"Defending Human Spirits"!
... before they are "CRUSHED"! ("Amputated")
NBC Universal's classic movie ('92) "Scent of a Woman"
In NBC Universal's now classic movie ('92), "Scent of a Woman", All Pacino plays Srgt. Slade, and delivers his now classic (epic) speech at the end - after deciding not to take his own life. He found purpose in living - in caring for Charlie (Chris O'Donnell).
Finding purpose in living is a well known GOAL practiced by this Organization, with our Members & Clients! 1) each person's life is precious, no matter who it is. 2) The spirit of a human being is divine. AND 3) it is more heart-warming and beneficial to us, to our soul, to GIVE than to receive. In aHAND4 ® Life!'s specific Mission, the giving is by YOU, the Public, through us - to those in true need, who have particular financial need because of their inability to gain traditional employment - our Primary Beneficiaries - people with a chronic, Significant Physical Disability due to Development or Accident (PSPD)!
But this principle is NOT one-sided in our experience. It is reciprocal. The Community, in the presence of these tremendous people of courage, are "given to" as well - in their giving - and/or involvement - whether as friend - or in sharing companion animals - or with help around the house - or to move, etc. Each person in the Community who involves him or herself this way, is impacted - changed - in a positive way. It's a beautiful, and a mysterious thing - and true.
Check out Al Pacino's (Sgt Slade's) Epic Speech - at the heart of our Mission!
You Tube clip of "Amputated Spirit..."Al Pacino, in "Scent of a Woman"
Or listen to the fuller audio clip at least thru the 1:56 minute mark! Better, listen thur 4:03, or just listen to the whole thing - you will understand what we're about!
Allow us to offer an Interpretation!
Charlie was simply a young man he hired for a day - to "help an old, decommissioned soldier live-it-up for a day". Unbenounced to Charlie, Sgt. Slade had planned it to be his last day alive. But Charlie also had problems - wrongfully accused of malfeasance at a distinguished, yet stuffy University - and he had no one to represent him at the expulsion hearing. He was without an advocate, or "defense attorney". Sgt. Slade, with renewed vigor and care for life after Charlie saved it, decides part of purpose is to come to Charlie's defense. At the hearing, Pacino (Slade) delivers one of movie's all-time greatest monologues - which coincidentally mirrors a salient message of aHAND4 ® Life! - at the core of our Beginnings, Vision and Mission.
"...I'm too old; I'm too tired; I'm too &$*R@# blind. ..... Who ....you think you're talkin' to? I've been around, you know? There was a time I could see. And I have seen boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there isn't nothin' like the sight of an "amputated spirit"; there is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sendin' this splendid foot-soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are executin' his SOUL!! And why?! Because he's not ... ya hurt this boy ..."
Sgt Slade is symbolic of aHAND4 ® Life!. Ironically he is blind in both eyes himself and struggled with his purpose in life. Yet, he developed his "Vision", and Mission. We see clearly our Vision and Mission (above). We are an Organization that has never waffled in our purpose, from the penning of our comprhensive Articles of Incorporation.
An aside - Legal Blindness, particularly with concomitant diseases and/or disorders, is a substantially debilatating thing!
Presumably Sgt Slade was living capably and responsibly before and immediately after the injury (the onset of his disability due to accident). However, eventually Sgt. Slade succumbed to the terrible, crushing weight that such a chronic disability can bring to one's psyche and emotion. However, after reaching a "crossroad in his life", as he indicated in his speech, his path was actually known to him all along, but he didnt take BECAUSE IT WAS JUST TOO HARD!. Finally, he dealt with the issues in his thinking, and then developed "the vision to see", AND to help another's life!
Such people typically Qualify for aHAND4 Life! Services - whether from birth, or as life progresses as a young person, or due to Accidental Injury, such can be a terrible, significant physical disability - particularly if accompanied by another concomittant disease. Combining often lower than normal cognitive aptitude, Employment can be virtually impossible.
But finally, as Sgt Slade shows, sight in the end, is MORE than with the EYES ONLY!
Summing it Up ...!
Slade (Pacino) delivers, with clear speech, a mantra of aHAND4 ® Life! - one of the important reason we are here - to come to the defense and advocacy of those who are being opressed because of their significant physicaly disability! We are: "Defending Human Spirits ... a TERRIBLE (and we could add - "easy thing for the World") to Crush!"
We are passionate in this noble work, to defend those that are virtually innocent. We advocate for people who are wonderful, but disadvantaged - and work diligently behind the scenes to help lift them up - to promote their interests, and "defend their spirits". aHAND4 ® Life! is an advocate for these, when their voice cannot be heard! And, as we see it, the world OFTEN is oblivious to the plight of PSPD. They are moving along their merry way, self-absorbed, thinking others with do the tough work. Therefore we applaud those like Sgt. Slade, like aHAND4 ® Life!, who develop this "revelation", and "enlightening" we think critical to the growth and success of Society.
We thank NBC Universal, and the Cast and crew of "Scent of a Woman", for investing in, developing and promoting this message - and to Mr. Pacino, for his quite excellent work! This message is now on the big screen for all time, for all to see and hear!!