THREAD (Long):
Lara Trump mocking Joe Biden's stutter at a recent Women for Trump event was completely on brand. Sarah Huckabee Sanders pulled a similar slam on Twitter. Her father-in-law mocked a disabled reporter. These are simple a collection of the horrible people.
Lara Trump mocking Joe Biden's stutter at a recent Women for Trump event was completely on brand. Sarah Huckabee Sanders pulled a similar slam on Twitter. Her father-in-law mocked a disabled reporter. These are simple a collection of the horrible people.
As I have mentioned before, I have a speech impediment (a lisp). These attacks are personal for me, as well as, a moral outrage.
For the most part my lisp is under control, only coming out when I am exhausted or when I try pronounce a few different words.
For the most part my lisp is under control, only coming out when I am exhausted or when I try pronounce a few different words.
”Opioid(s)" is one word that trips me up often, for example. I have to stop and clearly think though my therapy training on how to pronounce it.
Growing up, saying"sh" sounds was especially hard for me. Brutal when your name is "Shannon." It became "Tannon" or 'Thannon."
Growing up, saying"sh" sounds was especially hard for me. Brutal when your name is "Shannon." It became "Tannon" or 'Thannon."
Because of the dedicated, compassionate work of my speech therapists, today I can pronounce my own name.
At the time, I didn’t grasp the change these sessions or these therapists were making in my life. I never got the chance to thank them for their work.
At the time, I didn’t grasp the change these sessions or these therapists were making in my life. I never got the chance to thank them for their work.
Recently, I was at a county party dinner campaigning. A woman told me she was a public-school speech therapist. I thanked her for her work as a way thank my therapists and because I knew her students wouldn’t have a chance to thank her for her efforts in their lives.
I vaguely remember a few times, kids making fun of me and a lot of adults confused by my name, but I don’t remember deliberately cruelty from adults.
The real outrage about what Lara, Sarah, and Donald, et al do is that it shows a depth of intentional cruelty.
The real outrage about what Lara, Sarah, and Donald, et al do is that it shows a depth of intentional cruelty.
I can't imagine what it would be like for me as a kid to have the President's family making fun of the way I talked.
It would not matter that the attack wasn’t directly about me. It would have been about me to me.
It would not matter that the attack wasn’t directly about me. It would have been about me to me.
Kids watch adults’ behavior for cues on what is acceptable. Those people in that Women for Trump room do too.
Lara Trump and her whole family, "the First Family," make it acceptable for those types of cruel taunts to be replicated on playgrounds, classrooms, and living rooms.
Lara Trump and her whole family, "the First Family," make it acceptable for those types of cruel taunts to be replicated on playgrounds, classrooms, and living rooms.
There is an on-going debate about giving the cruelty oxygen or not.
For me, I want kids and adults with these sorts of challenges to know they aren’t alone, that more people fight for and with them that deliberately hurting them.
For me, I want kids and adults with these sorts of challenges to know they aren’t alone, that more people fight for and with them that deliberately hurting them.
I also want those thinking of using cruelty callously for political expediency to know there will be a public pushback.
Taunt at your own peril.
Taunt at your own peril.
