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"Good things never come easy" is an aphorism that doesn't get much respect.

I watched two movies recently: "The World's Fastest Indian" and "Pursuit of Happyness." Both were about going against the odds, beating the naysayers and achieving dreams.

In the former movie, Burt Munro, of New Zealand, came to Bonneville, Utah, for Speed Week. He brought along his 1920 Indian motorcycle, which he had been modifying and racing for 42 years. His dream was to come to Utah and have his motorcycle officially clocked.

Munro had been saving his pension checks for years, and with the help of people who had faith in him and some clever bargaining, he had made it.

Arrival at Bonneville wasn't what he imagined. The officials denied him an opportunity to test his speed, citing his lack of preregistration, his nonregulation bike with none of the safety precautions set by the Bonneville officials, and his age. Munro was 70.

His aggressive determination finally won over the officials, and he set the world land-speed record for vehicles with engines under 1,000 cc, clocked at 178.97 mph. Munro set another land-speed record with the Indian in 1967, at a eye-popping 190.7 mph, which still stands today. Munro died in 1978 - a man who fulfilled his dream.

The latter movie was the story of Chris Gardner, a medical-equipment salesman and a struggling, black, single father of a 5-year-old son. In 1981, he fought for a six-month internship as a stockbroker, without pay, with Dean Witter, an investment firm.

Unqualified to receive public assistance because he was a single father, Gardner went through devastating upheavals emotionally and financially - living in a homeless shelter, taking three buses to work and taking care of his son. Gardner succeeded and got a job as a stockbroker at Dean Witter. In 1987, he started his own brokerage firm. All the while, he raised his son to follow his dreams and not to let anyone tell you that you can't.

These movies reminded me of the hurdles people with disabilities face daily. For every program assisting the disabled to get a job or live independently, there are just as many obstacles.

For example, when an able-bodied person works hard to become an actor, that person is admired and respected. When a disabled person works hard to become an actor, it's "inspiring" and "heart-warming."

Why are there such contradictory reactions to the same situation? Did the able-bodied person get a break to achieve success, or did the person with a disability? The responses to their success are comparable to responses to achievements by adults versus those by children.

Working hard and sacrificing for your pursuit of happiness is never easy. It's not supposed to be. But the successes should bring identical reactions, no matter who achieved them.

When you reach your dream, there is no other feeling in this life so good.