Post by fullspeed on Jan 12, 2006 13:11:55 GMT 8
this just emailed to me by Bikester:
Titled : "To Good not to Read"
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled
>children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that
>would
>never be forgotten by all who attended.
>
>After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a
>question:
>
>
>"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does
>is
>done with perfection.
>Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot
>understand things as other children do.
>
>Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
>
>The audience was stilled by the query.
>
>The father continued. "I believe that when a child like Shay,
>physically
>and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to
>realise
>true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other
>people
>treat that child."
>
>Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a
>park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do
>you
>think they'll let me play?"
>
>Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like
>Shay
>on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were
>allowed
>to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some
>confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
>
>Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay
>could play, not expecting much! The boy looked around for guidance and
>a
>few boys nodded approval, why not?
>
>So he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six
>runs
>and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and
>we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
>
>Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a
>broad
>smile and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his
>heart.
>The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted.
>
>In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but
>was
>still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a
>glove
>and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was
>obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning
>from
>ear to ear as his father wave! d to him from the stands.
>
>In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
>
>Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was
>on
>base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do
>they
>let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
>Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all
>but
>impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly,
>much
>less connect with the ball.
>
>However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the
>other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved
>in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be
>able
>to make contact.
>
>The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher
>again
>took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
>As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball
>right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over, but the pitcher
>picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to
>the
>first baseman.
>
>Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
>
>Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first
>baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and
>both
>teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"
>
>Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base.
>He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone
>yelled,
>"Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran
>towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base.
>
>By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the
>ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero
>for
>his team for the first time.
>
>He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he
>understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the
>ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third
>base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward
>home.
>
>All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"
>
>Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and
>turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!
>Shay, run to third"
>
>As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were
>on
>their feet were screaming, Shay, run home!"
>
>Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who
>hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
>
>That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,
>the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity
>into this world."
>
>Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having
>never
>forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming
>home
>and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
>
>AND, NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY:
>
>We all send thousands of jokes through the email without a second
>thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices,
>people think twice about sharing. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene
>pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is
>too
>often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
>
>If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that
>you're
>probably sorting out the people on your address list that aren't the
>appropriate ones to receive this type of message.
>
>Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a
>difference.
>We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realise
>the natural order of things."
>
>So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us
>with
>a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we
>pass up that opportunity, leaving it and making the world a little
>colder
>in the process? A wise man once said "every society is judged by how it
>treats it's least fortunate amongst them".
Titled : "To Good not to Read"
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled
>children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that
>would
>never be forgotten by all who attended.
>
>After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a
>question:
>
>
>"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does
>is
>done with perfection.
>Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot
>understand things as other children do.
>
>Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
>
>The audience was stilled by the query.
>
>The father continued. "I believe that when a child like Shay,
>physically
>and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to
>realise
>true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other
>people
>treat that child."
>
>Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a
>park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do
>you
>think they'll let me play?"
>
>Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like
>Shay
>on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were
>allowed
>to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some
>confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
>
>Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay
>could play, not expecting much! The boy looked around for guidance and
>a
>few boys nodded approval, why not?
>
>So he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six
>runs
>and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and
>we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
>
>Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a
>broad
>smile and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his
>heart.
>The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted.
>
>In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but
>was
>still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a
>glove
>and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was
>obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning
>from
>ear to ear as his father wave! d to him from the stands.
>
>In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
>
>Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was
>on
>base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do
>they
>let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
>Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all
>but
>impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly,
>much
>less connect with the ball.
>
>However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the
>other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved
>in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be
>able
>to make contact.
>
>The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher
>again
>took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
>As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball
>right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over, but the pitcher
>picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to
>the
>first baseman.
>
>Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
>
>Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first
>baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and
>both
>teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"
>
>Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base.
>He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone
>yelled,
>"Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran
>towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base.
>
>By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the
>ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero
>for
>his team for the first time.
>
>He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he
>understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the
>ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third
>base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward
>home.
>
>All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"
>
>Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and
>turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!
>Shay, run to third"
>
>As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were
>on
>their feet were screaming, Shay, run home!"
>
>Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who
>hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
>
>That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,
>the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity
>into this world."
>
>Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having
>never
>forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming
>home
>and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
>
>AND, NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY:
>
>We all send thousands of jokes through the email without a second
>thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices,
>people think twice about sharing. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene
>pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is
>too
>often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
>
>If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that
>you're
>probably sorting out the people on your address list that aren't the
>appropriate ones to receive this type of message.
>
>Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a
>difference.
>We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realise
>the natural order of things."
>
>So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us
>with
>a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we
>pass up that opportunity, leaving it and making the world a little
>colder
>in the process? A wise man once said "every society is judged by how it
>treats it's least fortunate amongst them".