Re: [at-l] Wheelchair-izing the AT

>Everyone,
>
>Time for my bi-annual rant. For those of you that do not know me, I am
>wheelchair bound from Multiple Sclerosis. Walking is not an option at
>this point in my life. That is not said to evoke sympathy, but simply to
>
>give perspective. Before this I was a backpacker and had a dream of
>thru-hiking the trail.
>
>I do not want the trail made easier or modified to allow more inclusive
>access. Although I do not consider the Trail to be wilderness in the
>same sense that I think of more remote regions of the U.S.,  I do think
>it is important to preserve as much of its "wildness" as possible.  I
>will be here and gone in another 30 or 40 years, but my children and
>their children will still be here. To want to taint their enjoyment by
>making the trail into a park is an act of selfishness of which I hope I
>am not capable.  I was going to carry on about the construction
>difficulties, the cost in manpower and dollars, etc., but I think I will
>
>stop there. Anyone who values the Trail does so, in part, because of its
>
>wild beauty.  To those who are handicapped like me that want to chink
>away at that, I would say the beauty is more important than what they
>want to do in this lifetime. To those who want to make the Trail more
>accessible out of a sense of social duty, I would say go teach some
>children in the inner city to read.
>
>As a side note, the ADA is a very important part of my life. It ensures
>that I can have access to the new mall that is built so that I can do my
>
>own shopping. It ensures that I can find reasonable employment and that
>employers will make reasonable accomodations to use the part of me that
>does function properly - my brain. In short, it allows me to stay as
>independent as possible for as long as possible.  I resent the use of
>this critical piece of my life for individualized and selfish purposes.
><stepping off the off-topic soapbox with appropriate apologies>.
>
>OK,  I went on a bit. Back to lurk mode.
>
>Max Rice
>
>
>
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