Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott tweeted an inspirational video showing a man confined to a wheelchair rising above his limitations to climb a rock wall.
As inspiring as the viral video is, one social media user found no solace in the clip.
Responding to the Republican governor’s tweet, this person — surely a Democrat — said: “So great to see but if I ever end up in a wheelchair I’m just ending it.”
So great to see but if I ever end up in a wheelchair I’m just ending it ?? https://t.co/KOrG4eVVDw
— paul ricciardi (@paul_ut97) November 23, 2019
Of course, it’s easy to speak of what you may do in a situation when not faced with the immediacy of the circumstances and its emotional toll — the human spirit and the will to survive are feats to behold.
Abbott is paralyzed from the waist down after an accident in July of 1984.
At age 26, Abbott was paralyzed when an oak tree fell on him while out jogging after a storm. He’s been in a wheelchair ever since.
Abbott received a multimillion-dollar lawsuit settlement from the accident, although he told the Texas Tribune in 2013 that he’d gladly give the money back if he could regain the use of his legs.
“Money doesn’t heal anything. Money doesn’t allow me to walk. It doesn’t allow me to dance with my wife. It doesn’t allow me to pick up my daughter. It doesn’t allow me to walk my daughter down the aisle when she gets married,” Abbott said. “If you could name the person I could write the check to, I’d send all this money right back if I could walk again.”
The reaction to the negative tweet was somewhat remarkable itself. Just as you lose all faith in the power of the internet to deliver something positive, you are caught by surprise.
Here’s a sampling of responses to the nay-saying social media user from Twitter:
@GregAbbott_TX You might be surprised how much you are the same person in a wheelchair as you are now. You already have physical limitations. You work around them. If you have different physical limitations, you’ll work around those too. Don’t prejudge yourself as a weak quitter
— DogsMumm (@DogsMumm) November 23, 2019
You sound like an amazing guy! Living life to the full!
— Keep Looking Up (@KeepLookingUp6) November 23, 2019
My husband has been in a chair for 3 years. He’s 65! He still hunts, (he’s pumped to be able to use his new crossbow), he fishes, quads in the forest! I’d be a widow if he thought like you! Count blessings!
— Les Clark (@LakeLes) November 23, 2019
What a cowardly thing to say. My life has trials so it’s not worth living? It’s only trials that give opportunity for greatness.
— john burger (@kowboys12) November 23, 2019
Dude, I don’t believe you. Everyone who has had this happen to them chooses to fight back and make a better life for themselves. If you’re not a fighter then fine but until your in that situation, I don’t believe you.
— Xmas returning officer (@EuKnowIt2) November 24, 2019
I think this young man is just being honest. He is entitled to his feelings. Each of us is different. Each of us responds to tragedy in a different way. Clearly he feels very strongly, and it makes no sense to attack him just because he is sharing his honest believes and feelings
— Frank Montenegro (@voicesofhonor) November 24, 2019
Well, one hopes Paul’s poker insights are greater the those regarding human capabilities in response to personal catastrophe
— brad lena (@bradlena1) November 23, 2019
Wow! Just wow. Sad comment.
— D (@SinnedSTtocs) November 23, 2019
I’d you ended up in a reason there would be a point and a lesson to learn. Ending it would negate that. You’re supposed to grow, not give up. Handicaps are designed to help us grow tremendously.
— Heath Kelly (@Heathalot) November 23, 2019
?“[0%] concentrated power of will”?
— Zachary (@zshurtleff) November 23, 2019
Would “no big loss” be terribly inconsiderate? Asking for a friend.
— Joe Novak (@nojoe21) November 23, 2019
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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