Below is a powerful response from a man with Down’s Syndrome to Ann Coulter who recently called President Barack Obama a “retard.” He is Special Olympics athlete and global messenger John Franklin Stephens. He is also the antidote to today’s hateful political discourse.
Dear Ann Coulter,
Come on Ms. Coulter, you aren’t dumb and you aren’t shallow. So why are you continually using a word like the R-word as an insult?
I’m a 30 year old man with Down syndrome who has struggled with the public’s perception that an intellectual disability means that I am dumb and shallow. I am not either of those things, but I do process information more slowly than the rest of you. In fact it has taken me all day to figure out how to respond to your use of the R-word last night.
I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life as many of my fellow Special Olympians have.
Then I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarkey sound bite to the next.
Finally, I wondered if you meant to degrade him as someone who is likely to receive bad health care, live in low grade housing with very little income and still manages to see life as a wonderful gift.
Because, Ms. Coulter, that is who we are – and much, much more.
After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. You assumed that people would understand and accept that being linked to someone like me is an insult and you assumed you could get away with it and still appear on TV.
I have to wonder if you considered other hateful words but recoiled from the backlash.
Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.
No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.
Come join us someday at Special Olympics. See if you can walk away with your heart unchanged.
A friend you haven’t made yet,
John Franklin Stephens
Global Messenger
Special Olympics Virginia
ElaineM,
Use your imagination. If you feel you belong to the rage that is for you to decide. I did not have you in mind.
While not agreeing with your points you were however very willing to offer counterarguments. An exception.
The only problem that I have with you and all who have gone to GeneH school of arguing is that you all ignore the points made by the other party and leave them undiscussed, only replying with your points instead.
Just like the political debates, but the energy released yesterday likened a rage, not even a debate—
excluding you as I said above.
So dissect that and come back again. Cool to see you again here.
How are you and Sandy getting along. Are you all set?
idealist,
What definition of “mob” did you have in mind when you wrote: “I appreciated your courage to speak up against the mob here in this particular ‘rage’—can’t call it a debate.”
Good deed,
Are you aware that your icon/avatar shows ol’ man earth wearing North America as a “comb-over”. “We” can’t afford a Donald Trump hair. Donald has our hair.
Images say so much: Reading a book yesterday, there was a cartoon image of Nixon on the campaign trail, nose to the microphones on the podium, and from a grossly bloated body a stream of diarrhea exploded.
In the author’s note was pointed out the “necessary” hypocritical cooperation between longterm Washington correspondent and the powers they are supposed to hold an eye on and expose to our view.
Tricksy,
Thanks.
Maybe it has something to do with my NOT being a lawyer.
Necessary evils, but who are distorted or pre-selected by/for their work.
Being essentially free-working professionals, they are attuned to meeting needs of their clients, to the exclusion of all else. That of course makes them naturals to become politicians. Bought is bought. But enough of them.
I appreciated your courage to speak up against the mob here in this particular “rage”—can’t call it a debate. Look forward to more words from you.
Great…
My experience of hurricanes have been in an armory building at 14 holding radio comm with the flooded coastline of NC. Our winds inland were never higher than 105. Later, behind a cncrete/stone seawall, 12foot high on the Jersey coast near Ft Momnouth, the sight of the 10 foot sea rise from the storm was impressive.
Hope you all do well. Maybe having the kids bring blankets to the party might be a good idea, and add to the excitement. I presume and hope most of you are well-placed. Elaine, I hope you are well up from the “habbah”.
—Just a couple of jokes:
Are the R’s blaming it on Obama, god’s vengance for Obama’s deeds, our abortions, that we have jews here (Ann Coulter), or Obama’s false birth certificate—-besides he is a commmunist and a muslim in secret?
And after Frenkenstorm, what comes next on the scale upwards?
Gene,
I should have mentioned that my daughter and son-in-law are hosting a Halloween party in the barn at their new house tomorrow evening. My husband and I have also been busy grocery shopping and preparing food for the festivities.
I just hope we don’t get hit too hard. We have close friends that live right on the water in Salem.
http://youtu.be/qybUFnY7Y8w
Elaine,
Good luck with the storm! We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for you and your family. And that goes for you too, eniobob! Wherever you are! Bob, Esq.? I know he’s ready, but still a hearty well wish in front of Mother Nature being most unpleasant. I know our host is in New Orleans,but for Clan Turley back home, we wish for an uneventful storm as well.
To all our readers and commentators from the East Coast! Be well, be safe, be dry. This too shall pass.
idealist707 1, October 26, 2012 at 2:11 pm
ElaineM.,
I offered you an apology.
Apparently you reject it as you instead of acknowledging it; came back with further quotes to beat me with.
*****
I left that response to a previous comment that you had written. After that, I didn’t return to this thread. I had not read your apology. I never reject sincere apologies. You’ll have to forgive me for being away for a while.
We have been busy around here. We’re making sure that we have everything we will need and making sure we batten down the hatches in preparation for the monster storm–nicknamed Frankenstorm–that will likely hit the coastal area where I live in a couple of days.
BTW, I did explain what bothered me about Enoch’s comments.
Mike Spindell,
If you go back and read what I wrote, you will see that I did not attribute the quote to you. If you read what I wrote, the context of the question presented would make any assumed attribution of the quote to you out of the question.
What I posted was a question to you about how you interpreted that quote.
(Instead of accusing me of not reading, maybe next time you’ll take the time to read and comprehend before responding.)
As for the teabagger comment: I made the mistake of giving you the benefit of the doubt. I should have assumed that you meant to be offensive. (Which you would have likely also complained about.)
Mike Spindell said [while referring to the Tea Party] ” I find them offensive and I find what they support inimical to the American Constitution.” (That’s one of the ways a quote is attributed to someone.)
How so? How is what they support inimical to the American Constitution? I read your article. You made statements about the current version of the Tea Party, but you never provided justification for it.
Is John Franklin Stephens the antidote to today’s hateful political discourse? Does he have to do it alone? Why don’t people like you (and Gene Howington since he decided to provide an answer) make any effort to curb the hateful political discourse?
Thank you wild Willie. I am disillusioned by the tone of responses, which in my mind, is no better than the tone that is subject of the criticism. Venom is poisonous; it does not matter what the name of the carrier is.
“Offering evidence that the entity being terrorized has acted similarly, is merely an immature, illogical way of justifying murder.” MikeS,
Now the children of the Swat Valley in Pakistan thank you for coming to their defense against Mespo727272’s drones.
But more materiel is that you guys still don’t get what Enoch said, IMHO.
I do not believe as some say: he criticizes those who come out against her, he does not say suspend judgement, or whatever the phuck you think he says.
I won’t cite him, but simply say that in my mind he said:
Start where you stand, whether it be in JT-blog, and criticize there, rather than searching far afield.
Now we, none of us or all of us together will have much effect on Ann Coulter’s effect with her despicable words.
But we might have more and even more important effect if we start in our own little group. Not negative feedback, we all get enough of that and more. But positive feedback. Offering of alternatives. Like I presume AA does in their sessions.
But understandably, there is no one here who will endorse nor start a session of onions and roses as it used to be called. Criticising ruins that cozy feeling around the campfire.
So, OK, don’t do it.
But if you are going to attack Enoch, do it on correct grounds. I have several times and at least got an acknowledgement from him for my main point.
That is more than I have ever been accorded by certain dogs here, you NOT included.
I just use you for a launch pad, and you hopefully know that. Some others do too, when I declare my intent.
Thanks again for the link. The modern interpretation is my bag. The Kabbalah less so. Tried it years ago, light explanation, and it did not sing for me.
You are the one who has such bad taste in succubi, GeneH.
(I was hoping that someday someone would bring out the term. Don’t forget the men with horns, and the beast with doublebacks. All good fun.)
As for fighting myself, shouldn’t we all be?
The only person you are fighting is yourself, id707.
Funny, I was offered praise the other day by someone here for these words:
“So recently as yesterday (and most days for that matter) I pointed out that the pleasure of laughing at your neighbor is a shallow one when one should instead be comparing ones own failings instead relative to the same compass/scale/ruler.
It is a basicly daily occurence here at JT’s that at least one blog that day will enable such parades of “better than these dummers” comments.”
————————
And so it was my interpretation that this was what Enoch came out in support of, and then I engaged with ElaineM. over this idea by asking a straight question. Questions are in her mind obviously always from enemies, to judge from her reaction.
Some might ask if the “horrible” Ann Coulter deserves the same consideration as my neighbor. And I must reply “Yes”. Because for the same reason, that one must “judge” and not knee-jerk following what others say, nor what the government says. Do I like or support Ann Coulter? No.
But I listen to her and make my own judgement of her. And I don’t run after her with the pöbel to crucify her in our words and mouths—not because I feel better than the pöbel, but I do as I please.
Parallel example: Free speech applies to pornography—now. But no longer applies to some, as we are finding out.
There is no law against bad mouthing or simple criticism. I just wish I could see less of it and more discussion here.
Amazing, it all started out with a question to ElaineM; Can you….etc. The question was interpreted as a challenge to her right to speak. False interpretation. And then the battle is joined. Amazing.
I707…I appreciate your contributions to the blog. You speak your truth in the same manner that attracted me JT…quietly and clearly. Allows me to hear better.
id707,
Again, what you do or don’t infer is of little concern to me. If I was talking specifically about you? I would be specific. I have been in the past. There is no reason to change that now. It’s not as if I care what you think of me (or indeed much anything else). If you want to take a post not addressed to anyone in particular and make it about you and how abused ol’ po’ lil’ ol’ you is, that only comports with my previous and clearly stated analysis of what I don’t care what you think of me (or indeed much anything else).
Any “abuse” you are currently suffering is self-inflicted and in your own mind.
That’s your problem, not mine, and I’m totally uninterested in it.
ElaineM.,
I offered you an apology.
Apparently you reject it as you instead of acknowledging it; came back with further quotes to beat me with.
It should be clear at this point that I have only reflected negatively to the constant beating of neighbors—whether they be next door or next continent.
Schadenfreude (?).
I have never at any time said what you should do. I have, now again, asked you to clarify by citing Enoch, give his words that excited your ire. And you won’t do that.
In view of your refusal to accept an apology, that’s what I offered in return for your extensive analysis of how you reacted to my words and interpreted them, then enjoining you for further action is useless. Schoolmarms!
GeneH..
Back again. When I said that if bla bla applies to me, then it is a “strawman” since I did not say it. And secondly the “not judge” is an impossibility for all animals, I also said.
Now you come back with some routine GeneH. abuse.
Keep on, it only embroiders your earlier performances.
UPDATE:
And Ann Coulter doubles down . . .
“When Holmes said that some people believe the word ‘retard’ is as much a slur as the ‘n-word,’ Coulter dismissed her critics as the ‘word police.’
‘Oh, screw them,” she said. ‘That’s what they feel I do? I feel they’re being authoritarian bullying victims.'”
Yeah.
She’s a charmer. For a hateful ignorant cracker. One you’d like to take home to mother. If mom worked at Stormfront. A real keeper. If you collect lesser imps and demons.
Listen up, Ann.
Let’s be clear here: you as a rightwing nutbag entertainer have a right to be just as offensive as you want to be – intentional or not – but you don’t have the right to dictate the reactions of those offended by your ignorant blather, you authoritarian putz. Look to your own jackboots before you whip out that word authoritarian, Axis Sally. That was the very portrait of hypocrisy. If the developmentally disabled find your use of the word retard offensive? It’s offensive. It’s their reaction and they get to decide what it is, not you. End of story. Personally, I don’t need your words to find you offensive in general. Your very existence is adequate to be offensive.
I’m sorry! Did any of this offend you, Whitey? I certainly hope so, Beach Blanket Brown Shirt.
But I kind of doubt it since the world obviously revolves around you and I’m pretty sure you’re your own number one fan since not only do you get to say whatever you want and think there should be no consequence, but that you get to decide what other’s reactions are supposed to be.
Have a day.
enochwisner 1, October 25, 2012 at 7:43 am
“Ayn Rand / Ann Coulter … same difference.”
Neither true nor fair, Dredd. Rand is wrong enough on real issues to have to invent charges against her she doesn’t deserve – such as the merits of her “objectivism,” and her notion that charity for its own sake is indefensible.
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Both are at least sociopaths, but more likely psychopaths:
(Ayn Rand: Patron Saint of the Plutocracy, quoting Monbiot).
Ode to Ayn Rand and Ann Colder: