UPDATE: Special Olympics: Apology not accepted
The vice president for communications at the Special Olympics, Kirsten Seckler, told me that this account of the conversation is "inaccurate."______________
"Tim didn't accept his apology," she said. "Tim can't do that. He can't accept an apology on behalf of all people with disabilities."
Shriver had simply said, she said, that he was willing to continue the conversation with the chief of staff.
...Emanuel met Wednesday with six disability advocates. He "sincerely apologized," again, for using the word, promising to sign an online pledge to end the use of the word, the advocates said in a joint statement.
Emanuel also promised to "examine" Congressional legislation that would remove the word from federal law.
"We are thankful to Mr. Emanuel for meeting with us today and hearing our concerns," said the joint statement from the six advocates whom he met, led by Shriver.
As far as I know, Rahm Emanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff, isn't taking any anger management course for lashing out at others and showing terrible insensitivity. He's not going away to hothead rehab, but he is doing a brief publicized apology event.
From ABC News:
The Special Olympics announced Tuesday evening that members of the disabilities rights community will meet Wednesday afternoon with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, after the fiery Chicagoan admitted to having referred to some liberal activists as "f---ing retarded."
...Shriver and four othe advocates for the disabled community will meet with Emanuel at the White House at 2:00 PM tomorrow, Wednesday February 3, 2010.
The Special Olympics said in a statement: "The meeting will be a face-to-face discussion with Rahm Emanuel about the suffering and pain of people with intellectual disabilities that is perpetuated by the use of the terms 'retard' and 'retarded' as well as the damage that can be done by the casual use of the R-word – even if it is not directed toward people with intellectual disabilities."
The group said it will "invite Emanuel to take the R-word pledge at www.r-word.org and to join in the March 3, 2010 Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, as well as invite him to be a leader of change surrounding the pervasive and damaging use of the R-word."
The others who will be present are Andrew Imparato, President & CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities; Hannah Jacobs, parent and R-word advocate; Julie Petty, self-advocate and former president of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered; and Ricardo Thornton, self-advocate and Special Olympics athlete.
Actually, Emanuel's bad behavior is giving advocates an opportunity to promote their "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign. They're getting a lot of publicity.
That's a good thing.
What's disturbing about this is it's all posturing on the part of Emanuel and the Obama administration. It's political theater.
Do you think Emanuel is going to alter his foul habits because of an afternoon meeting? Do you think he'll be enlightened and change his ways?
No chance.
The Obama administration will remain as devoid of compassion and civility as ever.
________________
Take the pledge:
I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
1 comment:
This is a great article. I think Tim Shriver and the Special Olympics Board need to demand Rahm's resignation to really influence change. I hope it is widely publicized that the apology was not accepted on behalf of all persons with developmental disabilities. They do not speak for my brother. Obama got by with an empty apology for his bowling comment. Poor taste trickles down in this Administration. You cannot teach class.
Post a Comment