I only recently found out that Mr. Perlman uses a wheelchair because he contracted polio during his childhood. 
Years ago, however, I read in TV Guide that when he was attending Juillard, the prestigious music school in New York, he watched the 1960 World Series (in which the Yankees set all kinds of Series batting and pitching records but lost in seven to the Pittsburgh Pirates). He rooted for the Pirates and his classmates assaulted him. Good God, is Yankee loyalty more important than decency? I can’t imagine any reason any decent person could have to assault anyone who has to use a wheelchair…:mad:
Am I accurate here?
I know what you are trying to say, but I’d like to point out that people who use wheelchairs are not helpless or defenseless.
I have a close friend who uses a wheelchair as a result of having childhood polio, and I would LOVE to see someone attempt to hurt her. They would not come out a winner, I guarentee it.
So yes, it was wrong to assault him. (Because assault is wrong, not because he uses a wheelchair)
Zette
I see your point, Zette. In fact I once saw a wheelchair user in San Francisco, who really had a chip on his shoulder; I’d hate to confront him myself.
As for Mr. Perlman, perhaps if some of his former Juillard classmates could see him now, maybe they’d kick themselves.
I was bout to come in here and bitch dougie_monty out, because I thought to myself, “NOOO! Not another goddamn Itzhak Perlman rant! Everywhere I look on the SDMB, its ‘Itzhak this, fuckin’ Itzhak that! Give it a rest, folks!”
But no, it was quite the opposite. Change is good.