Oops! Trump’s done it again
Blog Special Edition: Today's guest blog is authored by John Kemp, President and CEO of the Viscardi Center, located in Albertson, New York. I invited John to share his open letter here, at View From the Chair, to Mr. Donald Trump, regarding comments directed at a reporter covering a political campaign event hosted by the presidential candidate. The reporter, Serge Kovaleski, is disabled.
I currently serve as a board member of Abilities, Inc., at the Viscardi Center, which is part of the Center's network of non-profit organizations that educates, employs and empowers children and adults with disabilities.
Jim Sinocchi
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John D. Kemp |
Oops!
He’s done it again. In about as innocent a fashion as a young woman’s romantic actions
seemed in this pop song, climbing the music charts at about the same time
Donald Trump was first being covered by New York Times reporter, Serge Kovaleski, Trump mocked
the journalist’s disability. You see, Trump’s words and actions are almost
always not innocent. They’re calculated, purposeful and pure propaganda. In this
case, his “impersonation” at a rally in South Carolina was disgusting, ignorant
and unpresidential.
He
wasn’t simply playing with a heart, in itself generally frowned upon, he was playing
with the lives of people with disabilities. He was playing into, and further
advancing, stereotypes and misconceptions about people with disabilities and
their ability to be active, productive contributors to our country – working
professionals, homeowners, leaders, role models, fathers, mothers and
meaningful participants in the fabric of our American lives.
Belittling
a respected journalist with a disability, athrogryposis, by trying to imitate
the physical manifestations of his condition, is an act of bullying and
dehumanization to achieve perceived superiority. While Trump tries to allege he
didn't know Mr. Kovaleski's or his condition, Trump committed yet a second
disgraceful act. His lying and mockery have offended me as another person with
a disability, Mr. Kovaleski, and millions of people with disabilities and their
families and friends.
Contrary to Trump’s belief, the children and adults with disabilities whom we serve at The Viscardi Center and School are empowered and have an incredible sense of self-pride in being girls and boys and men and women with disabilities. They have the same aspirations as their peers and deserve the same fairness, equality and independence. They want political leaders who have character and respect them as individuals.
Trump’s narrow thinking single-handedly has helped to perpetuate the notion that people with disabilities are less capable of meaningful work, that there's some negative connection between having a disability and one's ability to make societal contributions to our nation. This is certainly not what Viscardi exemplifies and not what we, as individuals with disabilities, will tolerate from any candidate, employer or fellow American.
Perhaps
Mr. Trump should get to know and better understand the people he seeks to
serve… the future voters and leaders of this country - many of whom have a
disability. While my first response to his "performance" was
anger, my more studied response is to conclude Mr. Trump is unquestionably
unqualified to be President of the United States. No President of mine should
ever be elected while demonstrating such ignorance, disrespect, arrogance and
superiority toward a fellow citizen.
I hope others will join me when it comes time to exercise their right to vote next fall, no matter who the candidate, no matter what the public office to be held. Because if we don’t elect leaders who believe in an inclusive society and have the vision and passion to foster a country where everyone is valued and can succeed, the oops will be on us.
John
D. Kemp
President
& CEO, The Viscardi Center
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