Special Olympics Athlete with Down Syndrome Pens Amazing Open Letter to Ann Coulter After She Calls Obama a 'Retard'
Professional troll Ann Coulter was particularly wicked — even by professional troll standards — following Monday night's debate when she referred to President Obama as a "retard" in a tweet.
She later cemented her status as the petulant child of the punditry world when she replied to a Politicker request for clarification by saying "the only people who will be offended are too retarded to understand it."
Many people were understandably upset — including, surprisingly, Coulter's comrade-in-trolling Michelle Malkin — but none more so than those who have that slur hurled at them their entire lives.
John Franklin Stephens, a 30-year-old Special Olympian with Down syndrome, took it upon himself to respond to Coulter with a touching open letter that gets to the heart of how hurtful her remarks truly were.
I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life as many of my fellow Special Olympians have.
Then I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarkey sound bite to the next.
Finally, I wondered if you meant to degrade him as someone who is likely to receive bad health care, live in low grade housing with very little income and still manages to see life as a wonderful gift.
Franklin goes on to note that it was rather clear to him, after seeing the actual tweet, that Coulter meant to insult the President.
Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.
No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.
The letter closes with an invitation to attend the Special Olympics and "see if you can walk away with your heart unchanged."
