The Sojourner

The ADA clearly does not stand for 'Arabian Disabilities Act'.  Those in America and Europe are familiar with the ubiquitous special entrances, ramps, bathroom stalls, and parking spaces for physically handicapped individuals.

Here in the Emirates this is not a common site.  Handicapped parking is generally only found around government buildings and in a proximity to tourist hotels and attractions.  Regardless, this does not reflect a lack of compassion or caring in the society.

The majority of inhabitants of the Emirates are ex-patriots.  Local residents make up only 5% of the population.  Ex-patriots have come here primarily to work so they must be of sound health and ambulatory in order to pass the medical exam that is required to obtain a work visa.

There are very strong family bonds here.  The elderly and the handicapped are generally under the care of their family and friends.  I found these same values in Japan where handicapped persons are not ostracized but cared for by loved ones

For years in America and Europe, we have decided to have the government take over many of our social responsibilities.  Many rely totally on the schools and teachers to raise their children and openly blame them for problems caused by their own shortcomings as parents.  The same dependence on the government is expected concerning the elderly and the handicapped.

In wealthy nations, there was revenue available for many of these social services that poor nations did not possess.  Today, many nations are bankrupt or are running huge deficits.  Does it make sense to follow the example of traditional and developing countries and take more personal responsibility for our children, our elderly, and our handicapped?  Obviously, there will always be a need for social service for institutionalized persons, rehabilitation, and to assist in providing equal opportunities for the handicapped.  If we aspire to truly have less government, we need to shoulder more responsibility ourselves.  This should start with our own families.

It is refreshing to live in a country formed from a multitude of cultures that collectively possess family values and self-reliance that has been lost in much of the West.