Designated_Driver Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 What would you do? You make the choice! Don't look for a punch line; There isn't one! Read it anyway. My question to all of you is: Would you have made the same choice? At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children,the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I believe,that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked,"Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning." Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game a! nd on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.! The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's! head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay" Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home! Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team. That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world. Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day! So the question is, what would you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeleeCrazy Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Exactly what they did. That man will remember those boys and that game forever, I couldn't think of something better to be remembered by. Stories like that, damn man makes me all emotional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfdude Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 tagged him out hard at first. victory dance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lethereal Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Geez – being a mother has made me SO soft. Yeah, I got pretty choked up reading that. I honestly would say what I would do would depend on what age I was. If I was under ten, I would probably be selfish in my competitiveness. If I were over ten, I would better understand and be more sympathetic and go along with it. All I know is that the parents of those children should be proud of the job they did in raising those boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crypticant Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 I don't necessarily believe in the veracity of this tale. Kids at that age are cruel and competitive. This story is a classic tale of an adult placing caring adult values on children playing sports. It's much the same when humans attempt to place human emotions on a dog or a cat. They're animals, not humans, and do not have human emotions or reactions. Kids are kids, and anyone can tell you, after remembering going to public school, the level of cruelty a kid is capable of. Snopes.com brings up two interesting points: 1) The story quoted above is Perfection at the Plate, a work of Rabbi Paysach Krohn which appeared in his 1999 book, Echoes of the Maggid. Echoes is a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" type work, described by its publishers as "heartwarming stories and parables of wisdom and inspiration." It is the fifth such tome in the Maggid series. 2) Can a disabled child hit a baseball as well as a perfectly-abled one? No. But can that same child learn to work within his disabilities to the point of achieving real accomplishments he can take honest pride in? Absolutely. And that beats all the pity-driven home runs in the world. My final point is this: Depending on the affliction of this child (MS, autism, cerebral palsy, etc), there is an extremely high likelihood that these quality of life detracting ailments can be cured by breakthroughs in stem cell research. Breakthroughs which have now been all but forbidden by this Bush administration's pandering to the religious "wrong". Most of you guys who play here are young, so remember what happens when politics and religion interfere in scientific advancement and thusly the betterment of the quality of life of humans, particulary in this case, children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rairen Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Most of you guys who play here are young' date=' so remember what happens when politics and religion interfere in scientific advancement and thusly the betterment of the quality of life of humans, particulary in this case, children.[/quote'] Love the point about neding to teach self-reliance rather than handing out 'feel good' moments. However, as I've also had to do some soul searching and refuse to support stem cell research in its current state, I'd rather not have my decision implicated as logicless, irresponsible, religious pandering, thank you - but, neither, do I desire to engage in that kind of argument here, since politics and gaming just don't mix, although you can always ask me to clarify through PMs. Teach the lessons, save the pontificating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EyeSeeU Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Whats wrong with stem cell research? I simply cannot understand how arrogantly ignorant our society is to say thet stem cell research is bad. All that it can do is make us better as "HUMANS". Why would we "humans" not want us all to be better. I say religion needs to take a good look at science and realize that God does not have an answer for everything. It is time to let us "humans" solve our own dissabilities/problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crypticant Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 GW doesn't want to go down the slippery slope of making living things dead for the purpose of science. Thusly, I expect that he will do exactly as he says. I expect to see the abolition of the death penalty in Texas any day now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Twendrist Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 There are always moral implications when it comes to science. There always have been, and there always will be. Thats just not going to go away. Do the ends justify the means? Where will it lead? What does this possibly mean for humanity? Just some questions one must ask themselves. My thing with stem cells is that the fetus's that they take them from were living things at one point in time. Now then you have the question when life occurs or whatever. A lot of the same questions are tied in with abortions (which are wrong and have no place in society except in extreame situations, and even then generaly not right). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Twendrist Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 By the way, God knows the answer to it all, the trouble is we have free will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Twendrist Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Children can be really cruel at that age, but then again at that age they can also be in the likeness of angels. A lot depends on how they were raised and what age they mature to the point of understanding morality, right and wrong, and respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warpnow Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 I doubt very seriously bush cares one way or the other about stem cell or abortion as much as he lets on. He got into office, he's done little next to **** about it...however...the SMARTEST thing a politician can do is go anti-abortion. All those tear eyed mothers down here in the south will vote ONLY ON THAT ISSUE. Having a mother and sister who admit they vote purely on a politician's stance on abortion I realize this. Those who are pro-abortion will not, in general, choose a candidate SOLELY because of that issue, an anti-abortionist will. As for the story, I would have let him play. And I'm young enough to be on a youth baseball team, so I think that's means something . However, I believe that the homerun would mean alot less to him than the feelings of friendship and team togetherness that would have been provided if he had continued to play on the team, so I would have offered to let him play on a long-term basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crypticant Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Sweet, see, I turned this from a cute, feel-good story into a debate on evil politics. BEHOLD THE POWER OF CHAOS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lethereal Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 I doubt very seriously bush cares one way or the other about stem cell or abortion as much as he lets on. He got into office, he's done little next to **** about it...however...the SMARTEST thing a politician can do is go anti-abortion. All those tear eyed mothers down here in the south will vote ONLY ON THAT ISSUE. Having a mother and sister who admit they vote purely on a politician's stance on abortion I realize this. Those who are pro-abortion will not, in general, choose a candidate SOLELY because of that issue, an anti-abortionist will. I couldn’t disagree with you more. I will vote for a candidate specifically if he/she is pro-choice. I am a woman and the government cannot tell me what I can or cannot do with my body when men have been given no restrictions. Yes, both parties are impacted by the birth of a child, but the woman is the one who feels the effects more – yeah, the guy may have to pay child support, but the woman is suddenly stuck with the burden of caring for another human being along with the constant financial struggle. Nothing gets me hotter than when I hear a man who is pro-life; it sure as hell is easy for you to stand there and say let the baby live when you aren’t in danger of the government stripping a right you have over your body specifically because of your sex. Ask Crypt, you don’t want me to get started on this one… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crypticant Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Nothing gets me hotter than when I hear a man who is pro-life And I think by "hotter" she means angrier, for those of us with dirty minds out there who were thinking contrarily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lethereal Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Yes, hotter = pissed Figured everyone would know what I meant by that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deykari Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Yes, hotter = pissed Figured everyone would know what I meant by that one. Never 'figure' or assume when it comes to dirty minds. It gets you into a lot of trouble. Dey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warpnow Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Oh, I'm Pro-Choice, but I still think the reason many politicans say they are Pro-Life then get into office and do absolutely nothing about abortion is because it is the path that will get them the most votes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designated_Driver Posted July 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 I'm pro-Death. Is that a valid option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Twendrist Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Once theres another living being it's not just one persons right anymore. The kid has rights as well. If the couple can't or doesn't want to keep the child, they can always give it up for adotoption. At least that way the kid gets a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lethereal Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Talk to me after you've carried a child in your belly for 9 months. I understand where you're coming from. I've never had an abortion myself and probably wouldn't be able to in all honesty. It seems easy - oh, just give it up for adoption. However, when you are pregnant, you're whole life changes - hell, YOU change. From the texture of your hair to the weight of your body to the oil in your skin - everything. In addition, your lifestyle changes too - you are always tired, hungry, nauseous and irritable, you can't go to bars and clubs and concerts, you can't drink or smoke or do drugs (if you are into any of that). Not to mention how expensive it is - you have to buy new clothes (not just while pregnant, but afterwards due to the weight that is hard to get rid of) extra food to feed the growing fetus, hospital bills, obgyn bills, prenantal vitamins...things a lot of people don't think about. Even little things like you get the flu and suddenly you can't take medicine to feel better because you're pregnant. Not to mention how it comes out *shudder* I thought about how painful it was every day for about two months - we'll just leave it at that... You have no idea what it takes to be pregnant for almost an entire year. If someone really doesn't want to have a baby and they want an abortion, they shouldn't get any harassment for it. I'm so glad we have our daughter and I love her more than anything and had wanted a baby forever, but I am loathe to relive the pregnancy part again once we decide to have another - it really is very difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designated_Driver Posted July 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Have I ever mentioned you rock? And I worship you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfdude Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Dudes that say they are pro-life are a joke, they don't have to carry **** in their bellies and in my opinion its not a life until birth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Twendrist Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 All I'm gona say is that anytime you have sex (unprotected or protected) there is a chance a baby will result (or worse a disease) and the couple needs to be prepared for that should it happen. If it does, killing the kid is not the answer for a mistake that was made. Now, then you have the instance of rape which is one of the few places where it could be acceptable (and even then it shouldn't be). There is a reason the church preaches abstinince. It's not because they are controling, it is because things like this happen and lives are lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Twendrist Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 Did you know at ten weeks the child has every finger and every toe? He/she has a heartbeat and complete bodily functions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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