Getting Stared at in a Liberal City is Weird

You'd think being in a well-known liberal city with "blue" written all over it, no one could care less if a wheeler passed by. Think again. While I was in Madison, WI earlier this week - a literally nest/haven of rabid Obama supporters - I was getting stared at like I was a circus freak. It was infuriating. And especially if you fit into the equation that it's a huge college town, which equals lots of young people, even more weird.

But I digress. I suppose, after talking to a high-level quad who attends law school there, he explained the city's weirdness. It's an OLD town. The capitol city of Wisconsin in fact. Many/most of the buildings are at least 50+ years old, which means they're grandfathered out of the ADA law. They're not required to be accessible. So because of this fact, many college students who use wheelchairs avoid the campus altogether. A lot just go to the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater instead. That school is supremely accessible and even has collegiate adapted sports teams, such as wheelchair basketball.

So there I was buzzing down State Street, checking out boutiques, eating at Chipotle, stealing WiFi at a coffee shop, whatevs, and I felt like a big giant eye was staring me down. And each time I looked over my shoulder I caught people looking at me in amazement, wondering god knows what. Over the years I've learned to just ignore it, but it never, ever gets to the point where you stop caring. You just learn how to not let it ruin your day.

And so I went about my 2 days in "Mad Town" as an anomaly. It's ok though. I guess it could be worse.

Debates tonight! w00t!