Shortarmguy’s Crazy Emails Jan04

I am ashamed to tell you that I used to feel weird around handicapped people, because I did not understand why they were different, and my lack of understanding made me feel so bad that I found myself looking away, when smiled at. I never considered myself to be hurting anyone, because I did not think that they felt things the way I did. I did not give them the common courtesy of thinking they understood I wanted away from them, so I could feel “normal” again.

Over the last years I have watched my son grow, and I have seen him enjoy life in a way I never have. I sometimes see my son look at things I have always taken for granted and it makes me stop and see with simple wonder what he is seeing. He has made me open my eyes and see the beauty in things, and in people, that I never saw before.

My son’s best friend is a young boy who is unable to use his arms or legs as most people can, and has a hard time talking, but who is very smart. My son has Down’s but is very physically able to do almost anything (from years of chasing his older brother around).

When these two unlikely friends are with me, we laugh and play, and I find they are both more special than I will ever be. They have both accomplished things, together, and apart, that everyone thought they could never do. With my son’s hands, and his friends brains, these two young boys of six years old, just put together a 800 piece puzzle of The Gateway Arch. It did take them weeks (Yes, I gave up a table for weeks) and I know that it sounds like a simple thing…except when I admit that I  put that same puzzle away only half-finished no more than six months ago.

I guess I am trying to say that as I have finally come to see the beauty in the fact that we are all special, and I am so glad that I no longer feel weird around handicapped people.  My son has taught me to see that when someone is “disabled” or “special” in one way they are often “ABLED” and “SPECIAL” in another way.

Finding your website has been such a blessing for me. Your site inspires me, makes me laugh, and makes me think. Thank you. Although I will, in all likelihood, never meet you, through your site, you have become something like a friend to me. You have become a friend to many, through your website, and I think I speak for thousands when I say, as you always say…”Thank You For Sharing”.

Gina Williams

Hi, Gina!

Thanks for your feedback!  I have to honestly say that in the 3 years since I first started my site, yours is the first piece of hate mail I’ve received.

Although I’m glad you thought my site was “extremely inspirational” at first, the balance of your email is a bit concerning to me.  Exactly which parts of my site made me a racist and a homophobe?  Contrary to your opinion, I do happen to have a very diverse group of friends, some of whom are of a different race than myself and some of whom are of a different sexual preference.  None of these friends have told me they find my site anything less than entertaining and refreshing.

If you read other sections of my site, I try to explain my feelings when it comes to making fun of people.  I believe we live in a society where people take themselves far too seriously.  Therefore if we can just make jokes about what makes us different, perhaps some day we can learn to look beyond it and focus on what makes us the same.  Although my site does contain offensive jokes about different groups of people, I certainly don’t think you can make an argument that I make fun of any one group more so than I make fun of myself or that which makes me unique.

Perhaps I am a “fucking geek” and maybe God did give me a short arm to make up for past indiscretions, but I do strive to improve myself every day. 

So do you have any constructive criticism for me that I can use to help make my site fall back into the inspirational category or am I in your opinion forever beyond repair from being a racist, homophobic pig?

Sincerely,   

Shortarmguy

Dare To Be Different!
www.shortarmguy.com