Let's go, Maa-at, let's go!
April 24, 2013 8:34 AM Subscribe
I saw this a few years ago, maybe here, but I still love it.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:01 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:01 AM on April 24, 2013
Magic?
No, he's just a kid doing the best he can with the limitations his body has given him and to make him over into a source of inspiration for those without those limitations is to deny him to be his own person.
The teacher and kids in the video did it exactly right. He decided what he wanted to do, that he wanted to run the same laps as all the other kids and they let him get on with it, offering moral support when needed but not cheapening his achievement through cheating. It's clear they didn't so much think of Matt as somebody special as just another friend they needed to support.
There shouldn't be a need to cry about this for those of us who aren't his mother, as this is just ordinary people doing the right thing, as should be the norm, not the exception.
posted by MartinWisse at 9:01 AM on April 24, 2013 [13 favorites]
No, he's just a kid doing the best he can with the limitations his body has given him and to make him over into a source of inspiration for those without those limitations is to deny him to be his own person.
The teacher and kids in the video did it exactly right. He decided what he wanted to do, that he wanted to run the same laps as all the other kids and they let him get on with it, offering moral support when needed but not cheapening his achievement through cheating. It's clear they didn't so much think of Matt as somebody special as just another friend they needed to support.
There shouldn't be a need to cry about this for those of us who aren't his mother, as this is just ordinary people doing the right thing, as should be the norm, not the exception.
posted by MartinWisse at 9:01 AM on April 24, 2013 [13 favorites]
Another kid with cerebral palsy who is, in a different way, also bloody impressive.
posted by Decani at 9:17 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Decani at 9:17 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Fucking kids, man, making me remember that the point of athletics is not the winning but the competition.
All those kids, especially Matt, are more than welcome to come over to my lawn AND DO WHATEVER THE FUCK THEY WANT ON IT.
posted by KingEdRa at 9:28 AM on April 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
All those kids, especially Matt, are more than welcome to come over to my lawn AND DO WHATEVER THE FUCK THEY WANT ON IT.
posted by KingEdRa at 9:28 AM on April 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
MartinWisse: "There shouldn't be a need to cry about this for those of us who aren't his mother, as this is just ordinary people doing the right thing, as should be the norm, not the exception."
It made this bitter sonofabitch well up, because all too goddamn often it *doesn't* fucking happen.
posted by notsnot at 9:43 AM on April 24, 2013
It made this bitter sonofabitch well up, because all too goddamn often it *doesn't* fucking happen.
posted by notsnot at 9:43 AM on April 24, 2013
We have a young man with cerebal palsy in my Tae Kwon Do class.
His kicks aren't too high, and it takes him longer to do his forms than the other students. However, he's truly earned every belt he's gotten. He also has amazing upper body strength!
posted by luckynerd at 10:16 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
His kicks aren't too high, and it takes him longer to do his forms than the other students. However, he's truly earned every belt he's gotten. He also has amazing upper body strength!
posted by luckynerd at 10:16 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have CP, and I've also gone after what I wanted with a little help from my friends. As MartinWisse says, it's not really as hard as you'd think to find a little of the milk of human kindness if you go looking for it :)
posted by StrikeTheViol at 12:28 PM on April 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by StrikeTheViol at 12:28 PM on April 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Another kid with cerebral palsy who is, in a different way, also bloody impressive.
Jesus, I hope that kid goes far because he is funny and sharp as hell. Like even all of the off-the-cuff stuff.
I was trying to find out some background info though and couldn't. Would kind of like to know when he started becoming interested in stand-up and what got him into it. Because to be performing at that level at 14 is, I think, pretty impressive.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 1:58 PM on April 24, 2013
Jesus, I hope that kid goes far because he is funny and sharp as hell. Like even all of the off-the-cuff stuff.
I was trying to find out some background info though and couldn't. Would kind of like to know when he started becoming interested in stand-up and what got him into it. Because to be performing at that level at 14 is, I think, pretty impressive.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 1:58 PM on April 24, 2013
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This is just a small part of the magic that people with special needs bring to this world. I'm not sure people really understand that, but I hope this video helps.
posted by MustardTent at 8:48 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]