[TOPERink]

I'm getting sick and tired of a lot of things. Well, everything, but I won't go there.

Just recently, and just a lot of times when I hear anything about "normal people", I get pissed off. The question "what is a normal person anyway?" That question, to me, is almost as ridiculous as "what is the meaning of life?"

There is a difference between normal people and whatever you want to call the rest. I feel like when someone asks this question, they are implying that people who are severely physically impaired have the same levels of abilities and skills "normal people" do. Fact is, they don't. However, and OF COURSE I do understand that everyone has the ability to feel emotions of every kind to any extent, think about thoughts and their own opinions, and try to express themselves. Not everyone has the ability to express themselves so people know what exactly they are trying to get across. What I mainly mean are people who are born without a voice for language, hands that cannot write, legs and feet that cannot support them enough to walk and thus a wheelchair is around, and brains that don't develop in such a way like ours(like logical, but instead mostly creative) that these people are not usually considered "normal". They can't do what we do- they weren't born with our privileges/curses. And it bothers me to think that when these people who aren't "normal" are being taken care of by ignorant people... who dare to consider them "normal", act like these kids and adults are trying to frustrate them- talking in harsh voices towards them because of things they can't help. Like if they fall out of their chair accidentily, or cry out loudly when they need something or want attention. And...I don't actually know this of course, but I think that's one of the last things they actually care about, to annoy the people who are taking care of them. I really think there are so many parts of life they want to understand, but for the most part, just be able to deal with their more limited share of life in pleasant, care-free ways.

I knew a girl named Emily at my home school, bless her heart and smile(she smiled a lot and all the kids who knew her loved her), who pretty much had the description that I typed above: without a voice to speak, or hands to write, in need of a chair... and all that. Despite her limitations, it was clear she had a mind of her own when she wanted to talk to someone, when she was angry or sad and wanted to be involved with those around her, in the class room. I remember once when she was in one of my classes, I was talking about something and it just so happened to come up that I said "normal people". I immediately stopped and turned towards Emily, because I felt I had to apologize. She was looking at me, and wasn't smiling then, for sure. I felt so bad. She's passed away now, this year. I found out by my counselor at the school because she called me. And it's only around the beginning of February. You know what that means.

I didn't mean it the way she may have thought I did, and I don't agree at all with some "normal" people teaching others living the way she did that they are different. They are, but I'm not saying that they aren't human like everyone else. They are physically limited, sure... but they still have hearts and minds. And yet, they can't live like us. In answer to that question,"What is a normal person anyway?" = People who live the average human life and have the ability to act and express for and by themselves, which not everyone can do. There you go, to every smartbutt that asks it again.