Special Olympics Takes a Hit

I’m slightly disappointed this morning as I watched the news.  I was riding my bicycle at the health club something I’m not fond of anyway, but as most know that read this I find myself having to take a break from my morning runs due to a hurt Achilles.  Hopefully in 3 weeks time I will be back out there pounding the pavement.

The good news is that it has gotten me working out with weights once again at the local gym.  On one such visit I found myself mindlessly staring at the TV watching Obama talk on the Jay Leno show about a wide range of topics. 

The subject of his bowling came up and Jay poked a little fun at him for his lack of ability on the lanes.  President Obama then made a crack that said it was “It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something.” 

Or something is correct.  As I sat on my bike peddling away I winced.  Not the worst thing I have heard for certain.  It saddens me somewhat to think that an intelligent man like Obama when asked a simple question and when he wants to poke fun at himself the arrow in his brain that whirls around for humor.  The little dial that we all have reaches into the slot that says, “Make fun of intellectually and physically handicapped people”

There are many directions my little missive could take me from there.  I could talk about the comments of Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder.  He lost his job and justifiably so for his comments and linking sports performance to slavery. 

Don Imus is another who lost his job for his comments about black women and a derisive comment about their looks.

I don’t expect to compare the two above incidents with what President Obama said, his comments weren’t in the same league as what Mr. Imus and Mr Snyder said.  Still I get back to the twirling humor wheel in his head.  He didn’t reach for something uplifting as a 3rd grader could beat him.  He reached for people most conceived with physical, emotional and mental handicaps. 

From many reports Obama apologized quickly to the Chairman of the Special Olympics Tim Shriver even before the show was aired.  I applaud him for recognizing quickly that what he said was demeaning.  Oddly enough he had met with Maria Shriver the daughter of Eunice Shriver who founded Special Olympics the day before.  I’m sure his apology had help  from many of his handlers, but regardless he did apologize.

I would have thought he would have learned something from the race he was in against McCain and Palin just a few short months back.  Sarah Palin’s own child has Down Syndrome.  He also is a person of color and has grown up with many iconic moments culminating for many with his election as President.  I go back to his spinning wheel for humor.  His wheel not only stops, but he embraces at making fun of people who in most instances like him didn’t have any choice, but to be who they are, act how they act and compete at the highest level they are able and succeed.

You should apologize and not just to the leader of an organization, but to each person that competes.  You should however not just apologize, but that spinning wheel shouldn’t have stopped on that spot. 

Mr. President you should know better.

You can read more about this issue here.