Capitol Hill Blue Forums Hot Topics & Breaking News The RoundTable Round Table For Wednesday Oct 22nd 2008

SCRANTON -- The city of Scranton is paying a woman $19,000 to settle a lawsuit spawned by her arrest on disorderly conduct charges for swearing at her overflowing toilet.

Scranton is also paying Dawn Herb's legal fees.


Herb was arrested last year after a neighbor, an off-duty police officer, heard her cursing through an open window.

A judge later found her not guilty, saying her language was constitutionally protected free speech.

The ACLU announced the settlement today.

Today is my birthday. I'm 64 years young. Someone told me today would be and exclamation point day. I might not go that far. After all we only can use three in our entire lifetime so I wouldn't want to diminish an extraordinary day by punctuating it when I know others can be down the pike. Exclamation life points are also comparable to time-outs in football, when the whistle blows, you can't take what is left to the locker room.

In conclusion, I'd give this a pencil dot on one of my exclamation points.

Martha and I went to see "The Dutchess." We really enjoyed it. The cinematography and costuming should easily win an Academy Award nod.

Going out with Martha, however, is the treat. Everyone should have a lot of opportunities to share the pure joy of just a what could be called a simple day because simple days are some of the most extraordinary.

After traveling around town with Martha, I don't come away thinking, "Thank God I'm Not in a Wheelchair." I come away thinking, "Thank God there is triumph over a wheelchair life."

Martha has given full permission to disclose that I am a totally useless helper.

I shamelessly confess I am an instant gratification type of person. To load up a handicapped person in a handicapped van is intricate. I'll bet brain surgery is no more precise.

First one has to deploy the ramp. Then the wheelchair has to be carefully guided onto the ramp. Then the really scary part starts. It looks for all the world as if the lift is going to tilt forward and deposit my friend onto the ground. Up we go anyway. When the ramp reaches it's zenith, Martha has to manually lower her head so that she will clear the top of the van. I think it is at that point, she firmly tells me to let go of all controls. Next she backs into the car. Pressing "stow" is the easiest point.

Today Martha said I believe, "Whew, now all we have to do is get me home safely."

Driving a big van is difficult for me, again the instant gratification urge to hit the gas not slowly and also the breaks and expect them to halt immediately. Plus I never back up a van. If I can't go forward, I usually don't go. I don't do backward well in life or in driving.

Upon arrival at our destination, the whole process has to be done in reverse. Like a general in a field of battle, Martha is in full command. She barks out the orders and, as I said, at some point she firmly tells me to take my hands off the controls least I should push an eject button. Observers must question why a lady in a parking lot backs away from the car and raises her hands into the air as if she is being robbed at gunpoint. It is not a gun that is pointed at my head, it is total fear of Martha!

I toted my mother around for 20 years during the time she was in a wheel chair and I thought I was handicapped informed.

I was not.

The movie theater which we frequent brags that it is totally handicapped accessible. Oh yea? The doors are almost not wide enough to accommodate a motorized chair such as Martha must have. The dang thing weights a ton and has to be wide to hold all that equipment and battery power.

In addition, the doors into and out of the theater are not automatic. If a person had the ability and inclination to attend a movie alone, they would be left out in the weather, shouting for someone to notice and let them in. Once inside the ticket area is a line set up for ticket purchasers. There is no way in either heaven or hell for a wheel chair to snake up to the ticket counter.

After that there are another side of narrow doors without automatic controls.

Now this is what we call handicapped accessible.

Oh and while I'm on my soapbox, those blue striped lines that are painted next to handicapped park places have a reason for being. They are not parking lot art. A big van with a ramp that lowers requires space. Beyond that space there needs to be an area for the person to exit the ramp and glide beyond. Once that maneuver has been executed, a person has to watch that the area smoothed on the curbing is clear in order to climb to the sidewalk.

After I broke my ankle and it seemed as if I might never be able to walk again without assistance, I told anyone who would listen to never take the simple act of walking for granted ever.

I ask you now never take away a disabled person's right to access. Never!

I ask you now never take away a disabled person's right to access. Never!