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Showing posts with label Special Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Special Olympics. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Targeting the Kindest Among Us: A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice


When looking at how the Obama children and Palin children are treated by the media and Hollywood, it is clear there is a huge double standard. I don't have to tell you about the countless numbers of attacks that have been aimed at the Palin kids, while the Obama kids are continually praised and left alone. The treatment the Obama kids receive is the same treatment that the Palin kids should be privy to. Remember, you don't have to think that far back to the time when President Obama declared a candidate's children should be "off limits" to attacks. I agree with President Obama for once, but I will take his point one step further. I believe ALL children should be off limits when it comes to personal attacks. Supposedly we live in a time in which tolerance is preached, but isn't it funny that those who preach it, do not seem to practice it themselves?

I don't have to go into detail listing the countless number of attacks the Palin kids have had to endure; you are well aware of many of them, but it is the latest attack that has me sickened with disgust at Hollywood in general. Many of you have probably already heard about the hurtful lengths the FOX Hollywood sitcom Family Guy went to this past Sunday, Valentine's Day. For those of you who are unaware of the controversy at hand, here is what happen: This episode depicted a young woman with Down Syndrome. Not only did they make this woman have a snarky attitude, which is terrible in itself, but it is what was said and whom was referred to that was the most tasteless. When asked by another character to talk a little bit about her family, the young woman replied that her dad was "an accountant" and her mom was "the former governor of Alaska." There it is again- another cut at Sarah and her family. Trig Palin is a child who is not even old enough to tie his shoes, let alone defend himself- He's a small child for goodness sake. Where is the justice? Where is the respect? Where are the special needs advocacy groups to speak out on this injustice? Where is the head of the Special Olympics to speak out about this? After all they recently spoke out against Rahm Emanuel's "retarded" comments. Where are the groups to defend innocent, little Trig Palin?

This is the kind of story that effects all of us personally. Like many of you, I know many individuals who have Down Syndrome. How dare this show make fun of Trig and people like him? I am so disgusted at the tasteless actions of Hollywood, and I sometimes find myself ashamed to even admit that I live in such close proximity to it. Don't get me wrong. I love my state and the great people who live here, but when liberal Hollywood continues to belittle individuals and push a liberal agenda, it does a HUGE disservice not only to others, but to image of California in general. It is wrong to make fun of those with special needs, let alone unfairly portray them as snarky. I have NEVER run across any person with Down Syndrome who has such an attitude. On the contrary, if the Family Guy folks had any common decency, they would have at least portrayed the character in a fair manner, but then again, this is Hollywood, a place where decency seems to have flatlined.

The individuals whom I personally know with Down Syndrome are not snarky or mean in any way; instead, they happen to be the kindest, gentlest, most generous people who walk amongst us. It is no secret that they know they are different than everyone else, yet they have a can-do attitude and are so resilient to those who make it a point to let them know they are different. Why make it harder on them? Why continue to belittle them and treat them as outcast members of our society? I strongly believe that individuals with special needs are what make our country so great. They are so strong and loving that these Family Guy Hollywood types and those like them could learn a thing or two about acceptance and unconditional love. When individuals with special needs are treated differently, they they know it. Trig is a child who will grow up with enough challenges, so why do individuals continue to make it harder for him? It is time for Hollywood to realize that no two individuals are alike. It is time they quite making fun of people and start treat EVERYONE with the respect they deserve.

The attacks the Palin family continues to endure illustrate just how divided our country remains. Remember when Mr. Obama said he was going to bring the country together? I do too. His words sounded great at the time, but the inaction on his part when it comes to this issue speaks volumes especially after he and members of his administration have made hurtful comments about those with special needs in the past. Our country seems more divided than ever. The partisan politics that exist today leave me to wonder if our country will ever heal from its divisive wounds. While many are attacked, it seems as though the attacks aimed at the Palins far outweigh the attacks others receive. When are people going to realize that attacking a child is the most evil attack of all.

My good friend, Camille Friend, who runs the blog The Design Conservative
has written about this issue too. She was nice enough to list the show's sponsors on her site. I encourage you all to read her post here. I also encourage to visit and read this post by Adrienne Ross, another good friend of mine who runs the blog Motivation: Truth.


LIST OF SHOW SPONSORS for February 14, 2010 episode:


Camille is right when she writes: Contact the sponsors below to let them know how you feel about the decision of Family Guy producers to make light of the challenges facing Trig Palin and his loving family. Encourage these companies to stand up for the Palins and the thousands of families like them. Tell them that enough is enough! - tdc

* Fox Broadcasting Company - 310-369-1000http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
* YUM! Brands (Pizza Hut) - 502-874-8300
* Red Bull North America Inc. - 310-393-4647
* Mars, Inc. - 703-821-4900
* Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. - 800-331-4331
* Bally Total Fitness Holdings Corp. - 773-399-1300
* Pfizer, Inc. - 212-573-2323
* Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company - 312-644-2121
* Universal Pictures - 818-777-1000

(Click here to visit Conservative Girl with a Voice. Click here to follow me on Twitter.)

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

After Public Smackdown By Sarah Palin Rahm Emanuel Apologizes For "Retarded" Remark



Barack Obama’s chief-of-staff, Rahm "dead fish" Emanuel was compelled to apologize after remarks he made at a private gathering of democrat/communist groups leaked out. At this meeting he called so of the far left progressives "retarded" because of their stances.

News of this angered many people including those who work with special needs children. After Rahm failed to even acknowledge the anger, the ‘Cuda fired up the old LOTUS (Laptop of the United States) and went after him.

Tail between his legs Rahmbo placed a call to Tim Shriver, who heads the Special Olympics, and apologized. Who knew Shriver, whose family founded the Special Olympics, was the official apology accepter for all of those with disabilities.

Deliciously, Megyn Kelly and Monica Crowley tear into Emanuel here:







Man, it’s good to have Kelly back at work! We missed her no holds barred style. We are also glad to see that motherhood has mellowed her out when it comes to interviewing silly people, as can be seen in the interview below, where she takes on Gloria Allred over the anti-abortion ad that football star Tim Tebow and his mom appear in that will be played at this Sunday’s Superbowl:







Sarah, for her part, stands solidly behind the Tebows, and called out the National Organization of Women for their opposition to the ad, as you can read here.

Back to Sarah’s smackdown of Emanuel. This once again shows that Sarah is using her position of power and influence for good. It also shows that Sarah is making those on the left play by their own rules!

Those who read Sarah’s book, Going Rouge, An American Life, know that she is well aware of who Saul Alinsky is, and has read his book, Rules for Radicals, as well as The Thumpin’, a book written about Rahm Emanuel and his caustic style of doing business.

"Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity."

—Rule number 4 Saul Alynsky’s Rules for Radicals

The left has shoved political correctness down the world’s throat for decades. It’s good to see they are finally being forced to live up to their own standards. All it took was someone with the cojones to make it happen.

Thank you Sarah, thank you for being fearless.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

A Dead Fish, Expletives and Discriminatory Language: The Tale of Rahm Emanuel- A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice



It is no secret Rahm Emanuel has a very short fuse and is prone to angrily attacking those around him. Remember the dead fish he sent to a political rival? Yep, he is quite a piece of work. It is what he has done recently that has concerned Americans like myself on fire. A gentleman from the great state of Massachusetts alerted Sarah Palin to an incident between Mr. Emanuel and participants in a strategy session. Instead of instructing the group appropriately, he reportedly referred to the participants as "F---ing retarded." Not only did Mr. Emanuel clearly cross the line, but he did so in a way that was both offensive and derogatory. While you and I know that his words were wrong and should be addressed, the media are once again turning a blind eye to the White House. This isn't the first time a member of the White House has unfairly mocked referred to those with special needs in a derogatory way. Just last year, our very own president made fun of his bowling skills, making fun of the Special Olympics in the process. It took a lot of pressing for the media to finally report the story causing president to apologize for words he NEVER should have uttered in the first place.

You think the Obama Administration would think twice before pulling such a stunt again, but, then again, we are talking about an Administration that prides itself on being a media darling. Can you imagine if President Bush had uttered such a statement on The Late Show? What if Karl Rove had pulled a Rahmbo? I know both of these men would NEVER even think to do such a thing, but if they had, you all know the media would be all over the story, as they should. Where are they now? Where are they to speak out on behalf of individuals with special needs and their families? Then again, who needs the biased media when we have amazing individuals like that gentleman in Mass. and Sarah? Thank God we have a woman who is not afraid to do what the media seem so afraid to do. In calling out Mr. Emanuel, she is literally calling out the entire White House for actions they seem to ignore. Adrienne Ross, my good friend over at the blog Motivation: Truth, has written an excellent post about this incident, and I stand with her and Sarah in calling out Mr. Emanuel for his terrible, disgusting use of words. (I encourage you all to read Adrienne's post here.)

Shame on Rahm Emanuel for using such vulgar language and hurtful words. He obviously thinks he is above any criticism because he seems to make a fool of himself on a regular basis; furthermore, he shows a complete disregard for people in general. Just today, it has been reported the Mr. Emanuel did in fact issue an apology to Tim Shriver, the CEO of the Special Olympics. While I applaud Mr. Emanuel's actions, he shouldn't just be apologizing to the Special Olympics, but to every member of the special need community and their families; after all, his terrible comments effect many. It is only right that Mr. Emanuel right his wrongs and apologize to all, for until he does, people will wonder just how sincere his most recent apology was. Actions speak louder than words, Mr. Emanuel.

Like my friend Adrienne, I too work at a school. When I heard that Mr. Emanuel had made uttered this statement, I immediately thought of the high school students I work with. I work with a variety of students from all walks of life. I would NEVER refer to any one of my students as "retarded." All members of our society should feel welcome and accepted. No one deserves to be called a word that so many have rightfully tried to remove from use. If anyone has the right to speak out in outrage, it is Sarah. As the mother of a child with special needs and an advocate for children and adults with special needs, Sarah understands firsthand how much words like "retarded" hurt individuals.

Individuals with special needs deserve the same amount of respect as you and me. They are hard-working individuals who just want to be treated like everyone else, and when individuals like Rahm Emanuel spew hateful words like that, it is insulting and unfair to these amazing individuals. Wake up, Mr. Emanuel! Wake up, Mr. Obama. Wake up, lame stream media! Wake up and see that by letting comments like this go unnoticed, it seems to insinuate that you welcome dialogue that includes terms like "retarded." One can only hope that you all wise up and become as welcoming and loving as those in our special needs community, for they are true examples of people who exhibit unconditional love, for they live their lives with kind hearts and open minds. They truly do make the world a better place, and for this, the least we could do is show them the respect they deserve!

The following is Sarah's note to Mr. Emanuel:
Are You Capable of Decency, Rahm Emanuel?

The newly-released mind-boggling, record-smashing $3,400,000,000,000 federal budget invites plenty of opportunity to debate the merits of incurring more and more debt that will drown the next generation of Americans. Never has it been possible to spend your way out of debt. So... let the debate begin.

Included in the debate process will be opportunities for our president to deliberate internally the wisdom of this debt explosion, along with other economic, military and social issues facing our country. Our president will discuss these important issues with Democrat leaders and those within his inner circle. I would ask the president to show decency in this process by eliminating one member of that inner circle, Mr. Rahm Emanuel, and not allow Rahm’s continued indecent tactics to cloud efforts. Yes, Rahm is known for his caustic, crude references about those with whom he disagrees, but his recent tirade against participants in a strategy session was such a strong slap in many American faces that our president is doing himself a disservice by seeming to condone Rahm’s recent sick and offensive tactic.

The Obama Administration’s Chief of Staff scolded participants, calling them, “F---ing retarded,” according to several participants, as reported in the Wall Street Journal.

Just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the “N-word” or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities – and the people who love them – is unacceptable, and it’s heartbreaking.

A patriot in North Andover, Massachusetts, notified me of Rahm’s “retarded” slam. I join this gentleman, who is the father of a beautiful child born with Down Syndrome, in asking why the Special Olympics, National Down Syndrome Society and other groups condemning Rahm’s degrading scolding have been completely ignored by the White House. No comment from his boss, the president?

As my friend in North Andover says, “This isn’t about politics; it’s about decency. I am not speaking as a political figure but as a parent and as an everyday American wanting my child to grow up in a country free from mindless prejudice and discrimination, free from gratuitous insults of people who are ostensibly smart enough to know better... Have you no sense of decency, sir?”

Mr. President, you can do better, and our country deserves better.

- Sarah Palin

UPDATE: Yesterday, I posted a piece about why I am pro-life. I learned this afternoon that phenonmenal blogger, Robert Stacy McCain, was inspired by my post, so he wrote his own post in support of life and mentioned my post. I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart. The Other McCain is THE REAL DEAL FOR SURE!!! Read his must-read post here.


(Click here to visit Conservative Girl with a Voice and become a follower. Click here to follow me on Twitter.)

Sarah Palin To Barack Obama: "Hey Pal, It’s Time For Rahm Emanuel To Go!"



By every account Rahm Emanuel is a nasty little man with a bad temper and a chip on his shoulder. Your basic Chicago street thug. A little bully in the finest traditions of mobsters like Al Capone. It’s no wonder that he fits in so well with his Chicago street thug boss.

You see, Rahm Emanuel, the petite ballerina, is Barack Obama’s chief-of-staff. He’s the guy that basically run’s Obama’s agenda. Now granted, even in good times, with a capable president, not an easy job. But most men who have had this job have been able to perform it with a sense of dignity, and even style. But not old Rahm "dead fish" Emanuel.




Emanuel got this nickname, by the way, because he actually mailed a dead fish a pollster who didn’t give him the results he wanted. Hmm, didn’t the white House just attack pollster Scott Rasmussen? I’ve got a revolutionary idea for you Rahm: How about instead of attacking the messenger, you figure out a way for Obama not to suck at his job!

To give you a little taste of what Rahm is about Foreign Policy ran a story a while back on "The five most infamous Rahm Emanuel moments."

Today, former Clinton advisor and Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel accepted Barack Obama's offer to be chief of staff for the incoming president.

The pick of Emanuel is our first glimpse into the future Obama White House, and it has already thrown apprehensive Democrats and jaded Republicans alike into a tizzy.

Perhaps for good reason. With the nickname "Rahmbo" and a disposition likened to that of a mobster, Emanuel, though widely respected for his moxy and get-it-done record, isn't exactly Mr. Nice Guy. A dynamic mix of talent and brawn -- he was offered a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet company and volunteered for the Israeli Army during the Gulf War -- Emanuel's the real-deal pitbull Democrat (lipstick not included).

What follows is a list of the five most infamous Rahmbo tales. It's the stuff legends are made of:

1. Mailing a Dead Fish

Emanuel is known for his panache for treating donors right. He sends them cheesecakes from Eli's, the famous Chicago bakery. But the one pollster who notoriously ticked off Rahmbo received a 2 1/2 foot decomposing fish in the mail -- ripe, stinky, and to the point.

2. Fundraising the Bugsy Siegel Way

His foray into fundraising started in Chicago while campaigning for Mayor Richard Daley's reelection, when Emanuel raised a record number of donations. His sales pitch was simple enough: He'd tell contributors he found their offers so low it was embarrassing and then hang up on them. Mortified, the donors were shamed into calling back and giving more.

3. Nearly Losing His Finger

When he was a senior in high school, he sliced his finger while working at Arby's. But instead of seeking medical attention, he decided to celebrate prom night by swimming in Lake Michigan. The bone and blood infection that resulted was so severe it practically killed him. Scrappy and determined, even at death's door with a fever of 106 degrees, he pulled through, only losing part of his finger.

4. Threatening Tony Blair

Never a mincer of words, Emanuel didn't couch his meaning when he offered Tony Blair counsel just before the then British prime minister appeared with President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal: "This is important. Don't f@ck it up."

5. Knifing the Dinner Table

The most infamous Rahmbo story of them all is the one that begins with the dinner the night after Bill Clinton was elected in 1992. Among those present at the dinner table was ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, who watched while an overwrought and clearly exhausted Emanuel began ranting at a long list of Clinton "enemies." As he shouted each name, he stabbed the table with his steak knife: "Nat Landow! Dead! Cliff Jackson! Dead!" Apparently, others joined in.

The bottom line: If Emanuel's appointment is a signal of anything, it is that the genteel, arugula-eating president-elect is coming to play hardball.

This guy reads like a true psychopath. (Of course, so do most of Obama’s people) Not sure which is more insane though, the dead fish story or the stabbing the table story.

By the way, psychopathic behavior runs in the family, as Rahm’s brother, Ezekiel is none other than the infamous "Dr Death" Obama’s "health care advisor" who literally wrote the book on setting up the "death panels" that Sarah Palin made famous last summer. A real sick man. You can read more here.




So why is Sarah Palin upset at Rahmbo? Let’s read on, shall we:

Are You Capable of Decency, Rahm Emanuel?

The newly-released mind-boggling, record-smashing $3,400,000,000,000 federal budget invites plenty of opportunity to debate the merits of incurring more and more debt that will drown the next generation of Americans. Never has it been possible to spend your way out of debt. So... let the debate begin.

Included in the debate process will be opportunities for our president to deliberate internally the wisdom of this debt explosion, along with other economic, military and social issues facing our country. Our president will discuss these important issues with Democrat leaders and those within his inner circle. I would ask the president to show decency in this process by eliminating one member of that inner circle, Mr. Rahm Emanuel, and not allow Rahm’s continued indecent tactics to cloud efforts. Yes, Rahm is known for his caustic, crude references about those with whom he disagrees, but his recent tirade against participants in a strategy session was such a strong slap in many American faces that our president is doing himself a disservice by seeming to condone Rahm’s recent sick and offensive tactic.

The Obama Administration’s Chief of Staff scolded participants, calling them, "F---ing retarded," according to several participants, as reported in the Wall Street Journal.

Just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the "N-word" or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities – and the people who love them – is unacceptable, and it’s heartbreaking.

A patriot in North Andover, Massachusetts, notified me of Rahm’s "retarded" slam. I join this gentleman, who is the father of a beautiful child born with Down Syndrome, in asking why the Special Olympics, National Down Syndrome Society and other groups condemning Rahm’s degrading scolding have been completely ignored by the White House. No comment from his boss, the president?

As my friend in North Andover says, "This isn’t about politics; it’s about decency. I am not speaking as a political figure but as a parent and as an everyday American wanting my child to grow up in a country free from mindless prejudice and discrimination, free from gratuitous insults of people who are ostensibly smart enough to know better... Have you no sense of decency, sir?"

Mr. President, you can do better, and our country deserves better.

- Sarah Palin

I’m with Sarah on this one. Of course I’m not sure if she’ll get much of a response from a guy who said this:







I’m sure Obama gets this honestly. After all, he’s from a degenerate movement, the "progressive" movement which brought us such lovely people as Margaret Sanger, the Ku Klux Klanner who brought us Planned Parenthood and said this of the disabled:

"More children from the fit, less from the unfit -- that is the chief aim of birth control."

---Birth Control Review, May 1919, p. 12

She also said this:

"The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."

---Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race (Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923)

Then, of course, there is Rahm’s brother, Dr Death, who says medical care should be reserved for the non-disabled:
not given to those "who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens . . . An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia"

—(Hastings Center Report, Nov.-Dec. '96).

In contrast, from all of that ugliness, here is a video Sarah made for the 2009 Special Olympics. Quite a different outlook.







I understand where Sarah is coming from here. Thanks to the "progressive" movement, we have becme a society that no longer values human life and actually looks down on those with any sort of disability, as burdens on society.

Somewhere between 80 to 90 percent of women who are told their babies will be born with Downs Syndrome chose to kill their babies rather than give birth. This is a real tragedy, but just part of what modern "progressive" living has brought us.




In the end, this isn’t just about the hateful ramblings from a truly disgusting little man. No, this is about a society, and a political movement that has been destroying our nation, and the values it was built on, for over a century. It’s time for the entire "progressive" movement to be dismantled and destroyed. Time to send this vile and disgusting ideology into that big old dumpster full of failed, evil dogma in the sky!

Sending Rahm Emanuel packing is a good place to start the house cleaning!



Wednesday, August 12, 2009

"Sarah Palin & Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stand Up for Special Needs"

On Tuesday, August 11, 2009, Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away. She is not known simply for being the sister of John F. Kennedy and mother of Maria Shriver, wife of Arnold Swartzenegger. She is also known and celebrated as one who demonstrated a deep commitment to our special needs community by helping to found the Special Olympics. How ironic it is that we would lay Mrs. Shriver to rest at such a crucial time in our nation when we are debating health care and the value of human life--a woman who offered opportunity and competition to those with special needs. May her commitment to them speak to us now and challenge us to have the same respect for all life.

I expected Sarah Palin to have a comment about the passing of Mrs. Shriver, and of course, being the class act that she is, she did offer her condolences on her
Facebook page:


Our Condolences on the Passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Tuesday at 7:37 pm

On behalf of the Palin family, we are saddened by the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Her passionate dedication to improving the lives of so many people created new opportunities and hope around the world, including for our precious miracle, Trig.

With sympathy to the Kennedy and Shriver families,

Sarah Palin


In honor of our special needs community, I am reposting three things that I posted in earlier months. The first one is a video of Sarah Palin expressing how grateful she is that her son Trig, who has Down Syndrome, will be able to enjoy sports and competition, thanks to Special Olympics. The second video is a portion of Sarah's speech at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life Banquet where she discusses the range of emotions she encountered upon learning Trig would be born with special needs. In this video she also shares the joy that filled her heart the second he was born. Finally, I have included an article I wrote called, "Sarah and Little Trig Palin Come to my Classroom." In it I share how Trig's story transformed my lesson and opened the door for my students to share their hearts in a special, transparent way. In fact, Trig actually changed my complete outlook and approach to teaching a novel I had taught for many years.

I am so grateful for Eunice Kennedy Shriver for her contribution to our special needs community. And I thank God for Sarah Palin who continues to be a voice of appreciation and respect for all human life. Whether the unborn, children with special needs, or the elderly in need of health care, Sarah Palin understands, as she said on the campaign trail, "I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves."











Sarah and Little Trig Palin Come to My Classroom

I teach 7th grade English Language Arts, and I had the most amazing experience Tuesday in my classes. We are about to begin a novel, one that I have done with my classes just about each of the 13 years that I've been teaching. The class participated in an introductory activity, followed by an intense discussion. I had never before done this particular activity to start this book, but the most powerful aspect of it was inspired by Sarah Palin and the story of her son Trig, who has Down Syndrome.

It was Trig's story that led me to include the topic of special needs individuals, and their place in the world, in the conversation. Although the subject is relevant to the upcoming novel, had I never learned about Trig, I would have never even considered bringing up the issue of special needs. It would have never even crossed my mind, as it never has in the past. I'm so grateful that she came on the scene with Trig's story on her lips and in her heart because this particular issue broke something open in my classroom--and in me. What Trig's life did for my class was something I will not soon forget. I learned more than my students did Tuesday.

As I simply facilitated the discussion and allowed the kids to express themselves, I listened to students who clearly have an understanding of the sanctity of every single life. They poured out their hearts as they spoke compassionately about what people with special needs contribute to our lives. They lovingly mentioned family members who have physical or developmental challenges whom they "can't even imagine living without." In one class, a student said we need special needs people in the world because they help us. Now there's something you don't hear often. In fact, we usually think about how much we have to help them. But this 7th grader's vision is sharper than most, for he went on to express how much richer they make our lives, how they help us see things differently. I then told them that about 90% of Down Syndrome pregnancies, for example, end in abortion--and silence followed.

My heart was full that day, and I was so proud. With all the talk about abortion, and embryonic stem cell research, and people shooting people up; with all that we've lost as a society in terms of how we view one another, make fun of one another, and dispense so easily of one another; with the sad realization that our so-called progressive attitudes have come at the expense of the innocence of our children, I was privileged to listen to teenagers defend the value of the vulnerable, unapologetically profess the blessing these individuals are, and unashamedly announce the joy they bring to our lives--just the way they are. I think of this, and I am so very glad to do what I do: spend my days with children who seem to know a heck of a lot more than adults about compassion, love, and life.

I thank Sarah Palin for being woman enough not to add to the horrible statistic of Down Syndrome abortions, for trusting God enough to give birth to her promise, and for sharing his story with the world. Sometimes we just don't know what our seemingly small experience can possibly do for the world. But this story--Trig's story--changed this teacher's perspective, her lesson plan, and most of all, her heart.


From www.motivationtruth.com by Adrienne Ross