Arrested for Being Ugly: Is it Possible?

The breakfast:
One early morning in 1972, Portland, Oregon two men went to a restaurant for a pancake breakfast. Both had disabilities. Richard Pimentel, a Vietnam Veteran, war hero, had received a hearing loss service-injury and Art Honeyman, born with Cerebral Palsy was in a wheelchair. Upon seeing the two diners, the waitress refused service and threatened to call the police if they didn't leave. They didn't leave and were arrested under the ugly law.

Americans With Disabilities Act:
This act of unfairness sparked Pimentel on his quest for better treatment for persons with disabilities and on to the passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.

Dysfunction and injustice:
Pimentel was no stranger to injustice. He had been pronounced dead at birth, but he lived. His dysfunctional family had abandoned him to foster parents. He never spoke until he was 6 years old. Labeled by a school guidance counselor as retarded, he marched on to receive two high school speech championships. He quit school after he appeared on campus with a college scholarship and was told to "come back when he had something to say!"

After Vietnam he returned to college where he met Art Honeyman and became a longtime friend. He graduated in early 1970s with a communications degree - in spite of being told by the government, after his Vietnam hearing loss injury, that his dreams of college and public speaking were out!

The Ugly Laws:
The ugly laws of 1860s - 1970s made it illegal for persons with unsightly disabilities to be in public. This law made a first appearance in San Francisco, California in 1867. Pennsylvania passed a state version in 1890. Chicago, Illinois had one in 1911, Columbus, Ohio had another and Omaha, Nebraska in 1941. A person committing the crime of being unsightly or ugly in public could get jailed, or be fined up to $50. Most of these laws were not repealed until 1970.

Art Honeyman, author and poet, born with Cerebral Palsy, had an IQ of 180, and earned a master's degree in literature from Portland State University.

"Music Within" was a 2007 movie inspired by the lives of Richard Pimentel and Art Honeyman. Directed by Steven Sawalich, it starred Ron Livingston ( office space ) as Richard Pimentel and Michael Sheen as Art Honeyman.

This is an inspiring story of the human spirit's strength and endurance through multiple challenges and negative interactions. It's a movie of new discoveries!

Sources:

www.pegasusnews.com/.../movie-review-and-director-interview-imusic-withini
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pimentel -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugly_law
www.nypost.com/seven/10292007/jobs/the_warrior.htm
www.beliefnet.com/.../Finding-The-Music-Within-Ourselves.aspx -
www.movietranscriptions.com/314921_Music_Within.html
http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2009/10/life_as_a_work_of_art_-_art_h.html
http://www.valleyoflife.com-Art Honeyman.author/Blog Archive Valley of Life
www.musicwithinmovie.com/