Painful

A lesbian and an alcoholic walk onto a stage set…

Sounds like the start to a terrible, demeaning joke.
It is. But no one was joking about homosexuality, or being a drunk.

I hate to focus on the negative, as that is precisely what I’m trying  to overcome, but when I see this kind of train wreck, it’s hard to look away. It’s even harder to explain. There are “educated” people out there who believe themselves so righteous that they can mock another human’s right to live a normal (see: average) existence, job skills, sexuality, abilities and height based on their [alleged] phobia?

Build a bridge, ladies… then jump off. Please. For the sake of man kind, both tall and small.
Aren’t there enough self-fulfilling prophesies out there? Are there not enough people on talk shows that already hate themselves- so much so that they target others?

I find the best comedians, the ones with real talent, are the ones that can bring you to tears not making fun of a specific group of people. Rosie, you’re gay. Yay! for you. Chelsea, you’re a drunk. Yay! for you. Let me offer you both  a medal of honor. Both women have their differences out in the public eye because they chose to share. Addie and thousands of other little people never have the option to hide their difference if they want to. Walking into a room and choosing who to let in on an intimate detail of their life is not something they will decide upon, yet people choose to  mock.

Dwarfism awareness is being adopted by states, albeit rather slowly, and yet there are still such nasty people. It’s wrong to mock the gay community- I agree, wholeheartedly. And alcoholics should be nurtured to gain control of their disease, although if self-loathing jokes are what helps for now, good luck. No one can make an addict go to rehab. Does the community consisting of little people, their parents, friends, relatives and peers not deserve the same respect? Live and let live.

Let me tell you a secret, ladies. Addie, and all the other little people you so fear, can in fact get jobs; the first female president with dwarfism was just born, you see on April 17, 2012.

And thus, I have seen this video.  I actually viewed it for the first time the day Addie was diagnosed, sitting in my chair-converted-bed at Hasboro, holding my sick little girl and wondering what this unrelated, lifelong diagnosis had in store for her. Being a new parent is challenging. Having a sick baby is hard. Being in the hospital with a sick child is painful. Having your whole world (ultimately, your child’s world) change in a day, while in the hospital with a sick child is mind boggling.

Perhaps spreading this video is promoting its evil, but my true intentions are to show people who have similar feelings how ridiculous they sound coming out of the  mouth of others. There is a slew of videos lashing out at Oprah’s network for airing this, as well as to Rosie and Chelsea Handler- please search them, and heed their words: this video is ignorant, does not and will not ever describe little people and will not be tolerated anymore.

Concluding my rage and sadness, I watch Addie’s breath come in and out and her back rises and falls. Her chest puffing out into mine as she sleeps on me. She’s not your average  baby-she’s so much more, and I am blessed to have her. I breathe in as I gently kiss the top of her head, smelling her freshly washed hair, smile and breathe out.

Being surrounded by so many good people and a new community of friends- I feel sorry for people like Rosie and Chelsea. Not for being gay. Not for being drunk. Stupid. I’m so sorry they’re stupid.

And, for some inspiration, strength and a good education, check out this amazing 10-year old, Alex!