President Obama made a comment last night on Jay Leno that his bowling was like the Special Olympics because of the gutter balls. Here is the response I sent to the White House today:
President Obama,I am offended by your comment on Jay Leno about your bowling being like the Special Olympics. I am assuming that your statement was just a slip of the tongue but sometimes what slips out is really what is in a person's heart. My daughter is 16 and mildly retarded. She desperately wants to do the things that other kids her age do but is unable to participate on regular teams. She has to wear a helmet when she plays Special Olympics basketball because she has shunts. She is also a bowler and tries really hard every time she competes. She just wants to be like everyone else. Unfortunately, statements like the one you made perpetuate her feeling that she is abnormal. I am unclear about how many people participate in the Special Olympics but I do know that there are 59 million people (or 1/6 th of the US population) that are disabled. Making those comments even to be funny alienates people. My daughter has a big interest in politics and she will be voting in the next election. PLEASE guard your words. You have been a man of civility and have made a huge impact by your kindness. I would ask that you don't limit your kindness and civility to people who are like you, but to include those who need your help most of all; and who need to be defended because they can't do it for themselves. Parents of those developmentally disabled have given up their own hopes and dreams to make sure that our children are happy, well-adjusted, cared for, and treasured. Comments hurt not only those who are disabled but their families as well. I want to feel like my president cares about each American, no matter where their abilities lie.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Living in 2009
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when…
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don’t have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
9. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
10. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don’t have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
9. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
10. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
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