Thursday, January 15, 2009
Outside reading post #12
In Moving Violations, the author John Hockenberry reflects on where his wheelchair has taken him and what he has accomplished since his accident. From the moment he first lost control of his legs, Hockenberry has been a fighter, always looking for ways to challenge himself and defy all odds. His father noticed this as well and noted his observations by telling Hockenberry, "'You know, John, your mother and I think you use your wheelchair as a crutch...Your mother and I think that if you weren't in the wheelchair you would never have gotten this far'" (180-181). Because of his wheelchair, Hockenberry has not settled for just scraping by. In fact, he would search for obstacles and in doing so, he would reach extraordinary heights. But Hockenberry's father was not only referring to his son's determination to triumph over impossible challenges. John Hockenberry knew exactly what his father meant and said, "He was talking about pulling my own weight for all the world to see" (181). Hockenberry would never let anyone assist him. He was determined to make it through under his own power in order to prove to the world that his will to succeed was not abated by his disability. Hockenberry always had this strength within him, but his parents believed that if it weren't for the wheelchair, his fortitude may never have had a chance to present itself. Hockenberry's life provides a perfect example of how only the worst of situations can refine us to excellence.
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3 comments:
I agree with you on the fact that the worst situations can greatly refine an individual. Situations of diffuculty can do many things to individuals; they can alter one's view of the world; they can make good out of bad and; they can greatly strengthen an individual. These things can only happen if an individual handles the situation correctly. Otherwise, difficult situations can completely ruin an individual.
I think that the idea that Hockenberry worked harder for achievements because of his disability than he would have otherwise is really interesting. He might not have achieved what he did if he wasn't disabled, and his extraordinary work ethic would have been wasted. I think that what he has done as someone with a disability is a huge achievement, because of the set-backs he undoubtedly had to overcome.
I think that it is really amazing how he kept going after his accident and accomplished what he always wanted to, but I also think he is an exceptional person to do so. There are a lot of people who would have given up in his position, and let their disability control them. This is why I don;t think it is one hundred percent correct to say that his disability was what made him accomplish what he wanted, because I think that it was more about the person who he is.
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