Baldner 1

Matt Baldner

Professor Stacey Frazier

ENGL 1213

24 March 2018

Cultural Improvement in Our Communities

Most people are aware that there are less fortunate people around them in their

communities. People with mental disabilities are prevalent among almost every community

across the United States. It is not hard to notice these people because just by observing their

behavior for a few moments you understand they go through everyday life with disabilities that

make it much harder to accomplish tasks that we might take for granted. It is easy for us to

become overwhelmed in our personal and work lives, but the fact of the matter is we must make

a concerted effort to help people that are less fortunate on a regular basis, especially the portion

of our community that make up the mentally disabled. The mentally disabled face everyday

problems that the average person could not comprehend, but with the help and understanding of

community members we can help the less fortunate past these hurdles which burden them and

make a difference in our communities.

When it comes to the mentally handicapped, we must do everything in our power to

support and protect them if needed. These are important members of our community that just

need a little help from the rest of us. Often in middle school and grade school, the mentally

handicapped children were mocked and ridiculed stemming from the fact that the other kids did

not fully grasp what they are going through. Growing up it was always important to me to defend

the challenged kids because they often could not stand up for themselves. Standing up for the

mentally handicapped might seem like a daunting task for some people but people would be
 Baldner 2

surprised how easy it can be. Author Marcus Brotherton wrote “[t]he solutions lie with us. It’s

within our power to become good neighbors, to care for people around us, and to be cared for by

the people around us” (Brotherton 2). Building off of what Brotherton wrote, it is on us as

community members to help these kids out because if we do not help them, no one will.

Once you realize the difference that your actions make on the mentally handicapped, it

will brighten up your day while also brightening up your own. Just completing simple acts of

kindness like asking them how their day is going will always be met with gratitude and you

might just be surprised what these kids can teach you about life. Helping the mentally

handicapped is such a satisfying deed because they understand that you are taking time from

your day to help them and they are always very gracious for your actions. The most important

part of helping these type of people out is the possibility that someone else will see what you are

doing and decide to make a difference in the community themselves. I believe that good deeds

are contagious and when people see other people doing the right thing it will give them the first

step they need to start their altruistic journey in life. Regardless of the fact that they struggle

through every moment of the day, you will notice how they never quit or let their disabilities get

in the way of enjoying life.

As we go through our busy lives we must realize that our communities will only improve

if we help each other. Every person needs to help from time to time and some need help more

than others. When you realize the impact that you can make by helping the mentally handicapped

it will become an effortless part of life and we will continue to improve our communities. People

need to realize that when we help the least fortunate people in our communities, it will make our

communities as whole increase in strength. I thought Marcus Brotherton said it well “[w]hen it
 Baldner 3

comes to where he lives, an immature man tends to see his neighborhood only as a place to hang

his hat. But a mature man sees his neighborhood as a place he helps create” (Brotherton 1).
 Baldner 4

Works Cited

Brotherton, Marcus. “Being a Good Neighbor.” The Art of Manliness, 27 Nov. 2017,
www.artofmanliness.com/2013/05/23/on-being-neighborly/.