Word: offer
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...Instead of acceding to either `all good' or `all bad,' we wanted to slow the pace of celebration and panic and by identifying some issues we believe to be critical for the 21st century, offer more thoughtful and historically-minded--and feminist--perspectives," Pellegrini said...
...prim well-dressed woman slowly swept the cane back and forth over the sidewalk, feeling for the curb. Obviously blind, she seemed unsure where the side walk ended and the street began. I approached, thinking I would offer her an arm. An elderly gentleman beat me to it, taking her arm and offering to take her across the street...
Violently. the woman shoved him away screaming "Crazy man! What kind of a world is this where a crazy man thinks he can help a lawyer across the street!" I was aghast at her response. In elementary school disability awareness sections I was taught to offer help to blind people, and how to do it. We learned how to recognize a blind person (dark glasses, canes, seeing eye dog) and how to lead him or her across the street on our arm. The programs--which I assume were shown to all public school students in Massachusetts if not the country...
Were the man and I both mistaken to assume she wanted help? Would she rather we didn't offer? I do not regularly see sight-impaired people walking without a friend or seeing-eye dog, so have never tried to help. To my eyes, he had done no more than reach out to someone who was obviously impaired. The woman implied that this instinctual kindness was odd and insulting. The incident I saw on the street scared me. I wish the woman had felt comfortable accepting the help. I congratulate her for being a lawyer and don't doubt...
...civilization acknowledges that all citizens operate at different levels of physical ability. We provide social security and Medicare to those no longer able to work. The handicapped use special ramps, restrooms and close-captioned televisions. The government's considerations indicate that individuals are correct to offer help...