President Bush Honors Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Celebrates Special Olympics

President George W. Bush addresses guests at a dinner honoring the Special Olympics in the State Dining Room Monday, July 10, 2006. "We're here to celebrate the Special Olympics, and to honor a woman who made them possible -- Eunice Kennedy Shriver," said President Bush.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also attended, with CA First Lady, Maria Shriver. Eunice Kennedy Shriver is Maria Shriver's Mother.

Related article:

Schwarzenegger's hush-hush trip to Bush White House

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1663500/posts

Eunice Kennedy Shriver's bio at the Special Olympics website:

http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/About_Us/Leaders/Mrs.+Shriver+Bio.htm

My favorite Kennedy. She has more class than the rest of the clan put together.

Good of Dubya for honoring her. She is, indeed, an example.

Yes, indeed.

She is truly helping people, unlike the rest of them, like Teddy, who just cares about power.

Ever notice how much attention is spent on kids at the one end of the bell curve but almost no attention is focused on the kids at the other end of it? Just asking... no doubt this is going to come across as mean-spirited on my part.

President Bush, center, seated with first lady Laura Bush, along with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, and Maria Shriver, second right, sit with Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, second left, and her husband Sargent Shriver, left, as they listen to the band Rascal Flatts in the East Room of the White House following a dinner honoring the Special Olympics Monday, July 10, 2006 in Washington.

"at the one end of the bell curve but almost no attention is focused on the kids at the other end of it? "

An excellent point While its definitely charitable to help those who need help, but encouraging those who excel should be also very important. They are the leaders of the future, and they need help to deal with the world and fit in also.

Although the DU'ers will never admit it Bush does have class to do this.

I cannot recall a similar event during Clinton's years in which he honored at a WH event a high profile Republican for their public service.

My favorite Kennedy. She has more class than the rest of the clan put together.

I'll go one better. I like her entire immediate family. Everyone one of the five kids has not gotten in trouble AT ALL.

Oh my goodness...the anointed purposely lower themselves to review performances of the unworthy to show how in touch they are with we commoners. I'd congratulate them if I weren't so busy "sticking it to the man". Whoops; the "man" was pretty much summed up in that photograph.

So solly.

The Special Olympics are fantastic.

"Ever notice how much attention is spent on kids at the one end of the bell curve but almost no attention is focused on the kids at the other end of it? Just asking... no doubt this is going to come across as mean-spirited on my part."

I'll do you one better, and probably be told to go to hell for it.

We who are fortunate enough to not have problems with mental disability feel pity for these people and wish they were better off. But this charity, purely based upon that pity, does not make them better off in any tangible way. The only people who will REALLY benefit from donations to this charity are the people who sell the crap the organizers need in order to put on the games and do direct mail to raise more funds to put on the games. The mentally challenged are still mentally challenged upon the conclusion of the charitable activities. But according to the givers and the organizers of this stuff, they 'feel better.' It 'puts a smile on their faces,' they 'light up,' they 'feel the joy of participation,' etc.

Freepers regularly deride liberal causes building the self-esteem of people. This is exactly what this charity does. That is ALL this charity does. It is simply an extension of such feel-good programs. It does not help reduce the likelihood of these people suffering mental disability, or prevent anyone in the future from directly suffering as a result of their mental disability, or even prevent future mental disability. It does nothing to improve the lives of these people. It simply makes them feel good about accomplishments that have little value to their accommodation into everyday society. Society has been shamed by its prior failure to integrate and treat these people well, but instead of treating them well by integrating them, we make them feel better with activities that don't really do anything to help them improve their position by integrating into society.

Anyone who says anything negative about this program is accused of hating people who can't defend themselves. I don't hate them. I just don't think most people--even the parents of people with mental disabilities--want these disabilities to be considered 'special' at all, they want them cured, and I don't think the people with these disabilities want to be 'special,' they want to be as average, normal Americans as they can be. Americans want other Americans to be as much a part of society as they can be, and often, these disabilities prevent the people who have them from that integration. That does not conflict with the fact that Americans generally want such disabilities NOT to happen to other people in the future. It is not wrong to want that, to want Americans to be free of mental disability through the discovery of a cure for such, no matter how activists have been pushing those with Down's Syndrome and those who are deaf to encourage their disabilities NOT be considered a disability, to the point that they have even prevented parents from knowing about screening for such problems.

Instead of improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics separates them and turns them into props. If the $60 million the U.S. government will spend in the next few years on Special Olympics, and the $50+ million donated to the Special Olympics yearly, were instead spent on developing occupational adaptations or even simply subsidizing the hire of adults with disabilities, there would be real benefit to them and others like them in the future as people worldwide had daily exposure to them which would help them recognize people with such disabilities as normal. Every cent donated to this charity would be better spent on research for cures, therapy, or some other way to improve integration of these people into everyday society. THAT would improve their lives far more than giving them a medal for tossing a discus or a javelin.

Instead we see them put up for publicity photos with Yao Ming and other celebs, and they're 'special.' We continue to pity them and keep them out of sight afterward. And they 'feel better,' even as we still do very little to integrate them into society. No, Special Olympics is the moral equivalent of Black Pride Week, and maybe even worse than that. At least the families and cronies of Jesse Jackson, MLK, Al Sharpton and other civilrightsmongers get a little richer, a little more integrated, becoming more intertwined with the capitalist society that is America, with every dollar spent on that sort of activity that sneaks into their pockets. Special Olympics, on the other hand, means these 'special' photo opportunities and medals, then means more shuffling and wheeling back into group homes and special ed programs, just as away from the rest of America as they were in the asylums. /sarc

Flame away.

I think you make some very good points. A cousin of mine is "slow" but does not have Down's - and yes, fitting into society has been his greatest challenge.

Eunice and her husband are actually pro life too, but this isn't well publicized. I wonder if her brother Teddy resents her for that.

Eunice and her husband are actually pro life too, but this isn't well publicized. I wonder if her brother Teddy resents her for that.

That is great news. I am sure she prays for her brothers soul daily. What an embarrassment for Eunice. I bet she is so glad that her name is Shiver now because of him and her other relatives.

I wonder if Teddy has Eunice and Sargent in mind when he rails about those evil right wingers who seek to deny women their "right to choose."

Ping to 13.

I'm going to have to come back later to comment on the shit you posted. I'm too angry now.

"Ever notice how much attention is spent on kids at the one end of the bell curve but almost no attention is focused on the kids at the other end of it? Just asking... no doubt this is going to come across as mean-spirited on my part."

You're damned right it's mean spirited. They do get attention, ever hear of the gifted and talented classes? The kids on the other end of the bell curve don't help with their futures, it's all there for them, with no physical or mental impediments all they have to do is decide what they want to do in this life and then go for it.

We who are fortunate enough to not have problems with mental disability feel pity for these people and wish they were better off.

You, and those like you can keep your pity and toss it. The last thing disabled people need is your's or society's pity.

Do you think 'normal' Olympic athletes just decide one day to become the best in their field? No. They train hard all year long, year after year after year in order to qualify for the Olympics.

You think special Olympics participants don't train and practice all year long to compete with their peers? That's a word you should know, peers. Why would you put a 10 old child who has to use a walker to get around up against a 'normal' 10 year old? And because that disabled child is handicapped they don't deserve the chance to see what they can accomplish? God in his infinite wisdom chose how they should be. We don't know his plan.

The only people who will REALLY benefit from donations to this charity are the people who sell the crap the organizers need in order to put on the games and do direct mail to raise more funds to put on the games.You are a hoot. How much money do countries spend to put on the Olympics????? Billions? The Olympic champions go on to endorsements and make millions of dollars. Their striving to reach the peak of their sport will finally pay off for them.

Have you ever been to a Special Olympics competition? If anyone doubts the direction of teens in our country today, they need only attend a Special Olympics.There are literally hundreds and hundreds of teen volunteers who donate their time and energy, the coaches, who work with the athletes, the parents who take their children back and forth to practice.

You don't know what the hell you're talking about. And I'll never look at your name again without remembering how cold, callus, and cruel you are.

The mentally challenged are still mentally challenged upon the conclusion of the charitable activities. But according to the givers and the organizers of this stuff, they 'feel better.' It 'puts a smile on their faces,' they 'light up,' they 'feel the joy of participation,' etc.

The 'normal' athletes are still 'normal' at the conclusion of their of their activities. Why aren't you slamming them? You take pride in having a cold soul when it comes to children in wheelchairs? Do you have a phobia about disabled people and children? ' It 'puts a smile on their faces,' they 'light up,' they 'feel the joy of participation,' etc. .''Normal' people don't feel better after competing? That's the same reaction I see from 'normal' athletes.

This is exactly what this charity does. That is ALL this charity does. It is simply an extension of such feel-good programs.

Again, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. Why should children be denied the chance to excel at something that you or I would take for granted? Have you seen a child with a twisted body in a wheelchair throw a tennis ball farther than the other children in their class group? I bet you've seen 'normal' students throwing the javelin, or disk. Do you rail against them too or is it just disabled children you you don't want to have look at.

You are prejudice. You are biased. You have a Darwin ideology. That's your cross to bear.

It does nothing to improve the lives of these people. It simply makes them feel good about accomplishments that have little value to their accommodation into everyday society.

I cannot believe the deeper you get into your rant the more asinine your words become.

but instead of treating them well by integrating them, we make them feel better with activities that don't really do anything to help them improve their position by integrating into society.

Have you never heard the word inclusive classes at schools?

I don't hate them

That right there says a lot about your character.

Special Olympics is the moral equivalent of Black Pride Week, and maybe even worse than that. At least the families and cronies of Jesse Jackson, MLK, Al Sharpton and other civilrightsmongers get a little richer, a little more integrated, becoming more intertwined with the capitalist society that is America, with every dollar spent on that sort of activity that sneaks into their pockets. Special Olympics, on the other hand, means these 'special' photo opportunities and medals, then means more shuffling and wheeling back into group homes and special ed programs, just as away from the rest of America as they were in the asylums. /sarc

I won't dignify that stupidity with a comment.

Here's something else for you to chew on...you can kiss my ass.

My camera sucks and the pictures bad, but, you can see it good enough. Because you insulted disable children, you insulted my little girl. You can kiss her ass too. Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting