If you’ve read my 100 Things About Me post you know that I cringe at the sound of the “R” word. Likewise, I also take offense when I hear jokes being made about the “shortbus” or Special Olympics. You can imagine, then, how appalled I was to see the President of our country mock Special Olympians on national television. If you haven’t seen it, it will take but 29 seconds of your day to watch this clip.
If your life has not been touched by a person with developmental delays you may not understand why those of us who have are deeply offended by the callous words of a man with such great influence over so many. Allow me to explain.
Not too long ago this man would have been crazy to even have dreamed of holding the office he holds now. There was a time when men and women who share his skin color and have similar heritage were mocked, beaten, and segregated based on their pigmentation alone.
One would think that the struggles and pain of those who share his African American background would have given this man great insight as to the underside of discrimination. One would assume that knowing what he knows, this man would be especially compassionate. One would hope beyond hope that this man–especially this man–would be capable of leading honorably and setting a strong example that all Americans could follow.
Unfortunately though, this man has fallen heinously short.
There is nothing funny, cute, or endearing about the mocking of an organization as instrumental as the Special Olympics. Special Olympians are heroes who’ve faced tremendous struggle and great hardship and have come out stronger for having done so. People with developmental disabilities should not be used as an easy target for quips. Especially by the President of our country and especially when a national audience is tuned in.
I can think of a word that conjures up hateful connotations towards a huge population of ethnic people in this country. It’s a word that you or I would be ashamed to use, ashamed to teach our children, ashamed to have heard in our homes, schools, and churches. It’s a dirty word, not because of its meaning, but because of its history. Its a word that has historically been used to inflict pain on an entire population of people. People who did nothing to deserve the treatment that fell upon them. People who were persecuted for simply BEING.
It’s a word I wouldn’t dream of using.
I wish that Mr. Obama would pay me the same courtesy when it comes to being sensitive about the struggles my family faces with regard to my daughter’s disability.
Like him–like each and every one of us–she had no say as to the mental, genetic, or physical state she was born into. But with each label that is slapped on her, with each disparaging comment that is thrown around, she is made to seem less worthy than she really is.
I am saddened and disheartened that the President of our country would stoop so low as to disparage people who have done no wrong. I am appalled that there has been no public outrage over an incident that so clearly deserves it. I shudder to imagine what would have happened if our previous President had gone on national television and said the same thing. Can you even imagine the outcry that would have commenced had that happened?
Whether we are talking about people with developmental disabilities or members of any ethnic group, discrimination is a wretched thing and should long ago have been abolished.
There is something each of us can do to institute change.
We can pledge to stop the frivolous use of the “R” word in our homes and in our families. We can stop using terms like ‘shortbus’ because they garner us an easy laugh. We can respect the Special Olympics organization as a great resource for children like mine, not an easy target for jokes and mockery. Together, we can change the way our society reacts to demeaning usage of the “R” word.
YES WE CAN.
And I hope you will.
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
You are SO right! I thought it was a ridiculous comment!
My cousin has down syndrome and I grew up watching some of the Special Olympics.
So…YES WE CAN!!!
I totally agree with you. I am disgusted with him on all levels really.
Unbelievable…
I could not have said that better.
Daily Obama proves himself to be an embarrassment to our country and I cannot figure out how he even got into office. Or how his ego even fits in the White House. I guess they will have to build on an addition to house his superiority complex.
I’m not bitter or anything….lol.
I’m with you, girl. This is a wonderfully well-written post.
What the…?! I don’t even have words…
Agreed. What else can I say?
I’m in!
What a wonderfully written post! Thank you!
I know that we are often at separate ends politically, but this is one thing where I stand right with you. As a teacher, I’m constantly on top of my students for not using the r-word, so to see the President make a comment like that just killed me and set back what I try to undo EVERY SINGLE day.
I agree, no public outcry. I couldn’t believe he actually said that when I heard about it a few days ago and not one comment in the “mainstream” media.
I stand with you on this.
You already know that I agree completely! Awesome post.
I absolutely agree with you. I was outraged about that comment and firmly believe that there appears to have been no public outcry because the mainstream media refuses to point out our president’s flaws, shortcomings and mistakes. You know that if Bush has made such a comment the press would have had a field day condemning him.
This was a well written post and I only wish it could be published in a newspaper or somewhere with more exposure.
Well said! Its interesting how the media made a point of saying he’d apologized and the president of the Special Olympics accepted his apology… I guess that made it okay. I’m glad he apologized but I wish he’d been held a little more accountable.
If Bush had made the exact same quote he would have been burned in effigy.
I so wish we had run Sarah Palin.
Wow! That was a powerful and amazingly true post! You go girl! I am on my way now to retweet this post and I will blog about it, too!
Great post. I have a brother with developmental disabilities; because of this, I’ve never been given the option to even meet him. Our dad was ashamed when he was born (he’s around 15 years older than I am), so he disowned him. My older sisters told me about him when I was about 12 and I was shocked, as you can imagine–the fact that my own dad could do that to his own son just floored me. He regrets it now; I’ve seen him writing my brother’s birthday on the calendar and hiding it. But I’ve only ever heard good things about my brother. I hear he’s a great human being, one worth looking up to–despite his disability.
I’m quite disgusted by Obama’s comments, whether he apologized or not. Apologies don’t take back the damage that’s already been done. The fact that the idea of joking about the Special Olympics was even in his head is what truly disgusts me.
Great post, Darcie.
Darcie…look at my last post again…the last picture shows the black leather jacket we already had for him! ;-)
I like you Darcie. I like the way you think and feel. Thanks for putting it out there.
great post… Although I saw the weight in what he said, more disturbing to me is that he is more consumed with being popular and celebrity like that he loses regard completely.
Bravo Darcie!
Amen. What a great post and so well written.
I think you should send this to The White House. And, I’m not joking.
I agree, Bush would have been slammed by every media outlet. But, instead, it was just a little blip…and I totally agree with what Misty said. Why is this a popularity contest now?
Amen sister!
Can you imagine the pressure of being in this man’s shoes? He has apologized. Is there forgiveness? How often have I unintentionally said something hurtful or cruel. Luckily, I am not ever on television. After apologizing, I am so grateful for the forgiveness of those around me. His mistake has drawn attention to your pain and concerns and hopefully many will learn from it. We’re all just trying here.
Nancy: of course there can be forgiveness. But that doesn’t change the fact that a man who has been given GREAT responsibility used his “fame” in a manner that was very disparaging to a group of people who do not deserve to be mocked for their disabilities. He did a shameful thing, a thing that, in my opinion would better be made up for with actions than words. I hope that in the weeks and months to come Mr. Obama will go to great lengths to make up for the comment he made. An ideal first step would be to speak up for the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign.
Great post. When will our world learn?
what an excellent- well thought out- post. It’s dissapointing when men and women in power don’t hold to the honor and virtue that this great country was founded on.
Awsome, eloquent post!
Wow. I need to watch the news more often.
That is just appalling. And sickening. And somehow…not surprising. The man is dead in the water without a teleprompter. Always. He’s completely incapable of spontaneous speech without putting his foot in his mouth. (Seems like I remember another recent President being ceaselessly mocked for a trait like that…)
You know that I agree with you, of course. And the apology and the forgiveness thing…of course, there is always forgiveness from God for those who seek it. But in society, not so much. If someone ‘accidentally made a mistake’ and said that other word Darcie referred to, would we be rushing to forgive? I bet Michael Richards can tell you about the outpouring of love and support he’s been receiving. His apology didn’t seem to mean much…so WHY is this different exactly?
Attacking anyone for the state of their existence is disgusting, and doing so to those who are completely defenseless is even more so. Shame on him. Shame.
I cannot believe he said that. I know he apologized but he should go WAY further to make up for that — totally inappropriate!!
Great post and reminder. My roommate in college was a special ed major and I remember learning the hard way how often i used the r word — I’m so glad she broke me of that habit – I didnt even think about how what I was saying was inappropriate and completely disrespectful.
I watch Fox News and there was an outcry on that station, I can tell you!
It seems the “popular” news channels love anything this man does or says, but Fox tells the truth and they blasted him for his insensitivity, as well they should. As well we all should. And we can. Yes We Can!
Great post, Darcie!
What amazes me is the way that people who were so quick to jump on the Bush bandwagon for every.little.comment.he.made, find it heartwarming and endearing that Oblahma apologized for his mistake.
If this had been McCain or Palin, the news media would still be talking about it next year.
it was an inappropriate remark for sure, but in watching it – it didnt seem malicious or said in hatred.
And let us all stop for a moment and examine our own lives…..I cannot imagine that no one on this blog has never, ever, ever used that word in their lives so far. Treat others as we wish to be treated (in all situations) …..I believe that was one of the most important teachings of our Lord.
Hopefully he has learned from this mistake and will become a more sensitive and concerned person as a result.
Sally, would that same word apply if Jay Leno had accidentally dropped the N Bomb in reference to Obama? Absolutely not. His CAREER would END in that moment.
But when it’s the most powerful man in the world v. what Jesus would call the “least” of these, a simple apology gets him off the hook. And believe me, he’s off the hook. Our liberal media will make sure of it.
The phrase ‘nappy headed’ cost Don Imus his job. And he was just a radio talk show host. Why do we have higher standards for a radio dj than the president of our country? Or is it just that certain groups in society are OK to disrespect and others are not? What happened to the fight for equality?
Absolutely, 100% spot on. Thanks for having the courage to “speak up” and write this post.
YES WE CAN. And our family does. I was also outraged, and I think a good portion of the country was, but of course the media largely dismissed the incident, since they love Obama. I heard Rush Limbaugh talk about it on his talk show, and a lot of his listeners were offended.
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