Excellence

With the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah only a few weeks away, and the Golden Globe Awards already handed out last Sunday, Jan. 20th, 2002 I began to examine my thoughts for this weeks article. I pondered on the equality of how people are rewarded for their performance and skills. Competition doesn't include the entire population and the medias interest isn't there either.

If you're disabled, you might begin to wonder if maybe we (who are handicapped) are an embarassment to all who are not. Should we not be included to save our own face? I guess you may think I'm coming on a bit strong in regards to the mistreatment of the disabled. Try to keep in mind we are walking in different shoes, than most. We are competing on a diverse level.

Hearing impairment (or any handicap) places you at a lower point in order for you to obtain recognition for excellence. The effort is often very tiring. However, the reward you gain from your accomplishment is exhilerating.

Why doesn't skill or performance get rated on an equal level in our society? After awhile the judgements become one-sided and partial when you're disabled. There is definitely a change needed immediately to make the standards more up to date to include all groups on a competitive level.

Life imitates art more then we may know. Hearing impaired or deaf people are depicted in the movies and television as being independent and self-relient. One of my favorite evening shows is 7th Heaven on the WB network. One of the regular characters on the show is deaf. Heather was able to graduate college and become a teacher. She dated the Reverend Camden's eldest son Matt. Matt, however is not deaf, yet eventually their relationship ended.

The actress left the series last season. She became a regular character on another WB series produced by Aaron Spelling called, Charmed. It wasn't until then I realized she is neither deaf nor hearing impaired in actual life. I have frequently noticed actors (who are not disabled) portray roles of people who are suppose to be.

Take for example this years movie hit of the Golden Globe, Beautiful Mind. The story involves a man with mental health problems enacted skillfully by Russell Crowe. Years ago in the 60's another brillant actor, Cliff Robertson won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a retarded man in the movie, Flowers for Algernon. For a brief period of time, the man was able to gain wisdom after surgery from a lab rats brain. What is the price we must pay for excellence?

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