J.R. Salzman: 'No amount of anger-fueled forced normalization' will turn a round hole square

I think someone at Twitchy misinterpreted my pinned tweet. I'm trying to run a business but I have small breaks when I tweet.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

I'm disabled. That doesn't mean I'm a special fricken snowflake or that the world must honor my every demand, no matter how ridiculous.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Obviously I wasnt born disabled. I was one of those evil "normal" people who had all their limbs and was free of deformities before 2006.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Because of my stature as an athlete and appearances on ESPN, I got a lot of media attention after I was injured and sent to Walter Reed.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Various other people with disabilities reached out to me. One (who I won't name) stood out for her disability and popularity as a spokesman.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

This person is very unique and has been featured on many news reports and daytime television shows. She comes across as brave and kind.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Shortly thereafter I was invited to a private Facebook group for disabled people only. When I joined, I was taken aback at what I found.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Gone was the strong brave sweet humble person. The entire point of the group was basically to bash the able bodied for daring to be normal.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

And it wasnt just her it was a lot of people. These people were clearly pissed at the world for their disabilities and were bashing everyone

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

It was the first of many realizations that there are people who are different physically, emotionally, mentally, and hate the world for it.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

There's a segment of the disabled community referred to as the militant disabled. Their goal is to inflict pain under the guise of "rights."

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

These are people who hate the world and the hand they were dealt and won't stop until "normal" people feel the same pain they that do.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

There is definitely pressure to conform to what it means to be disabled. They act like I'm "one of them" and need to act as such.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Randoms will strike up convos with me like we're lifelong buds because we're disabled. Sorry, you're not my bud, and I'm not in your tribe.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

I'm not pissed at the world for the hand was dealt. I accepted it and decided to move on. It doesnt define who I am. I'm different. So what?

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

But there are people whose mental/physical/emotional differences define them. They hate being different, and direct it at "normal" people.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

I'm used to being different. I mean I'm a world champion at running on floating logs. Whats a disability to make me different too?

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

But there are people who hate being different and view themselves as outcasts, and have no confidence in who they are as an individual.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

So some of these people fight society under the guise of "rights and equality" when in reality theyre trying to inflict pain.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

"Oh, your 'normal' life is now a little bit harder or uncomfortable because you have to cater to me? Good." They genuinely feel that way.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

I bring all this up because the current hot issue in society directly mirrors what Ive seen in the disabled community. Differences.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

I think its human nature to be like everyone else. Most people dont want to be different or stand out, especially for "those" reasons.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

And they feel pained and uncomfortable and like outcasts. Then get hate filled and it consumes them. They want to inflict pain back.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Obviously some dont care. They quietly go about their lives being different. They adopt a live and let live attitude and are happy.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

The unhappy people are those who throw the utmost extremes in society's face. Its about inflicting pain and making others hurt like them.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

The other part is that people are trying to rationalize and normalize their physical/emotional/mental differences. Its a coping strategy.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

"If people accept me for being really different than the rest of society, then I'm a member of the group, and I'm no longer different."

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Except it doesnt work like that. If you're missing a limb, have a club foot, feel like you're the wrong gender, or whatever, youre different

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Even if I forced the rest of society to chop off one limb to be like me, it still wouldnt be a normal human condition. I'm forever different

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Yet there are people trying to do that with their cause. If they cram a square peg in a round hole, maybe the hole will suddenly get square.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

I say be content with who you are and the hand you were dealt. You're alive, right? Then be happy youre not dead.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

Life is a lot more enjoyable when you accept that youre different, instead of being perpetually angry and lashing out at "normal" society.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015

And no amount of anger-fueled forced normalization will change the fact that you're different, or make people truly accept it.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) June 3, 2015