Where is American Spirit?

[Guest guest]

I will understandably defer to Dan Kennedy as to whether my post is acceptable.

If not, at least I have gotten a lot of painful feelings off my chest to no

avail and to no hurt to anyone.

I have been a " lurker " to this site for quite some time, respectfully reading

everyone's posts and accepting and deleting many. After this difficult week

when we have seen not much hope in site for recovering the thousands of lives

left in the rubble, seen the stock market crumble drastically, read about

thousands upon thousands of layoffs in the airline industry (most notably Boeing

in our neighborhood), I just want to say where is our American spirit? Why are

we throwing in the towel so early? As little people, I don't even think that is

an issue, as we have struggled all of our lives and know what it is to work just

a little bit harder to get what we need. Our son was always of the thinking

when it is hard, I just don't want to do it any more, and we tried to let him

know that it took hard work and many times a fight to get where you wanted to

go. It is so discouraging to see the majority of America giving up so easily,

succombing to their fears (which is exactly what the terrorists want), and

giving up.

I guess my message is, I do not believe our community is in that majority, as we

know what it is to work a little bit harder for what we need to just survive,

and I am so proud of all of you for that. I wish we could pass on to America

that we do have to work hard, sacrifice some and nothing comes easy, and to

please don't give up the ship so easily when times get hard. Those fearless

firefighters, still in the trenches trying to find at least one life, still

haven't given up the ship, so why should we?

In closing, our chapter wanted to do something and decided to donate some money

to the Red Cross. We had heard of a little person, Colleen Fraser, who

tragically lost her life in the plane crash in Pennsylvania. Upon further

investigation, we learned she was a wonderful advocate who had worked almost her

entire life for those with disabilities. In reading comments from her most

respected associates, it is truly believed that her spirit (and red hair and

cane) possibly may have been instrumental in bringing down that plane. She

always saw a threat to people with disabilities and their families and protected

them to the end. Hence the spirit of little people -- we aren't that willing to

give up that easily. Hopefully the American people will feel the same. God

Bless America and thank you to Barty, for bringing us all together as

Little People of America. -- Kathie Blain, President, Puget Sound Chapter