Handicap lies in the eye of the beholder

Since BLACK is in the air recently, I've been reading interviews by Rani Mukherjee and Amitabh Bachchan where they share their experiences of being in the company with physically disabled people. They talk about the grit, determination and independence shown by these people who consider themselves no less than a "normal" human being and are as enthusiastic in their work as anyone else. That raises a thought in my mind. Whenever we see such "handicapped" people we feel (I mean at least I do) a bit odd and sad. Is that the right attitude? Do these people deserve to be looked down upon? Although you may not be intentionally doing so, but you feel like there is something "less" in them. Is that thought valid? Consider this: These people have their disability given to them by nature. They can do nothing about it. They overcome their handicap and fight to live life as normally as anyone else and are mostly fairly successful too. You, a "normal" person see these people and view them as handicapped. Now you can certainly and consciously avoid such feelings. But somehow you can't. You uncontrollably think the same whenever you come across them. So where does the handicap really lie?! In you? These people have achieved a lot in living against all odds. They deserve respect. At the same time they need to be treated as "normal" as anyone and everyone. Offer them help only if they ask for it!