goldbug16 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I heard about it this morning. I was livid. What kind of cheap croutons comment was that? I have an Uncle who has a mental disability, and he is the most kind, wonderful person in the world. It makes me ILL when our President is making horrible statements like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madame Vengier Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='jmjtina' post='1812442' date='Mar 20 2009, 03:35 PM']if he didn't insult a whole bunch of people, why did he call and apologize to the leader of the "bunch of people" he insulted?[/quote] They took personal insult to his comment and he apologized. So what? The fact that they FELT insulted doesn't mean his intention was to insult them. You can say sorry for being the cause of someone feeling bad and again, this doesn't mean you deliberately intended to make them feel bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madame Vengier Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Luthien' post='1812436' date='Mar 20 2009, 03:24 PM']Well, I guess my understanding of what he said is that he was saying he bowled like a disabled person, like it was an embarassment.[/quote] See, that's the thing. He DIDN'T say that. He didn't say WORD ONE *about* disabled people. He made a comment that he had been practicing at bowling and had finally worked himself up to a score that wasn't so bad, but not so great either, and ended with "like it was the Special Olympics". Isn't the SO all about trying to do something the best you can despite your disability? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjtina Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1812449' date='Mar 20 2009, 02:40 PM']They took personal insult to his comment and he apologized. So what? The fact that they FELT insulted doesn't mean his intention was to insult them. You can say sorry for being the cause of someone feeling bad and again, this doesn't mean you deliberately intended to make them feel bad.[/quote] People skills. And that is something that the President does have, which is why he apologized. It's actually something the average person has, though not everyone. Obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TradMom Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 (edited) +Praised be Jesus Christ! Dear Madame Vengier, I must respectfully disagree with you. Words, as we have come to find out, carry much weight and have great power. Especially labels. As the first minority president of our country, I would expect he knows this better than most. I just read your last two posts and am now going to amend my answer. He insulted many, many people. He used the disabilities of a group of people - who are challenged in ways we cannot imagine - to laugh about his lack of profiency in a particular sport. I am sorry you cannot better understand how and why he insulted so many. As for the use of language...we tend to be very careful of language today because we know what they can do to a person, a family, a community. Perhaps I am more sensitive regarding this issue than most because of my daughter; that I cannot answer. Pax! TradMom Edited for amendment Edited March 20, 2009 by TradMom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madame Vengier Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='jmjtina' post='1812454' date='Mar 20 2009, 03:43 PM']People skills. And that is something that the President does have, which is why he apologized. It's actually something the average person has, though not everyone. Obviously.[/quote] But who defines "people skills"? The Japanese? The British? Groups who are world-renowned for manners and polite touches? Even a high-ranking member of the Japanese Diet used to get in trouble every few months for saying the most absurd and inappropriate things, but in reality he meant no harm. He just didn't have good judgment in expressing himself. He once said that he wanted to see Japan's economy grow so strong and stable "that even Jews would want to live here". People around the world went nuts. I think he may have finally been forced to resign on account of that and other insensitive remarks (there was also something about Japanese women should stay home and have babies as a way to contribute to society, because Japan is in a birth dearth). I'm just saying Obama's little comment really was not worth what people are making of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madame Vengier Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='TradMom' post='1812459' date='Mar 20 2009, 03:46 PM']+Praised be Jesus Christ! Dear Madame Vengier, I must respectfully disagree with you.[/quote] And that's fine. I'm standing my ground on this in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Luthien' post='1812416' date='Mar 20 2009, 04:58 PM']Of course he is, he looked like a judgemental jerk.[/quote] Pretty much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilllabettt Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I know people who are offended by the word "special" being applied to people with disabilities. Because they say, my kids are healthy and normal, and just as special. Looks to me like the President first mistake was going on Leno and trying to be funny. 99% of the population tells, listens to, or laughs at jokes like that ... but President Obama went ahead and broadcasted his insensitivity. We like to think our Presidents are "super people" and better than the rest of us, so public sensibilities were doubly offended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1812430' date='Mar 20 2009, 04:13 PM']Well, I'm in the minority in this thread b/c I thought his remark was totally harmless. That being said...going on Leno is unpresidential? Please. Bill Clinton set the precedent when he went on MTV and told them what kind of underpants he wears. Granted, he wasn't president YET at that time, but it was a sign of things to come of the kind of crude and indecent behavior he was capable of. Anyway, I do agree...presidents do not belong on chat shows. I guess this dog-and-pony trick is supposed to make America look cool or something.[/quote] I believe his being on Leno is all about appearances too - not [i]just[/i] to look cool or trendy but to "convince" the American people that he is not "above" appearing on a comedic talk show. That like the "average" American, he can sit back and be goofy. Like you, I also do not believe that he meant to insult the Special Olympics. We ALL misuse certain terms from time to time. If an arrogant driver cuts you off and you call him a [mod]edited for language --hugheyforlife[/mod], are you automatically insulting individuals who were born to unwed parents? No, of course not. Anyway I just think that due to his position he should pay more careful attention to his words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilllabettt Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Interesting reading: [url="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/magazine/07teasing-t.html"]In Defense of Teasing[/url] Not saying we should tease mentally or physically handicapped people, or that the President should engage in it. But I found it interesting to read about how it isn't an entirely evil thing. I say this as a person who was tortured in the junior high environment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 The problem (as I see it) in using the Special Olympics in this context is that it equates low IQ with low bowling scores somehow. ie, if you are of low IQ, you certainly can't bowl either. Now, granted, it was an off the cuff remark that might have been made innocently by LOTS of people. However, if one is prone to making off the cuff gaffs, one ought not present oneself on late-night entertainment shows and should instead stick to scripted commentary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isilzha Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Special Olympics bowler: I can beat the president! Mar 20 12:59 PM US/Eastern By COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press Writer ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - The top bowler for the Special Olympics looks forward to meeting President Barack Obama in an alley. "He bowled a 129. I bowl a 300. I could beat that score easily," Michigan's Kolan McConiughey (KO-lahn Mc-KAHNA-he) told The Associated Press in an interview Friday. [url="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D971TJ1O0&show_article=1"]More[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madame Vengier Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1812491' date='Mar 20 2009, 05:07 PM']The problem (as I see it) in using the Special Olympics in this context is that it equates low IQ with low bowling scores somehow. ie, if you are of low IQ, you certainly can't bowl either.[/quote] No, because SO is not about IQ. It's about disabilities. If I break my arm, I am disabled, albeit only temporarily. SO has nothing to do with being smart or having a low IQ. And Obama was mocking his own ABILITIES, not saying "Look how STUPID I am, like in the Special Olympics". He was speaking purely of striving to do something that he has low ability in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 [quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1812500' date='Mar 20 2009, 05:19 PM']No, because SO is not about IQ. It's about disabilities. If I break my arm, I am disabled, albeit only temporarily. SO has nothing to do with being smart or having a low IQ. And Obama was mocking his own ABILITIES, not saying "Look how STUPID I am, like in the Special Olympics". He was speaking purely of striving to do something that he has low ability in.[/quote] Actually, what he said was that when he bowls it looks like the SO. ie SUCKY! See, now if he wanted to be really funny he should have said that he bowls as well as his buddy Stevie Wonder. Or that he was taking tips from SW or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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