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Handicapped By Fear

By Lorella Praeli, Connecticut

At the age of two, Lorella was in a car accident and lost her right leg. She wears a prosthetic leg. While people see her as handicapped, she believes there is no greater handicap than the FEAR that prevents people from standing up and speaking our for what is right.

I am going to be an inspiration
And change perceptions around the world

You see
When I walk around
People automatically say
"She's handicapped"

What is a "handicap"?

HAN-DEE-CAP
Adjective.
A hindrance;
A mental or physical disability;
A disadvantage.

Autism,
Paralysis,
Dyslexia,
Blindness,
ADD,
Memory loss,

Call it what you will.

......

Let me tell you about a real disability.

......

You know it when you see something
And you should say something
But instead you say nothing
Or I'll say something the next time.

What if there is no next time?
That's what they said about Hitler
But for millions of people
It was too late.

You might wonder
How so many people get killed
While the world sits and watches
Saying nothing....
Doing nothing....

I know the answer
And so do you.
It's fear
F-E-A-R
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

What this world needs
Are people who are willing to speak up -
people who will never let the false evidence appear real.

You have the power
To make a decision
Will you dare to defy FEAR?
The challenge is yours.
If you don't
No one else will...