The torch

If I may take that piece of newspaper article as unfinished——if I may receive that as a torch for passing on—if I may attempt to write a sequel, here it is. I would expand A to a mini-cascade of A1, A2, A3, … I would also break B down to its own mini-cascade of B1, B2, B3, B4, … As well, each of C, D, E, F, G, … would have its own mini-cascades.

Take for instance migrants in New York, there has been resounding discontent. Many find themselves more deserving than others, “We came into the country legally. We worked hard.”

Take for instance communities camping along the streets, there are differentiations they can be adamant about, “I am homeless BUT I don’t use drugs. I am homeless BUT I am not crazy. They are mental BUT I am not.”

Take for instance the disabled, there can be differentiations they command no mistake about, “I have ADHD BUT I am highly functional.” Or, “I have cerebral palsy BUT I am not intellectually disabled.” I can readily attest that the two are often conflated, even by doctors, “Who brought you here? Ask that person to come in to the consultation room.” So what if I brought myself to the clinic?

Unfortunate and misinformed associations such as these are obviously out of touch with reality. Many forms of disability do not affect the intellect. Yet mis-associations do happen, sometimes mis-associating disabilities with begging or stealing when no feature whatsoever on the person suggests so. Indeed on some application forms—even job applications to professorships—we find checkboxes on disabilities nestled among checkboxes on criminal histories.

Not a noble mix-up. Wherever those who mix up are coming from, whatever their disposition, incidents such as these reflect on the one who mixes up rather than the one mixed up. Mix-ups such as these are very telling—telling tonnes about the one who mixes up—telling nothing about the one being mixed up.

Nevertheless, forewarned by the prophet who wrote that newspaper article decades ago, “Do not fall into that trap!” I maintain my freedom to break that cascade of discriminations and prejudices. Even if I’m mistaken as intellectually disabled, so what? No less honorable. No less dignified. There is no need for charged retorts. There is no need to be on the offensive. There is no need to deal a deck of degrees. No need. Or I would be jumping into the ring joining the cascade myself. Schooling was never meant for such a purpose anyway.

Here’s the torch. The torch for us to carry and pass it along. It’s our call to take that step out of the cascade. Quit that cascade. Never be damn sure that somebody will never make it in life. Everyone was damn sure that I wasn’t going to.

We all belong to the same, smiling species. Horses and donkeys, dogs and cats do not smile. Boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen do. Everyone is born to make a splash—everyone is called to a vocation.