May 28, 2010 1:26 PM
Down syndrome study: What would you do?
Through my tears:
I'm glad to pass this on - so we can all think and be prepared to stand up for those who are dependent on our goodwill to have a purposeful and meaningful life.
HT: Jawan via Little Wonders
Posted in Down syndrome | Permalink
Comments
I saw this when it originally aired. I was really challenged by this because normally I am a very quiet, non-confrontational person. I'd like to say that I would not hesitate to stand up for someone being treated so horribly. But when you see just how many people stayed silent, it made me wonder if I would be like them? I hope not. I really, really hope not.
But didn't you just LOVE the people that were bold enough to stand up to the bullies? Made me want to applaud their behavior.
Posted by: April C. | May 28, 2010 1:36 PM
Before I had a child with D.S. I THINK I would have stood up for the clerk, but now that I have my special son, I KNOW I would stick up for a person with a disability, or anyone else for that matter. Goes to show you that people with special needs, no matter the kind, teach us to be more compassiate.
Posted by: Julie | May 28, 2010 2:52 PM
I think -- I HOPE -- I would stand up for the bagger. I was very proud of the people who did.
Posted by: Christina | May 28, 2010 3:39 PM
What I found interesting is that most of the people who spoke up were women. The mother bear instinct, perhaps - or maybe women still feel that standing up to a man is safe in public, whereas a man may be physically challenged to a fight?
The young man who was the focus of all those insults carried himself with so much dignity and self-respect! If there is a label of mental disability, it belongs to those who would abuse people with Down's, not the ones they abuse.
Posted by: Jennifer | May 28, 2010 3:46 PM
I wonder if there is some sort of personality trait that makes someone more or less likely to stand up for someone being abused. I ask because it's something I've seen that crosses political/ideological barriers. My mother is very liberal, but I KNOW she would stand up to someone who was treating another person like that, while I have some conservative friends who probably would keep quiet to keep from getting into a confrontation.
I believe I would stand up, even though I'm pretty socially awkward. I just couldn't say nothing in the face of someone else being treated that way.
Maybe it's the compulsion to stand up to injustice, wherever we find it? All I know is that was one brave actor to stand and get that type of abuse. Even though he knew everything was just an act, it has to be hard to hear those type of things, especially when I'm sure he HAS heard them coming from others in the past.
Good for those who stood up to the jerks!
Posted by: Lauren | May 28, 2010 4:07 PM
I don't even know what to say. I know that in times like that, it has been a war going on inside me. One part wants to run and hide. The other part won't let me be until I stand up and say something. I might be shaking and unsure of myself but I can't NOT say something.
This happened to me once a long time ago when I was in high school. The kids in my art class waited for an unpopular boy to come into class and they (all at the same time)threw wet sponges at him. He ran from the room. The teacher...did...nothing. I told the kids off. I wish that I had reported this to the principal or my parents or somebody but I didn't. I don't think anyone ever did because I don't remember anything coming of it. Come to think of it, that was the only class I ever failed.
It is so scary to have to stand up and speak the truth. I understand those people who said nothing or just something kind of quiet. I don't agree with it but I understand the fear. And that's what we have to overcome. Whether it's with people with disabilities or the Tea Party movement or speaking our Christian faith. (And in my case, my Catholic Christian belief).
This was an important video. Thank you, Barbara, for posting it. I am hoping that it will give us enough courage to stand up when we need to.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | May 28, 2010 5:23 PM
My oldest daughters (not special needs) worked as baggers at a grocery, and put up with all manner of abuse from irritable customers who seemed to think it was OK to demean someone with such a "menial" job. They had to be tough to put up with that and still smile and serve the customers... it is hard for me to imagine my youngest girl, who does have a developmental disability, in that situation. I had tears thru this video, too. Thank God for the good people who did speak up.
Posted by: Kate J | May 28, 2010 6:59 PM
Having a child with Ds myself, I would not keep quiet one bit. I'd have quite a lot to say, actually. I was so angry when I saw this and it didn't help that it was actors. I was still so angry at the people just standing by being silent. BUT, before I had my son, I don't know if I'd have had the courage to stand up for the bagger. Tough call...
Posted by: Monica | May 28, 2010 7:05 PM
Well, my eyes were wet when that was over. It can be hard to stand up to bullies, but it empowers you and the victim of bullying when you do. I stood up to a gym teacher in jr. high who was a big bully- all the girls were afraid of her, and I was frankly terrified at that moment, but as I stood my ground, I started to feel that whatever happened, it was worth it.
Your site has helped me understand down-syndrome more than any other source I've ever seen.
Posted by: Mary Eckstein | May 29, 2010 7:30 AM
Great piece, Barbara! I love these "What would you do?" segments. I just wanted to point out to those readers who commented that they "hope" they'd have the courage to stand up for the bagger: convince yourself that you would. Your beliefs will become your reactions if you dialogue with yourself and say, "yes, beyond the shadow of a doubt-this is how I would react." Walking through hypothetical scenarios and asking yourself "what would I do?" is the best training for these real life scenarios. I equate it with military combat training in which a soldier is placed in very stressful scenarios and taught how to react in an emergency. Please don't be too timid to be a warrior for a innocent bystander.
Posted by: Kate | May 29, 2010 9:13 PM
I cried through this video. I've been on the receiving end of such comments as well as seen my friends suffer the same fate.
Sometimes we've been lucky enough to have someone step in and defend us, other times we've just had to stand there.
It's funny. Now that I'm older I will stand up for anyone, friend or not who is being abused yet the second someone says the "R" word to me, I suddenly can't find my voice.
At least in Australia we don't use the term "Mental Retardation" for any disability.
But that means the only time you hear the "R" word is when it's being said as a putdown.
I'm going to send this video to everyone I know. It's a real reality check!
Posted by: Rhiannen Sugars | May 31, 2010 8:50 AM
I would just hope that in real life the checkers would feel empowered enough to either tell the rude customers to take a hike or to call the manager to do it for them. I know doctors who have "fired" patients for being rude to their office staff.
Posted by: Peony Moss | June 2, 2010 4:17 PM
