Disabled Unite!

The following letter to the editor by me, Brian Leekley, appeared on page 4A of the Marquette, Michigan, The Mining Journal, on Friday, August 5, 2005, under the heading, "Disabled unite!"

     I agree with Trembath's letter of July 1. She advocates knowing and obeying handicapped parking laws and gives examples of abuse of, and misunderstanding of, those laws and advocates steep fines, correct signage, and citizen patrols.
     When someone parks in a handicapped spot in a car with a handicapped sign or plate but does not appear to be disabled, do not hastily jump to the conclusion that an able-bodied person is cheating. Maybe, maybe not. The law rightly recognizes as disabled persons with certain medical conditions that are not apparent at a glance. So make polite,open-minded inquiries before making accusations.
     A handicapped parking space typically includes diagonal lines. It is unlawful to park on or obstruct the space defined by those lines. During the years I took care of my aphasic and hemiplegic mother, I often drove her to stores. I pivoted her on her good leg from wheelchair to passenger seat and back. This required a wide-open car door and lots of maneuvering space, which was provided by the diagonal lines. It was aggravating when they were obstructed. In one instance, I could not use a handicapped parking spot because someone thoughtless had left a dumpster on the diagonal lines.
     It is not only at parking places that some people are inconsiderate of the disabled. One time my mother and I were on a car excursion when she needed to use a toilet. I stopped at a gas station mini mart. It had a unisex, accessible bathroom. However, employees had stacked boxes in the aisle to the bathroom, making it impassable by wheelchair.
     Disabled persons, with their families, friends, and allies, need to organize, with the mission to strengthen rights of the disabled laws and regulations, to improve enforcement of them, and to educate the public about them. I wish I knew of such an organization in Marquette. Such an organization might develop Trembath's idea of citizen patrols. Approved stickers could be put on handicapped parking signs, giving an 800 number that would reach a volunteer who would contact police and a volunteer living in the vicinity of the infraction who would rush there and take photos for evidence. Fines are not enough. Rapid response is also needed.

         Brian Leekley
          Marquette, Michigan

The Land of Nice

This letter to the editor appeared in the Marquette, Michigan, Mining Journal on 5-20-2005 page 4A.

     When I moved to Marquette, I noticed how nice everyone was. Everywhere I went -- a store, a bank, a cafe, a government office -- people behaved like friendly neighbors.
     My first impression lasted. When I submitted an article to a local periodical that did not fit its format, the rejection letter the editor sent me was so nice my impulse was to add her to my Christmas card list. The policeman who gave me a wrong turn ticket deserves a nice cop medal.
     I learned that Marquetters are extra nice because there is a taboo here against acting not nice. Being sincerely nice is appreciated; being insincerely nice is acceptable; being not nice is not acceptable. The taboo is enforced in nice ways.
     Once at work I made a faux pas to which a co-worker, who was suffering stress in his personal life, responded with angry shouts. I timidly returned to my work, and after some fuming, he calmed down. Until he resumed being nice, co-workers and the owners treated him with bewildered concern about his behaving freakishly. Everyone asked if I were OK.
     An NMU student told me of a time he was driving around Marquette with friends when another driver made some irritating mistake. The student moved a hand toward his car horn, not actually touching it. For the rest of the ride, his friends teased him. Here, even thinking about honking a horn in anger is taboo.
     I have not yet formed a pro or con opinion on recalling from office certain Marquette politicians. I have read conflicting accounts; the situation is unclear. The city lawyer got fired without cause. Was the problem personality conflict? Did she get caught between feuding factions? Was she the victim of sexism or of whistleblower retaliation? Other?
     Normally anyone has the right to discontinue the services of an adviser, whether a lawyer, accountant, consultant, whatever. What displeased Marquetters was that some persons in the city government broke the taboo against acting not nice, with, to wit, temper tantrums, backroom politics, an ambush firing, treating others with disrespect. I expect how well those threatened with recall will fare will depend a lot on how fast and well they learn to be invariably nice.
     I saw a TV ad for a local businessman in which a lady enthuses, "He's a hard worker and a nice man!" That sums up the ideal Marquetter.

          Brian Leekley
          Marquette, Michigan