Quote Originally Posted by Asiel View Post
I challenge you to spend a day in a facility for Alzheimer's patients or any other form of disorder and come home saying that was a fun day. Would you teach your own children to ridicule anyone with a mental disorder-- What about our soldiers who come home mentally disabled because of injury , physical or mental trauma etc...do you find anything funny about them also...? Or are they just cast away veggie salads? Maybe I'm just overly sensitive.
Well I have spent a day in a facility for Alzheimers patients, in fact MANY days. My wife Karen was the Nurse-in-Charge of a dementia unit for many years, and have a guess who won all of the building and maintenance contracts there ?? (Yeah, I know, it's who you know....right ?). I have worked amongst these people, and even had many good relationships with some of them who constantly followed me around all day like inquisitive children. Sure I felt sorry for them, and yeah sure I believe that one day I'll probably just be one of them. But that doesn't stop me from telling a few jokes to my mates about them over a beer. What are we supposed to do ???
A patient, old Billy Nye had full whack Alzheimers, and loved to sit by me and watch me work. Every morning he heard the hammer, he would come searching for me, and as he shuffled towards me I'd say "Come on Billy, you can walk faster than that can't you ?? And what's that all over your shirt ???Your breakfast again ??" And he'd give me the biggest smile.
Making fun of him....no. Billy is long gone now....but you know....he enjoyed his times with me.

As for teaching my children to ridicule people with afflictions....well no...that would be very malicious of me right ??? I'm sure my children know what is expected of them in society.....and also how to act in such situations...the choice is there's of course....mourn life or live it.

Do I find anything funny about soldiers who return from war mentally or physically disabled ??? Well, there is a difference between actually having fun with them and making fun of them. You see, I am one of those people who has returned from war, and is disabled both physically AND mentally.
You know, when my knee goes out of whack, and I start to hobble around, everyone calls me "Chester" (remember Chester the limping cowboy in Gunsmoke ??). Hey, I don't feel bad about that ??? It's great....I love it.
And when I REALLY go out of whack mentally, and the meds don't take over quick enough, well everyone calls me "That nut case Browny". Thats ok, I can live with that, I'm not after sympathy, they are not really making fun of me.....not really. Even my daughters constantly refer to me as "Nutty Dad".
I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

There is a difference between maliciousness and having fun...a big difference mate