medicine. It's not only VA doctors who are making these mistakes.

Karl...I'll spare you the rant I could blow up with regarding US citizens and soldiers being denied compensation when any illegal can go to an ER and get free medical care, courtesy of the US taxpayer. It drives me nuts and the immigrant population should not wonder why we are so mad about it. The whole US government should be deeply ashamed of themselves. There is no excuse for it and I am so sorry that you were treated this way. I know of others in this situation and it makes my blood boil.

Maybe with this next election cycle we will see a candidate who will do whats right for a change and not what's popular with the people who want something for nothing. There just doesn't seem to be good leadership anymore.