Newspaper Article

A few years ago at the Seattle Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembeled at the starting line for the 100 yard dash. At the gun they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with the relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a few times and began to cry.

The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and paused. Then they all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said "This will make it better". Then all nine linked arms and walked to the finish line.

Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for ten minutes.

The World as 100 People

If we could shrink the world's population to a village of 100 people with all existing human ratios remaining the same, there would be 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the western hemisphere (north and south), and eight Africans. Fifty-two would be female. 48 male. Seventy would be non-white, 30 white. Seventy would be non-Christian, 30 Christian. Eighty-nine would be heterosexual, 11 homosexual. Fifty-nine percent of the entire world's wealth would be in the hands of only six people, and all six would be citizens of the United States. Eighty would live in substandard housing. Seventy would be unabie to read. Fifty would suffer from malnutrition. One would be near death, one would be near birth. One would have third level education. One would own a computer. When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for both acceptance and understanding becomes glaringly apparent.

 

~~~~~~ Navigation ~~~~~~

Home | Articles | Starsigns | Contacts | Recycling | Links | E-mail