By Tricia Carswell

My Dream

　　The first time I saw a televised performance of My Dream, I cried buckets. If I stop to analyse my feelings, I’m unsure if my response was of sympathy, pity, or disgust.

　　The troupe of entertainers was made up of young adults, who were afflicted with a full range of disabilities caused by birth defects or acquired from tragedy. I was stunned that these people had been able to accomplish what they had, presenting in perfection what we able-bodied take for granted. The second time around, the filmed production left me with admiration and curiosity. Then, by a stroke of good luck of being in the right place at the right time, I was able to see a live performance.

　　Before going any further, let's have a look at the pre-history: In 1962, at the age of 18, Deng Pufang, son of party faithful Deng Xiaoping, began his studies at Peking University, intending to become a physicist. During the turbulent times of the Cultural Revolution, a fall from a fourth-floor window resulted in him becoming a paraplegic. After a sorrowful time of rehabilitation in Qing He, Deng took to his wheelchair and became a visual reminder of China’s advances in human rights through his spear-heading the founding of the China Disabled Person’s Federation (Zhongguo Canji Ren Lianhehui) in 1987-88.

　　Not long after, the formation of the China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe was completed and performers were recruited from across the country. Within the past fifteen years, the troupe has visited over 40 different countries, receiving accolades from prominent people such as former US President Bill Clinton. Deng himself, in recognition of his forward thinking in empowering the disabled, has been awarded the "Special Award of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons", the "Lions Clubs International Award" and the "Paul Harris Award” of Rotary International, and in 2003, the “United Nations Human Rights Prize,” and named a "United Nations Peace Messenger.”