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This is how I remember life early on! HIGH SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2009 Scenario 1: Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack. 1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack. 2009 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers. Scenario 2: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school. 1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies. 2009 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it. Scenario 3: Jeffrey will not sit still in class, he disrupts other students. 1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again. 2009 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability. Scenario 4: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.. 1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman. 2009 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist. Scenario 5: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school. 1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock. 2009 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons. Scenario 6: Pedro fails high school English. 1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college. 2009 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English. Scenario 7: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed. 1957 - Ants die. 2009 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents -- and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again. Scenario 8: Wally falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Nancy. Nancy hugs him to comfort him. 1957 - In a short time, Wally feels better and goes on playing. 2009 - Nancy is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison... Wally undergoes 5 years of therapy. This should hit every email inbox to show how stupid we have become!!

And there in lies the problem "close enough is good enough, why waste money on stuff that wont get used very often?

A good number of deaf people have been killed in chokehold by police officers. ( I have nothing against them and in matter of fact, we consider each other as professional partnership and my prayer is on my lips every single day for not cops but all responders). Why? Deaf tends to frantically tried to use hands saying they just cannot breath. I don't know about the same situation with paramedic but heaven help them since they do not know ASL.Pity. Ok.. now how about this,, if you come across the worst disaster similiar to 9/11 and you come across countless Deaf patients who look at your eyes and pleading you to please communicate in a hurry. Can you do that? NAH! I mean.. come on now. What about a very short person who cannot lift the stretcher? What about a cop with artifcial leg, running after a bad guy? What about this ? I had a DEAF doctor at university who treated me. No.. I mean.. seriously he did. You guys GOT to stop slapping disabled folks with DIS-Ablitity.. and START looking for a disabled responder's ABILITY. In matter of fact, I am sure this Deaf responder would be able to perform a far better than some of your areas that you ARE NOT GOOD at. An EMS director , when he heard about me as a Deaf responder.. he was THRILLED! You wanna know why ? He valued my skill.. he lived in a small city where there was a Deaf campus and he needed a person like me. So... stop and THINK. And be willing to work together as team. Compensate each other for skills they lack. All those responds I have read here, I hear door slamming shut without giving another thought of what Deaf EMS can do rather than what they cannot do.. You certainly missed some wonderful responders. Too bad for you but you know what? this is not going to stop me. I believe in my ablitiy and I can do my job. Ain't giving up just because of you guys have been saying in this forum. I sure as hell ain't going to let this negative perspective stop me from applying as a volunteer. Think it over will ya ? If you have a gut, go read a book " On the Edge" written by a Deaf EMS. Sighs... Next time, before you slam the door.. think. Work together.