Well Look Who Betrays Neurodivergents: it's the ones standing next to Trump

Tha fact that MAGA privileges visible physical disabilities over invisible disabilities doesn't make them any less disabled, though. I think the photo condemns the small-mindedness of whoever thought that they had captured a full picture of disability by having those two people up on the stage, rather than showing any harm in the people themselves.

I agree its about the small mindedness of the person who wanted the photo-op. But no disabled person or war vet with disabilities should have agreed to stand beside him in that environment of Arlington Cemetery. So bad.

I still would like not to judge them, since I don't know what choices and necessities led them there.

Good. Your no judgement will counteract my ruffled feathers

I have considered your comment further. Because I have come to respect you, I wish to further explain my perspective. It is not just our responsibility to point out errors or try to guide others through the darkness: at some point we must walk the talk. We cannot hide behind memes and words.

It was their choice to make such a stand. They found it necessary to provide a mirror reflection of what it means to have become disabled by war. Which is fine. However, that was an inappropriate venue. They chose to stand and flout the rules of the cemetery where our brothers and sisters are buried.

When someone decides to make a stand by participating in a photo opportunity for a political candidate as a representative of a demographic, then that person needs to accept responsibility for that image. They planted a seed in the subconscious of other disabled people by holding up a mirror and pointing, "this is who you should be" which is the basest level of consciousness. I do not like being manipulated at any level. And I get extra to protective when I know my fellow man is being manipulated at the subconscious level: because that is attempting to change others at the atomic level.

Respect right back at you!

My thought on why they might have made that choice: Perhaps the choice to stay off the stage felt like erasure to them? But also, disabled people (whatever their disability) have worked for a long time to be seen first as people, and not as merely standard bearers for their disability. Perhaps these two people were excited to get a chance to show their political beliefs in a public forum as people (even though, one, they're obviously being turned into tokens for the photo op and, two, those political beliefs are deplorable).

So I don't want to shame THEM.

Shame = Sorrowful Half Ape Miniscule Existence which is something I would never say about another human. "Shame on you" is a deplorable phrase. "Boo!" is better. I like your response. Thank you for the dialogue.

Off-topic, but . . .

Ah..."Where darkness rules, fights the.champion of Light"....