Here I am posting my reaction to the Austin Stokes case. In case you've, I dunno, been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, Austin Stokes is a 14-year-old with CP (Cerebral palsy, which I also have) who was beat up Thursday by a SENIOR at his high school. How did this all start, you ask? Senior called Austin a retard, and Austin retaliated by throwing a Coke can at him. The other kid then punched him so hard he was knocked off his feet and chipped a tooth when he hit the ground. Austin is legally blind and the left side of his body is paralyzed. Now, someone just pointed out to me. "Well, Austin is the one who made it physical by throwing a Coke can." Really? You expect him to not defend himself. Okay, let's say he didn't throw the Coke can. What if Austin had simply said, "Well, you're an asshole." I don't think the other kid would've been any less likely to punch him, with or without the Coke can. The point is, if "retard" had not been said, this would not have happened. Trust me, I know how it is. I've been called 'retard'. I've also been called, 'Pillsbury' and when I was in high school I used to be afraid to go down the hall after lunch because there was a football player who'd say, "Give me your lunch money or I'll flip your chair."
What is more appalling is that this kid is facing simple assault charges. We need to stop sending messages to our children that it's all right to prey on the weak. Austin can't defend himself. Neither can I. Sure, if I was in my chair I might be able to do SOMETHING, but if you take me out of my chair and beat the crap out of me I could potentially lie there for HOURS because I can't get up.
But that's just my opinion.
