THE BEIJING SHUFFLE

I hate to trump Mr. No Legs -- don't worry, he'll be back -- but the lovely GAIL WILLIAMSON, exec director of the Down Syndrome Association of LA sent me an article about the Beijing Olympics from the Times of London which is just INSANE. Titled DISABLED GROUPS OUTRAGED BY BEIJING SNUB, it describes what organizers think volunteers should know about the disabled, in their words, "a 'special group' with 'unique personalities and ways of thinking.'"

Here's my favorite bite from the article:

The section of the manual entitled “Skills for helping the disabled” goes on to say: “Some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial, and introspective. They can be stubborn and controlling . . . defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority."

But, hey, other than that, they are just like the rest of us!

I recommend that you read the whole piece at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4009610.ece

They don't like disabled folks in China. They think we're weird and slightly sub-human. According to the piece, there are bans on marriages between disabled people over there. I hope some stubborn, controlling, defensive, unsocial Paralympian goes over there and sets them straight.

And I know just the man for the job: MR. NO LEGS!