Caring for the Disabled - as Old as Humanity

Man Bac archaeoloy site, Vietnam
(NY Times)

It's the Season of Caring, when sentiments turn towards thankfulness for what we have and generosity towards others.

Unfortunately, this year the season has been tainted somewhat by concerns over the status and funding of Sonoma Developmental Center, and the tragic news from Connecticut -- news that may make us doubt the existence of that caring and magnanimous spirit in our society and fellow humans.

An article in the New York Times this week offers a bright reminder, however, that we humans do have it in us to selflessly care for the disabled and support the caregivers among us -- and have for a long, long time. (See: Ancient Bones That Tell a Story of Compassion in the New York Times.)

The article reports on the findings of an archaelogical investigation that uncovered evidence of a group of people living 4,000 years ago in Vietnam who cared for one completely disabled member of their group for many years. It's a fascinating story.

The culture of the group was what we would consider 'Stone Age', and the disabilities of the young man were significant. According to the article, he became paralyzed from the waist down before adolescence as a result of a congenital disease and "had little, if any, use of his arms and could not have fed himself or kept himself clean. But he lived another 10 years or so."

Our material culture has changed a lot over the past few thousand years. It seems it should be easier now for us as a group to support those who may not be able to support themselves -- or even contribute to the group. You could even say to do so is only human.