BBC - Ouch! - Features - Miss Ability

I came across this on OUCH!

BBC - Ouch! - Features - Miss Ability

A beauty contest for the disabled in The Netherlands.

I think it is a wonderful way to make the world aware of "ability" in the word "disability". Okay, that sounds hokey, but you can read my mind.

People will see beyond the disabilities that these beautiful women have and see their beauty. At the same time, they will see disability for what it is -- a part of the person, such as the color of hair or a personality trait, but not the sum of all that a person is.

Disability bothers people. They imagine if they themselves were disabled they would not be able to handle it. It's not a pretty site or thought.

But who can resist beautiful women? They have a disablity, yes...but they are beautiful!

It entices people to look a little longer. Pretty soon the disability is not the predominate feature the see. Beyond the disability is a real person dealing with life.

Let beauty open the door to understanding. Let that understanding stretch to you and to me.

Where is the harm?