What About My Walking?

Some of you have noticed that a few things have crept in that don't exactly have to do with my own personal walking. Fair enough. I do reserve the right to write about whatever I like, but I will attempt to NEARLY always bring the subject back around to walking, mine or otherwise, or the subject of Big Man Walking.

Today I have had a lot on my agenda and still I am back and forth on the phone with the new insurance company. I'll head out with the dog in a little bit.

I'm still putting FreeRice.com in the link "underneath" the title of my post most of the time because I think it is really important and it is something nearly everyone can do - just like walking.

So look for extra stuff related to walking (or close to related) in the second section of a post and I'll try and keep the first part about MY walking.

I am walking. You can walk. Please walk today. No matter what.

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Funny But Probably Quite Useful Invention

Shocking Treatment Of Paraplegic

Watching MSNBC for a few minutes I was shocked to see the horrendous treatment of a paraplegic man by law enforcement in Florida.

I have said more than once that one reason I'm blogging about walking is that the vast majority of us can actually walk, as opposed to more physically taxing forms of exercise that many are not ready to participate in. Here is an article about a man who is confined to a wheelchair and dumped out of it by a deputy:


Digital Journal


I personally believe that this "deputy" should never be allowed to work in law enforcement in the United States (or anywhere, for that matter) again.

Here are comments about the article
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by Cynthia T. [Picasso] #1

I watched this on the news this morning.
I found it shocking the way this man was dumped onto the floor. Then for the other deputies to search him while he was on the floor.

For all those who were a part of this they need to be held accountable and punished for it.


by Pamela Jean (GotTheScoop) #2

What on earth is happening to people!? I saw this video on my local news this morning as well and just thought that obviously the world is just losing it. What on earth could possess anyone to just dump a paraplegic onto the floor like a piece of trash, and then think they shouldn't be fired like immediately is beyond me.

The guy dumped on the floor stated: “There’s a lot of things that can set it right,” Sterner said. “One would be the sheriff apologizing to me personally. The next thing that can happen is the state’s attorney can get involved, and then [Florida Gov.] Charlie Christ can get involved and then somebody else that leads this country can get involved.”

Wow, now there is a really incredible guy. He isn't threatening to sue, he isn't working the system, he is just trying to use this incident to wake people up to what is happening in this world.

by Bob Ewing #3

[name edited] and she is now suspended without pay while investigators look into the incident.
this is a person unfit to be a police officer.

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This video link is from MSN Australia:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=379241

Chris Rock made a harsh joke about having a reason (or feeling like you have a reason) to push an old man down a flight of stairs (or something close to that) and he emphasized that you may feel that way, BUT DON'T DO IT. One point I believe he was making was about the frustration level that you can reach with someone and how it doesn't matter how frustrated you get, there are some things you simply CANNOT DO to someone. I don't know if this law enforcement "professional" was frustrated or simply tragically oblivious, but her behavior was so wrong.

Do we take our health for granted? I am happy to be able to walk and not have any serious issues beyond weight. I would hate to be at the mercy of people like this "officer" because I didn't have the ability to walk.

Start Walking In Paris

Yesterday I had a friendly phone conversation with Lucille Shaw, a financial advisor at Finances for Life. Lucille is a friend from Expressions Unlimited, my home Toastmasters club. Click here to see a photo of her and two other walkers from a recent post. Lucille is on the left.

While I started walking because I know I really, really need to do something about my health while I still have it, Lucille has been working out regularly for a while. She told me that when she was at the University of Illinois, she walked in some pretty nasty weather as a student. This experience turned her off to walking for a while and over the years she has done plenty of exercise in the gym. A few years ago, she and her husband visited Spain, Italy and France and she made reservations at hotels that were within walking distance of the museums and other sites she wanted to see. In Paris and Barcelona Lucille didn't have to fight snow while walking and she found out that she might actually like walking at temperatures above freezing. She even does half-marathons now.

What a fun way to rediscover walking!

You might find walking fun or you might be doing it to get in shape or lose weight or all three. Take that first step at home or in some exotic location, but take that first step. Then take another. And another.

I am walking. (So is Lucille.) You can walk. Please walk today. No matter what.