Personal confession first: I don't watch TV. I do have a television, and watch VHS tapes and DVDs on it. But my son is an autistic, and, given his sensory issues, I like to control precisely what he can watch. The way I can use a remote might create an overly chaotic sensory environment for him. So I missed the whole Obama/Leno Special Olympics faux pas. I have read a couple of angry reactions, here and elsewhere, and plenty of defenses, mostly based on Obama's quick apology. I am agnostic on this question. The call from brainwrap for a teaching moment seems apt.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
I do have a son who is eligible for Special Olympics, as he has passed his 8th birthday. See below the fold for the eligiblity requirements, a quick comment and suggestion, and a poll:
Here is a link to the Special Olympics eligibility page:
http://www.specialolympics.org/...
Here's an excerpt:
To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must have an intellectual disability; a cognitive delay, or a development disability, that is, functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills. Participation in Special Olympics starts at age 8 years, and there’s no maximum age limit. Children with intellectual disabilities ages 2 through 7 can take part in the Young Athletes program, either at home or through a nearby Special Olympics program.
My son is a so-called "low-functioning" autistic. He is reaching a point in his development where I think that Special Olympics might be a good thing for him to participate in. I am sure I am not alone in having a child eligible for Special Olympics, or of knowing a child who is eligible, or will be at the proper age. I have included a poll which allows you to express your connection to Special Olympics, if any.
I like the idea of a teaching moment. But we're Kossacks. That means we boldly pursue solutions. So, in that spirit, allow me to offer a solution. Take the opportunity of this minor tempest to donate to the Special Olympics. I just did. I did it in memory of my dear grandmother Geneva, would would have loved my boy, had she been able to stick around long enough to meet him.
Or, if you're more politically inclined, the Special Olympics chairman offered a suggestion for President Obama in his official statement:
Finally, we invite the President to take the lead and consider hiring a Special Olympics athlete to work in the White House. In so doing, he could help end misperceptions about the talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities, and demonstrate their dignity and value to the world.
Sounds like a good idea. Here's the contact information for the White House.
Strike while the iron is hot, people. Oh, and if you're planning to donate, and you haven't before, do it before you answer the poll.