President Obama's Comment

President Obama's comment on the Tonight Show last week comparing his bowling game to the Special Olympics, though not funny, is not the end of the world. He could have used a better analogy of his bowling game than the Special Olympics, but it was not done to deliberately disparage anyone or done out of mean-spiritedness. It was an attempt at self-deprecating humor on his part that fell flat. He realized his error and apolgized to the Special Olympics. But, this story is turning into a tempest in a tea cup. Now if he said, he bowled like a retard, or did something akin to Rush Limbaugh mocking Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's related movements, then I would be upset.

This is an opportunity for the Special Olympics to publicize what they are all about and to dispel misconceptions about the atheletes. President Obama's comment reflects the common misconception that the Special Olympics are for atheletes that aren't that good. Since he is not a very good bowler, he used the Special Olympics as an analogy. It was an honest mistake. The disabled community has to stop being so thin-skinned about some comments about the disabled. I think we should be in on the jokes, as long as it's not done to disparage, mock, or denigrate people with disabilities. It is time to get over this comment and move on to more important things, like the economy.