My
friend wears handicap blinders
My slightly disabled friend
kindly gives me rides sometimes, so I hesitate being a backseat driver, but
recently I noticed a pattern he employs that bugs me when it comes to his handicap
parking.
My buddy has a disability
permit. His first doctor said he was well enough and that he should walk more.
The doc would not recommend a special parking placard. So what did my friend
do? He drove to the next town for a second opinion.
I don’t believe he told
the second doctor what the first thought. Perhaps my friend exaggerated his agony,
trying to gain quick empathy. Another thing that bothers me is when my friend sometimes
aims to park in a designated spot; a regular parking spot is also open mere
steps away. What if someone with a more difficult disability needed the spot my
friend just snagged? Someone blind who’s experienced a horrific crash or a quadriplegic
needing room for his wheelchair?
Mt friend doesn’t see
it this way. For him it’s “First come, first serve!” When I see attitudes like
this I’m reminded of the nine UCLA football players who counterfeited handicapped
placards back in 1999*. Here was a case of our most able-bodied men caught
being parking cheats.
My friend makes the
argument that he needs the closest spot in the event of an icy pathway. Well,
maybe so, but some desired spots are icier because they’re closer to the
building shade! I would hope for snow my friend would don proper shoes or use lightweight
cleats. And call on me to guide him to the door.
Meanwhile, if my friend would consider nicer courtesy toward
those with less fortunate ambulatory capabilities, it would be a nice turn
of a walk for him to take.
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