Let’s face it.
How many times have we watched someone pull into a prime handicapped parking spot and made instant judgments whether the person getting out of the car is REALLY handicapped?
Kansas City Star columnist Mary Sanchez is often quick to give her opinions on a wide range of topics and take to task people who judge others. But her column today made her seem just a tad judgmental regarding exactly who is parking in handicapped spots.
Sanchez relayed a story of a Raytown man, Chris Sampson, who is a quadriplegic and says he witnessed a fan park in a handicapped spot and pull out a wheelchair and fill it with beverages .
“They’re borrowing grandma’s placard for prime parking,” Sampson said. “No shame, no shame whatsoever.”
“His disgust appeared justified Sunday before the loss to the Chargers, although it’s difficult to judge for sure by eyeballing, as a lot of disabilities aren’t obvious,” notes Sanchez. “But hardly a wheelchair, cane or walker was in sight, just lots of people scurrying from cooler to grill.”
“My mother in law had Parkinson’s Disease when she finally got a disabled placard,” noted Mike Throop on Facebook. “One of us might have been driving her someplace and I am sure someone thought we were pulling something.
“A reporter reporting assumptions? Not good.”
Another felt those who illegally park in handicapped spots will get their due.
“Jumping to conclusions regarding able bodied people parking in the “wrong” place can backfire – big time. That, and what goes around, comes around. Jerks always get their due payment.”
Maybe Sanchez and even Sampson should be a little less judgmental regarding who parks in handicapped spots.
DROPPED SUBSCRIPTION
Her and Lewis Diuguid’s columns are among the reasons why I dropped my subscription years ago.
LIKED HER COLUMN
I actually liked Mary’s column today and even went to the trouble of sending her an e-mail saying so. Anyone using one of these handicapped spaces should be prepared to provide the necessary documentation if asked to do so, particularly if it’s not readily apparent that a member of the party is indeed disabled. I also told Mary that it was my recollection that several years ago then-Chiefs GM Carl Peterson was caught parking in one of these handicapped spaces at a downtown K.C. business, thus setting a poor example for everyone else in “Chiefs Kingdom”. But yes, John, Mary does come off as being a little judgmental at times.
A CHIEFS ISSUE?
Mary would lose her mind at Wal-mart, it seems everyone has a handicapped sticker there. I do question why it is so appalling to her now, is it just because it is the Chiefs?
STORY MISSES POINT
I’ve had friends who had open heart surgery, get a handicapped placard for a few weeks for the post op recovery. Most good reporters know a lot of people get them for non-visible maladies but obviously this story misses the point. Seems to be “as usual” in today’s media.
COLUMNISTS SUPPOSED TO JUDGE
columnists are supposed to be judgmental. Otherwise, what’s the point?