Special Olympics Ad Campaign
President Obama was on the Tonight Show last night, where he was joking about his bowling ability.
He told Leno that he bowled 129 in the White House bowling alley and said his bowling skills are “like Special Olympics or something.”
I’m actually surprised that he said this. To me, it would seem obvious that the president of a country that has mentally impaired citizens would not joke about them in this manner. I used to volunteer with the Special Olympics, and those kids have nothing to be ashamed of–they work hard, and they compete to the best of their ability. In many ways the spirit of the Special Olympics is better that of the Olympics–these athletes pull together and support one another without the cutthroat mentality that exists among the non-disabled crowd.
President Obama has since apologized, and I hope this will create some dialogue. I applaud the Special Olympics for trying to eliminate the R-word. People deserve dignity, and the R-word takes it from a group that deserves better.
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while Obama did say this, and I am a bit perturbed, I wonder why people focus on this so much? Obama has helped pass a bill that gives money to special needs education. Yup, something that Bush did very little of. Not to mention that Sarah Palin said that she was upset that Obama said it…yet she has refused to accept any of the special needs education money for her own state. Yeah, who hates special needs now?
He has hurt many families in America. He needs to say he is sorry in the public, not to some organization.
During the campaign for the White House in 2008, the media criticized Palin for being ‘common,’ ‘not-polished,’ ‘not-compassionate’ and ‘not presidential.’ However, compare Sarah Palins attitude in this video created three weeks ago for the Special Olympics in Boise, Idaho.
You decide the more ‘presidential’ among them:
http://tinyurl.com/ccz6nj
I am not in, I find it pointless and insulting to humanity in general to spend time, effort and money campaigning against the “R” word. The word retarded was a perfectly acceptable term, then it became “mentally challenged” and now it is “special needs.” This is insanity: making a term for an affliction or condition sound “nice” does not make it any less or more than what it is. When describing something that is generally considered to be a bad thing, the en vogue term; no matter how you dress it up, will always evolve into a negative term. In twenty years this campaign will be labeled the “Spread the need to end Special Needs” campaign, in which the effort will try to convince everyone that the term “special needs” is somehow evil. Terms are terms, they describe what the situation is. Someone with down syndrome is retarded: and that is not derogatory. Sure using the term in a derogatory tone is somewhat objectionable, but hardly merits a national campaign. Those classified as “special needs” or “mentally challenged” or “retarded” are often comical. They are often sad. They are often happy and they are often difficult to understand. They are mysterious and imperfect. They are special….in a word they are…..HUMAN. But they are also retarded and there doesn’t have to be anything wrong with that…unless you decide there is.
Sidenote: Palin used her connection with “special needs” children for political gain, when it really is not a political issue, but more of a humanistic issue. And she is using it now to make herself relevant again. She is the least presidential candidate for executive office that I have seen in 30 years.
Sidenote 2: The Olympics (original) is about determining who the best and most talented athletes in the world are, and what country they hail from while creating an atmosphere in which all nationalities can compete. It is about pride in your country and your homeland. (not necessarily a good thing)
The Special Olympics is about giving a group of people who may not have otherwise had the chance; to compete athletically and to allow them to “feel” that they are special and talented. In other words, it is about creating a feeling in them that they can overcome certain odds and improve themselves. (almost definitely a good thing) Point being however, that you should not compare the two competitions as if the “Special Olympics” participants are better people or less cutthroat than “Olympians.” Trust me, I know several people who have competed, and they are just like the rest of us when it comes to competing and trying to win.
Instead of yet another group bombarding us with their pointless sensibilities and demanding that we conform, it is long past time for Americans to grow up and grow thicker skins. “Retarded” and “retard” are only derogatory if you make them so. Don’t people realize that all this political correctness is in reality little more than thought control?
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. retard! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Retard! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! RETARD! Get a life people. I would never even think of calling a mentally disabled person a retard. I also do not think of a mentally disabled person when I call myself or my buddies retard(s). If I did then I should have my ass kicked. Obama would have been better off if he had just said “i bowl like a retard”. By doing so he would have implied that he was comparing himself to a mentally disabled person but it would not be abundantly clear. Instead, he made a direct comparison that left no room for doubt. That was offensive. Obama is many things but not funny is not one of them. I love politically incorrect humor but to say what he did was just retarded (or really really really stupid!). Mentally disabled people have accomplished so much..heck one was President for 2 whole terms. How can one explain that phenomenon? I never realized there were so many retards in the USA, but they sure did turn up to support one of their own. Ha Ha Ha Ha! Republicans = Retards!
As a fully intellectually-endowed person, I feel it is inappropriate for me to comment on Obama’s remark or on the “R-word” in general. So, to get some perspective and insight, I talked to my intellectually disabled cousin. He told me that “uiIUUhhHGuuuuuiihGHhhHh!!!!!!”