Today's Dove Box (aka Soap Box but like the Dove it stands for peace - get it!!!) I read an article today on Facebook - my primary source of information. Copied below and so well stated that I'm not going to describe it or try to paraphrase it. It's a letter from a down syndrome man to Ann Coulter who tweeted the R-word.
Ann Coulter is a beautiful American woman. Tall, blond, thin, blue eyed, intelligent, articulate, wealthy. Yet, she uses all her "powers" to promote ugliness. She is so fast-talking and attractive that it is easy to get sucked into her message. Frankly, half the time I don't even understand what her message is. Like John Franklin Stephens author of the article, I am slow to process.
Ann Coulter chooses to use her power to promote hate and division. I have only heard her complain and tell others what she thinks they should do. What has she actually accomplished? Who has she helped? Has she changed the world in any positive way? Just think what she could do if her message was positive and inclusive. If she put her money where her big mouth is and made a positive difference for someone other than herself. Frankly, if I was Ann Coulter I'd be concerned because the other big-mouth, self promoting American babe/bitch in her party has a down syndrome child. You betcha that Sarah Palin isn't gonna take a stand on a Dove Box, she'll have a big ol' rifle in her hand and she knows how to use it!
My message to you my friends is, "Use your power to make a difference for someone else today."
Here is the letter:
After Ann Coulter referred to President Obama as a retard in a tweet during Monday night's presidential debate, Special Olympics athlete and global messenger John Franklin Stephens penned her this open letter:
Dear Ann Coulter,
Come on M...s. 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 VirginiaSee More "}' data-reactid=".t">Like · · Promote · Share
Day 6 - Check!
Ann Coulter is a beautiful American woman. Tall, blond, thin, blue eyed, intelligent, articulate, wealthy. Yet, she uses all her "powers" to promote ugliness. She is so fast-talking and attractive that it is easy to get sucked into her message. Frankly, half the time I don't even understand what her message is. Like John Franklin Stephens author of the article, I am slow to process.
Ann Coulter chooses to use her power to promote hate and division. I have only heard her complain and tell others what she thinks they should do. What has she actually accomplished? Who has she helped? Has she changed the world in any positive way? Just think what she could do if her message was positive and inclusive. If she put her money where her big mouth is and made a positive difference for someone other than herself. Frankly, if I was Ann Coulter I'd be concerned because the other big-mouth, self promoting American babe/bitch in her party has a down syndrome child. You betcha that Sarah Palin isn't gonna take a stand on a Dove Box, she'll have a big ol' rifle in her hand and she knows how to use it!
My message to you my friends is, "Use your power to make a difference for someone else today."
Here is the letter:
After Ann Coulter referred to President Obama as a retard in a tweet during Monday night's presidential debate, Special Olympics athlete and global messenger John Franklin Stephens penned her this open letter:
Dear Ann Coulter,
Come on M...s. 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 VirginiaSee More "}' data-reactid=".t">Like · · Promote · Share
Day 6 - Check!