Dignity

Dignity

by Tom Woodard

When I lived in Eutaw, Alabama, around 2008, I was piling some scrap metal (old gutters, etc) out by the road and a young Black man drove up in an old pickup truck and asked me if he could have it. I said "Sure", and as I continued to carry pieces to the road, he began trying to put them in the bed of the truck. I noticed that he seemed be having some difficulty, and as I looked more closely, I saw that he had no arms. On his left shoulder was a deformed hand, attached directly to his shoulder, and protruding from his right shoulder was a small, short stump of flesh-covered bone. He was trying to fold up the pieces of gutter with his feet!! When I realized this, of course, I asked him if he could use some help, which he gladly accepted.
After we got all of the scrap metal in the truck, he sat behind the wheel and we began to talk. He was born without arms - a birth defect - and he showed me how he had taught himself to drive with his feet. He had developed tremendous dexterity with them, and steered with the toes of one foot while operating the pedals with the other foot. He cranked the truck with those toes!!! Naturally, I was quite taken with his gumption and initiative, and told him that I was very impressed with his determination not to be a victim. Then he cranked the truck and went on his way! I will never forget this as long as I live!!

The MORAL OF THE STORY IS THIS: We have millions of people in this Country who lie and cheat to get on welfare, disability, and SSI, so that they can live free off of others. There is no pride in that, no self-esteem, no self-worth, no freedom, no identity, no dignity - no soul. It is a shameful existence based upon stealing from one's fellow man. ...

And yet, here was this young Black man with no arms .............

Copyright September 30th, 2011, by Tom Woodard

NOTE: Please understand, dear reader, that I am perfectly aware that many who are on public assistance for one reason or another truly cannot care for themselves. This story is not about them, or meant in any way to demean them. But the Scriptures say, "If a man [being able-bodied] will not work, neither shall he eat." It is these to whom I make reference here, not to the truly mentally or physically disabled.

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