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Blog Posts With the Most Comments
President Obama on Leno - What
By now (11:30am EST) on Friday March 20, just about everyone has heard about President Obama's remark on his bad bowling being, "like the Special Olympics or something" on Thursday night's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
This provides a unique opportunity for us to activate in the social media realm and make sure that we all get online and have our voices heard!
What you can do, and encourage others to do, is get on your own blogs, update your Facebook status, and get on Twitter to share your opinion about President Obama's gaffe. Then spread the word and encourage your friends and family to do the same!
All the major news outlets are covering this and offering the opportunities to comment and voice your opinion as well as thousands of conversations on blogs going on right now. One particularly interesting one in our Fan Community. So, not wanting to take away from the on-going discussion, I've posted below the official Special Olympics statement.
Here are some more links where you can engage in conversation and speak out!
Huffington Post
ABC
NY Daily News
Yahoo News
USA Today
Washington Post
CNN
MARCH 20, 2009
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHAIRMAN
TIMOTHY SHRIVER
REGARDING U.S. PRESIDENT OBAMA S COMMENT ON
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO
President Obama called last night and expressed his regret and he apologized. He said that he did not intend to humiliate Special Olympics athletes or people with intellectual disabilities. He was sincere and heartfelt, and said that he is a fan of our movement and is ready to work with our athletes to make the United States a more accepting and welcoming country for all people with special needs.
Words hurt and words matter. Words can cause pain and result in stereotypes that are unfair and damaging to people with intellectual disabilities. And using Special Olympics in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs.
This is a teachable moment for our country. We are asking young people, parents and leaders from all walks of life to engage in conversation and help dispel negative caricatures about people with intellectual disabilities. We believe that it s only through open conversation and dialogue about how stereotypes can cause pain that we can begin to work together to create communities of acceptance and inclusion for all.
Special Olympics is not a program, but a worldwide movement operating 30,000 events a year in more than 180 countries. Every one of them is a chance for people of all ages to get involved, to think differently about attitudes and perceptions they may have about people with intellectual disabilities, and to make a difference.
And so we challenge people to join our Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, a youth-led national awareness effort that will launch on March 31, where we are asking people to pledge their respect for people with special needs. We re asking people to sign our R-word pledge, to join in our Unified Sports programs, to volunteer, and to be fans of our athletes and our movement.
Additionally, we challenge policy leaders at all levels to commit to improving the support and resources for people with intellectual disabilities in areas such as healthcare, education, housing and recreation.
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.
Hollywood does it Again
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 22
UPDATED MARCH 13
It looks like Hollywood has done it again. I'd like to bring this article from the March 11 edition of the Chicago Tribune to your attention.
The article is a Q&A interview with actor Craig Robinson (Daryl, the warehouse guy in "The Office") who has a supporting role in the upcoming movie "Miss March" which comes out in theatres on Friday March 13.
--
Q - In the script, the word "retard" is used over and over. The comedy "Tropic Thunder" received a great deal of criticism for using the same word. Was there any concern over how this might be received?
A - I've heard nothing. There could very well be something, but I haven't heard anything. We shot it probably the same time as ["Tropic Thunder"]. I wasn't in the editing room. You'll have to talk to the guys who made those decisions.
Q - But, as a comedian, is that just a toxic word now?
A - It does seem to be. You can see it from a parent's point of view. But the way they use it in the movie is funny. It's silly. It's not going out to hurt anybody. It's definitely not coming from an evil place; it's just coming from the way people talk.
---
Please note, I have not seen the movie, but Special Olympics has requested a viewing copy of the movie.
What I do know is that the movie was written and directed by Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore, who both star in the movie. Cregger and Moore were born in 1980 and 1981 so their script is a perfect example of the pervasiveness of the R-word within that generation's vernacular and shows just how high the lack of awareness is to the hurt the R-word causes millions of people.
None of the movie trailers or promotional materials use the R-word. My educated guess is there is a lot of dialogue along the lines of "You're so retarded" or "That's so retarded" and so forth.
The bottom line is, the R-word was used enough in the movie to prompt a reporter from the Chicago Tribune to make 2 of his 11 questions published in his article, about the R-word.
I am encouraging you to do four things:
1) Not spend your money to see the movie.
2) Let the writers and production company and distribution company know how you feel about the R-word being in the movie by calling them, emailing them or writing to them.
3) Go to www.r-word.org and make your pledge to not use the R-word. If you've already pledged, Spread the Word to your friends and family!
4) Don't have the time to write your own letter? Copy the text below and post it as a comment on my blog below and I will send the chain of comments via email myself,
"I will not spend money to watch this movie and I will do everything in my power to convince my family and friends not to spend money to watch this movie. It is time for Hollywood to stop using the word 'retard.'"
MARCH 13 UPDATE:
I came across an article on FilmCritic.com this morning that gives us more details on one way the R-word was used in this movie (I added the bold to the text). It's not pretty:
The best friend is Eugene (Cregger), a high-school student who doubles as an abstinence lecturer. Along with his devout girlfriend Cindi (Raquel Alessi), Eugene recounts how his brother had sex and then had "retard babies" that later went on to burn down his house and kill his mother. The tirade is accompanied by projections of Syphilis infected no-no areas.Please see below for how you can get ahold of the relevant people and let your voices be heard!
Zach Cregger:
Publicist is Jeffrey Chassen of Baker Winokur Ryder Public Relations (BWR)
Mailing Address:
World Wide Tower
825 8th Ave
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 2129013922
Email: jeffrey.chassen@bwr-ny.com
Trevor Moore:
Manager is Kara Walker of Generate
Mailing Address is:
1545 26th St.
Ste. 200
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: 310-255-0460
Email: kara@generatela.com
http://www.generateLA.com/
Distribution Company is Fox Searchlight:
Peter Rice, President
Fox Searchlight Pictures
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Bldg. 38
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Phone: 310-369-4402
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/
Production Company is Jacobson Productions:
Tom Jacobson
Jacobson Productions
280 S. Beverly Drive
Suite 316
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: 310-550-9319
SEPTEMBER 22 UPDATE:
First, my apologies for not updating this blog post before now as I should have done about 6 weeks ago, as various circumstances just didn't allow that to happen, but I digress. I'd like to offer a big THANK YOU to everyone who spoke out about this movie and to FOX because as this review of the "Miss March" DVD reports, each instance of the word "retard" was removed from this movie! Success! I encourage you to read the comments below the article I linked to above as they are pretty typical of most conversations about the R-word nowadays. The encouraging part about that is that a year ago during the "Tropic Thunder" protests comments in various articles were about 95 to 98 percent against our efforts. As you can see that ratio in this particular article's comments is much closer to a 60-40 split. I feel like that's significant progress toward shifting a societal paradigm, an incredibly encouraging development.
Additionally, I'd like to share a picture of an ad that our Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign put in the August 11 edition of Variety magazine to thank FOX for their support. Enjoy!
My Speech
This is a speech that I presented with Dony Knight, to my school and at Regionals.
Hello, I'm Hannah Kasal and here with me is my good friend Dony Knight. We just got back from Boise, Idaho where we attended the Global Youth Activation Summit at the World Winter Games. 38 States and 20 Countries all attended the GYAS. Our role in attending was to gain knowledge to help modivate the youth to become more involved with Special Olympics and aware of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. One of the sessions we attended was about the R-Campaign. The R-Campaign is a movement going on across the world to stop people from using the word, "Retard". The R-word is a commonly used word in several people's vocabulary. Often times you'll hear someone say, "That's retarded" or "You're such a retard". Many people don't know it but they are using a inapropriate word that hurts and discriminates others. I would like to ask you all to speak up for yourselves ans others in helping stop this word from being used. Use RESPECT and take this word out of your vocabulary. Today as you walk around I'd like you to take a second to look at some of the R-word banners hanging upon some walls across the school and hopefully they will be a reminder of how ONE word can make someone feel. ONE word CAN and WILL make a difference. Thank You.
After giving this speech I've had several questions/comments/acknowledgements from students/teachers/athletes/spectators/family. The following day after giving this speech to my school at an assembly, I was sitting in class working when I heard someone say aloud, "That's so retarded!" I instantly looked up and was searching for the voice that had anounced this hurtful word when I looked across the room and as a young gentlemen in my class stood up he asked the student who said the word, "Did you listen to Hannah Kasal's speech yesterday!" And he then was quiet. He realized he had made a mistake and then apologized to me. So I would like all of you to know that ONE little thing could lead to another BIGGER and GREATER thing. Speak up because everyone has a voice and remember... One thing always leads to another.
Battling ignorance and the R-w
Today brought an interesting ebb and flow. For those who don't know, I work in communications at Special Olympics, Inc. and while we all wear many hats I generally work on branding and marketing and this Fan Community site as well as all the other social media presences around the Internet like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc.
Anyhoo, we've been working on putting together an event for the end of March, specifically 3.31.09, End the R-word Day. This event is the brainchild of our highly energetic and inspiring youth that started the SO College initiative last summer. The goal is to raise awareness around college campuses about the word "retard" or "retarded" and to educate college students about the hurtful nature of the word and to ask them to pledge to stop using the r-word.
The idea has picked up tons of grassroots momentum and is really taking off. So today, actor John C. McGinley was on the Bonnie Hunt Show and he was wearing a "Spread the Word to End the Word 3.31.09" t-shirt, provided by the aforementioned SO College youth. You may know John C. McGinley as Dr. Cox on the TV show "Scrubs." Well, he's also the parent of 11-year old Max who was born with Down Syndrome.
While attending our 2009 World Winter Games, Mr. McGinley was blown away by the enthusiasm and passion of our youth that are taking it upon themselves to educate their peers and activate them to create change. He agreed to be the celebrity spokesperson for 3.31.09 End the R-word Day and has been making the rounds on the TV Guide Channel and the Bonnie Hunt Show among others, while wearing the t-shirt promoting the event.
Well today's response was phenomenal. Bonnie Hunt's website was flooded with comments in support of the campaign. Our own R-word website received tons of new pledges to stop using the R-word and overall it was really great to see so much passion and activation throughout the day. It was one of those days where you really get to see the payoff of the hard work we all do in support of the athletes.
Then, near the end of the day, I got one of my 'Google Alerts' that immediately brought back the harsh reality of just how much work we all have to do as we move forward. The Google Alert told me that American Idol contestant Kris Allen said the following in an interview about his recent performance on the show in which he moved on to the final round of 12 contestants:
I felt like smacking my computer screen or letting an expletive or two escape. Then I relaxed and realized there are only two ways to go about dealing with people like American Idol's Kris Allen who continute to perpetuate negative stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities by using the R-word in a hurtful manner -- whether they know it or not.
The first way is to just accept things as they are and that despite any efforts so many of us continue to make, things aren't going to change.
The second way is to pin his comment up on my blog, along with many others like it so any time I feel like taking option 1, I can read this and revert back to the feeling of wanting to smack my computer screen.
So I'm choosing option 2 and using American Idol's Kris Allen's hurtful comment as further motivation to fight on, knowing that what we are doing by advocating for people with intellectual disabilities by calling for an end to the R-word is the right thing.
I hope you'll join me.
Poem from Steven Coston
Hi all,
Recently Steven Coston, an athlete and global messenger from Special Olympics New Jersey, pictured right, shared a poem with our communications team at Special Olympics and I wanted to make sure everyone in our Community got a chance to read it, so enjoy! Great job Steven!
Let me win―by accepting me the way I am.
Let me win―in educating me with one-on-one professional tutors.
Let me win―by giving me health-care stability.
Let me win―by having inclusion programs in our schools from elementary to college.
Let me win―by having a decent well-paying career.
Let me win―to live a decent independent lifestyle in a house or apartment.
Let me win―in getting involved with the community and getting along with my everyday peers.
Let me win―by having increased Unified Sports® involvement in team events.
But if I cannot win―do not criticize me.
Do not use the R-word.
Do not label me because I look or learn differently.
Do not segregate or discriminate against me.
Do not bully me.
Do not betray me.
Do not limit my potential to earn, learn and live a stable lifestyle like everyone else.
Let me be brave in the attempt―to move forward out of poverty.
To have more federal funds and money to improve our survival in post secondary and higher education programs for special education students and disabled adults.
To expand in other talents in which I am capable and living a productive life.
To have common ground that we are all created equal and have justice in all opportunities in education, health care, career, shelter, food, clothing and in all challenges of life.
As the world is in the 21st century, this nation has learned about what happened in the 20th century in what the civil rights movement was all about, in which the Special Olympics athletes and disabled children and young and older adults were the central core of this movement.
What took place on 20 July 1968, from the first Special Olympics establishment to the nations first African American President of the United States of America―it means the impossible dream has come true!
Quote
I come accross this a lot when I search Special Olympics. I also cose up to these profiles with this saying.
"Fighting over the internet is like competing in the special olympics. You may win but in the end your still r-word."
I found one on YouTub http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=EliiChan that says that.
R- word
I interviewed Brendan about the R-Word. he is a partner. brendan think R-word is very bad word. he hears kids at his school say it all the time. he tells them to not use the word because is very disrespetful. brendan says that you need to have respect, dignity, and self disapline.
i think hurt his feeings and make people upset. i will tell people not to use R-word and we will burry the R- word and make a new word is call respect.
world winter games
Hi my name is Andy Williams
I am very Exsited to be back at the world games its a amazing to be hear. I have only been to snow once in DC
I am From Melbourne which Around about gets to on avg 42 46c at the moment being summer and that is around i think in American terms 116 118 its very hot heat wave
I am also hear at this games off being a IGM which is part off Athlete Leadership program which means that we work on a lot off speeches Meet a lot off pepole and attand funcitions I got invold in leadership training back in 2006 my trips i have been on many Over seas trips after I got invold in leaderships program. and got to make very close friends all around any i go I have been to India Mimi -twice San-fran-sico singapore China washington Hawaii And boise I also Visit the united states when i was 17 with my Mum + Sister We visit the west coast off america on a 16 day tour that was a very full on
In may I am going to see my Brother James who lives in the Uk I am going with my mum we are staying at his place we are staying for 31-days and we are going to france as well it will be the frist time i am going to meet his Boy Friend vicent they met in melbourne and my brother moved to uk on a 5 year planner they are very happy together and they are just like any one else
and I also have a brother who has Just had a baby Gril with his gril Friend Lisa Once i get back to melbourne I will try to add picturs and try to get videos on hear from the world games
that is all for know talk later Andy Williams
Dear Special Olympics
Dear Special Olympics,
I am a mentally challenged person who right now is very angry with your policies. I am very disappointed that you chose to have the games in China of all places. You claim you care about the mentally challenged, yet you dare to go into a country that has no respect for life and even has institutions that torture people like me, as well as countless other people with a variety of different kinds of disablities. I myself am a Special Olympics athlete, but I want and need for you to know that I am not afraid of you or what you may decide to do with me as a result of sending this message to you. You do not represent me or my kind. You represent stupid liberals in DC like Obama, who don't give a crap about people like me. So you do what you want with me, but I will stand up for what I believe and know to be right, whether you like it or not.
Coop
Callous Hollywood
For the past 3 decades, the movie and television industries have become more bold in their derision of persons who have intellectual disabilities. (Please refer to www.calloushollywood.com.) A few years ago, I wrote to the CEO s of major movie and television studios to express dismay about the impact of the words 'retard' and 'retarded' used in programming; I received no replies. Subsequently, I sent letters of concern to an ARC in every state expressing concern about the movie and television industries and received only one reply. Last year I sent letters to Gov. and Ms. Schwarzenegger and to Oprah Winfrey and asked that they help educate their friends in the film and television industries to stop use of the 'r' words. I received no response as expected. After Tropic Thunder was released, it seemed that finally the public was outraged enough to take a stand against mistreatment of persons with special needs, but now that anger has faded. During January and February, Hollywood honored itself repeatedly with the Oscars, SAG awards, Golden Globe awards and Grammy awards. Tropic Thunder again received attention due to the performance of Robert Downey, Jr. Hollywood does not use epithets regarding race, ethnicity, sexuality or religion in movies and television unless the words pertain to a show's topic. With proper education and discouragement, Hollywood can learn to stop using the terms 'retard' and 'retarded' as well. The use of these words promotes bullying of persons who have developmental delays, makes these epithets pervasive in society, insults the intelligence of persons who have disabilities and hurts their feelings. These folks are paying customers, too, and have the right to enjoy a program without being blindsided by the 'r' word. Let's tell Hollywood's actors, screenplay writers, directors and producers that they are hurting persons who already have enough challenges in life. Their ''freedom of speech" does not include the right to cause harm to others. Let's help Hollywood do the right thing and grow up. Knock off the 'r' word now and bury it.
Obama's hurtful words
I am a very strong person I am told. But when the man that I helped with my love and talk about him makes fun of me and my friends, that makes me sad... I BOWL GOOD! I am not as good as other people, but I am trying harder to be better. I will be better.
Please go to:
http://digg.com/politics/Olympian_Caitlin_Cox_said_Obama_s_words_Made_her_sad
People say that he did not mean it but when people are nice they never say things like that. I am sad but I dont like to be sad. It hurts sometimes. I want to be like my friends. I m not special. I can do anything he can do too. Now I could even be a President...
alinezhadmohammad.blogfa.com
personal usefull blog
accidentally
This evening I was browsing Internet for anything connected to Special Olympics. Among the first search results I found something shocking. I am even confused whether I should talk here about it. But I believe this is a good way to make more people see it and react to it.
So, what I found out ...
I typed Special Olympics in Google and the second result from it was:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IFUNIa2NU8
I do not know what more to say. I live in Bulgaria and there is no way for me to fight this terrible action, I have posted my comment under the video, but that would not be enough. So, as probably the performer is a local celebrity popular in the USA I thought that I could at least inform you and you could organize a counter action.
Anna Dimitrova
Joy and Frustration
Although my wife and I deeply enjoyed the World Winter Special Olympic Games in Boise, ID, I was deeply frustrated with the fact that the major US networks, did not take the time to cover such awesome events. It appears that they would rather cover a dog show and the enconomy, than to cover the excitment and joy that Special Olympics brings.
My wife and I do not have a special needs child, but we have a deep desire to help out however possible. It is our desire to one day foster/adopt a special needs child. It is going to be a blessing to parent and love a child with special needs. It will be our hope that we will involve our child in Special Olympics.
We firmly believe that the US needs to see the hope, courage, joy and innoscence of the athletes involved in the Special Olympics. It would sure be a "shot in the arm" during these times of economic struggles.
Inspiration From My Athletes
As I prepare to board my flight to the Special Olympics World games, I find myself asking where does inspiration come from, and why do we need it? The source of inspiration comes in many forms. For me, it is derived from the people in my life, the coaches I work with, and today, I am most inspired by the athletes that surround me.
I sit here with 15 athletes who are scared, nervous, and excited all at the same time. We are taking a journey to Boise, Idaho where they will compete in the sports they love. Most importantly, they will make new friends and experience new things as they dare to be great.
“I truly believe that individuals can make a difference in society. Since periods of change such as the present one come so rarely in human history, it is up to each of us to make the best use of our time to help create a happier world.”
-- Dalai Lama
Here we go again...
UPDATE OCTOBER 14:
Wow, so this just doesn't stop. I just saw a preview from the latest issue of Rolling Stone Magazine in which Madonna (she's on the cover) gives an in depth interview on her career and life. One paragraph in which she speaks about musical regrets or predicting a hit. Here is the excerpt, please note the bold is my addition:
But Madonna doesn’t have many musical regrets. She tells Scaggs about writing “Live to Tell” and “Vogue,” returning with a head full of brand-new ideas on Ray of Light and teaming with some of the industry’s biggest hitmakers on Hard Candy. But after all these years, she admits she still can’t sniff out a Number One. “I’ve never been a good judge of what things are going to be huge or not. The songs that I think are the most retarded songs I’ve written, like ‘Cherish’ and ‘Sorry,’ a pretty big hit off my last album, end up being the biggest hits,” she tells RS. ” ‘Into the Groove’ is another song I feel retarded singing, but everybody seems to like it.”
So, what are your thoughts? What do you think about the fact that the media is speaking about Madonna and Guy Ritchie fighting back and forth, but NO ONE is talking about the hurtful language they are using by throwing around the R-word with reckless abandon. Share your thoughts in the comments below along with your thoughts on Guy Ritchie's recent usage as outlined below.
Original Post - October 8
By now you've probably heard about the most recent, or at least most publicly recent, uttering of the R-word (retarded) by yet another celebrity. This time around it was indeed used as an insult from director/producer Guy Ritchie in reference to his former wife Madonna. Said Ritchie in an interview published on October 7 from Esquire Magazine, "I still lover her, but she's retarded too."
Of coursre it was just last October that Madonna referred to Guy Ritchie as "emotionally retarded" while on stage in Boston in front of 20,000 people.
Sigh...
I'm going to let the tabloids dive into the obvious comments about immaturity, lack of originality or overt comparisons to the verbal equivalent of limp wristed slap fights going on between Madonna and Ritchie. That's their business.
What concerns me, actually check that, what annoys the crap out of me, is that a year after Madonna's uttering of the R-word toward Ritchie, we've gone exactly nowhere as a society despite the efforts around the "Tropic Thunder" protests, the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign and so forth. Don't get me wrong, there's been lots of great work and there is lots of great work being done right now to continue the battle for respect and dignity for people with intellectual disabilities by raising society's awareness to the hurtful nature of the R-word. But man is it frustrating sometimes.
So in an effort to work off some of that frustration, I'd like to encourage you to let Guy Ritchie know how you feel about him using the R-word as an insult. Tell him how it makes you feel. Tell him why it hurts. Tell him why he should stop. Tell him about the accomplishments you've made in your life. Tell him that you expect better from him. Invite him to one of your local Special Olympics events and ask him how he feels about using the R-word afterwards.
If you need some inspiration in what message to send to Mr. Ritchie, I've embedded the letter that our Chairman, Tim Shriver, sent to Madonna after last year's incident. There will be a letter of similar nature going to Mr. Ritchie in the immediate future, rest assured.
Other than that, please find various contact information for Guy Ritchie below. Happy writing!
Ritchie's Talent Agency:
Mr. Guy Ritchie
c/o Beth Swofford
Creative Artists Agency
2000 Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
USA
Phone: 424-288-2000
Fax: 424-288-2900
http://www.caa.com/
Mr Ritchie's Management Group
Mr. Guy Ritchie
c/o Anonymous Content
32 Hayden Ave
Culver City, CA 90232
USA
Phone: 310-558-6000
Fax: 310-558-4212
http://www.anonymouscontent.com/
A small effort can brighten a
Mary Ellen Weaving is an Autistic student and a Junior at Branford High School. She has been at BHS since Freshman year and is a participant with Unified Sports. Alyssa Gagliardi (Senior-Captain) worked with Mary Ellen at the High School. One night at a football game, Alyssa asked if Mary Ellen could come onto the field at half time as she loved cheerleading. Without hesitation, we invited her down. As the clock ran down to zero and the 2nd half was about to begin, I realized that Mary Ellen was still on the field. One of the girls gave her a cheer cube to stand on. Another gave her their pom poms to use. Mary Ellen stayed on the field the whole second half and the kids just accepted her.
On Monday morning, I recieved a call from a parent (which as you know is usually never good). The woman on the other end introduced herself as Mary Ellen's mother, MIchelle. As she took a deep breath in, you could hear that she was obviously emotional. She proceeded to tell me that it has been a struggle to get Mary Ellen to school ever since she started. And on that Monday, after the football game on Friday night, Mary Ellen couldn't leave the house fast enough to go see "all her new friends on the cheerleading team".
That night at prctice, I sat down and told them the story. I wanted to make sure they got the real message here. What may have been a small effort on their part like giving their pom poms or even just talking to Mary Ellen made the biggest difference to her. They needed to realize that even the smallest gesture can have the biggest impact. I wanted them to think about their actions going forwards - how hard is it to help pick up someone's books in the hallway? To step in if someone is getting picked on? Or just to smile/say hello for no reason...little things can go a long way - proof was right here with Mary Ellen.
After that call, without hesitation, we got Mary Ellen a uniform. The kids designed her own cheer cube for her. She has been a prominent member of the team ever since. She participates at the games, watches at practices and even colors the kids' pictures on key days like States or Senior Day. This Friday night (3/6) on Channel 3, they will be doing a feature on this story with the kids that helped make Mary Ellen's life at BHS a little brighter.
Megan Link, Branford High School, Cheerleading Coach
U Conn Volunteers for Special
Pictured from left to right: Ryan Matthews, Laura Harris, Eddie Boynton, Robert Puff (student director), President Michael Hogan, Katelyn Donovan (student director) and Meg Carley.
From Beau Doherty, President, Special Olympics Connecticut (www.soct.org)
The UCONN OC is run out of the Department of Student Services and has become an integral part of campus life for students attending UCONN at the undergrad and graduate level. In the 2008-2009 school year, over 2,000 students will have volunteered 50,000 community service hours for over 60 non-profits, schools, organizations and causes.
The UCONN volunteers have become a huge resource to the Eastern Region since they moved to Norwich in 2004 and SOCT knew some of the seniors who would be graduating soon so it was a time to thank them for their time and effort. In the 2008-2009 school year UCONN has sent over 250 volunteers total to the Chowderfest, 3 bowling qualifiers, CAS soccer, volleyball/basketball qualifiers, and 2 penguin plunges. They spear headed the R-Word Campaign through the campus e-mail and residence life staff, raised $4,500 through Dodgeball and had 170 volunteers registered for the Soccer Qualifier.
Special Olympics Connecticut was absolutely floored when they announced the first ever UCONN Community Partner Award was being awarded to….Special Olympics Connecticut. It truly was a surprise and something we were not expecting. It’s a tribute to the mission of our program and these 18-21 year old volunteers of today are our future business, education and community leaders of tomorrow.
Clarification On China and Ira
So there seem to be a lot of people who have problems with these blogs. One person in particular thinks he can bully me and my friend into not expressing our opinions by trying to have the blogs removed just because HE doesn't like it.
With that said, my friend Annah and I would like to bring up some points of clarification. Now we are sorry we used the phrase "stupid liberals." But Coop is frustrated with Democrats. He feels like they all just want him dead. I understand there are Republicans like that as well and vice versa, and also the Democrats on both sides of the fence.
Coop was accused of being biased in the Iran blog. That's actually quite ironic, because believe it or not, Coop is a member of the Special Olympics. But Coop is actually objective enough that he can have his own opinions. Yet this person is a representative who just sticks by SOL no matter what, yet he wants to accuse COOP of being biased simply because he disagrees with some of its policies? Sorry, back up the ship there buddy. Coop loves being in Special Olympics, but he is not afraid to call things out like he seems them, and for any way you may disagree with him, one has to admit that it is an admirable trait when someone can be honest about how he or she feels.
Now that I have that out of the way, the main reason we are against Special Olympics teams being in China and Iran is for safety reasons among other things. We DID say it was hypocritical to have these teams there, because these countries go against everything the Special Olympics stands for. Now perhaps this is a good way to spread disability awareness in these countries, but people's hearts are not going to change until they WANT to be changed. And it's not safe in those countries for these people. If we are hypocrites for being concerned about their safety, then frankly I'd rather be a hypocrite and so would Coop. We'll proudly bear that name. By the way, there are other countries we feel that way about too, such as Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The leaders of these areas treat these people VERY cruelly. If they treat their own people that way, how do you think they will treat people with disabilities?
Listen, either way you see it, that's just the way we see these kinds of things. And we don't appreciate people trying to bully us into not posting blogs like this just because they disagree.
I do not mean to be negative. I do appreciate what Special Olympics is trying to do with these countries, but in Coop's and my opinion, we feel the Special Olympics is playing with fire on this.
Thank you for hearing us out.
Annah and Coop
Goodbyes and Return Home after
Its been awhile and I promised all of you that I would blog about the goodbyes and the volunteer receptions at the end of Closing Ceremonies. Since I been home I jumped right back into work doing my 6 jobs and just picking up a 7 one two weeks after I got back from Idaho. All my jobs are going really good and I am loving them all equally. But lets talk about the Volunteer Reception at the end of the Closing Ceremonies. I was the International Global Messenger that was choosen to speak at the Reception which was amazing because I know how hard all the volunteers have work for the last three years to put these games on. I met a couple of volunteers from California and ran into some old friends that I met in Idaho when I came here to help out at some of the fundrasing events in 2007. I just cant say enough about the great people of Idaho and all the volunteers that traveled from all around the world to help out at the games. After we left the Volunteer Reception early because of the flights that some of us had to take early the next morning we were left without transportation back to our hotel. Thats when about 5 volunteers came to our help and drove are big group back to our hotel. I just could not sleep at all and I did not want to say my goodbyes that night before going to bed because I knew I would have lost it and been crying for hours on end. My fellow IGM Andy and his mentor Sharon from australia we all went out for drinks at the pub that they loved going to which was called "The Luck of the Irish" on are way there we ran into Kirk Rogan and his mentor and they came along with us. We just sat around the table and shared stories about these games and how we all hope to meet back up again someday in the future. When we finally got back to the hotel I just sat up awake in the lobby to say goodbye to all the IGM's as they were leaving in the morning. It was so hard saying goodbye. Each one of the IGM's and I have are own special moment together and it was a tearful goodbye to all of them and there mentors. But the toughest goodbye was when I was leaving from the car to check in for my flight back home saying goodbye to are contacts and one of the people that chose me to be a IGM Kathryn Clark and Dave Thompson. When I got to the gate at the airport we say some famliar faces on our plane going back home. My mentor and I flew back with Jimmy and Donny Dimers and Gary i cant remember his last name but he was the director of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the games. I hope you all enjoyed each one of my blogs from the 2009 World Winter Games from Boise, Idaho. I promise to have more blogs coming in the future after our Summer and Fall games here in Southern California.