Throughout this long presidential season, among the disturbing images that stick most in my mind’s eye is Donald Trump’s mocking imitation of New York Times reporter Serge F. Kovaleski, who has a congenital joint condition. Trump did a great disservice to Mr. Kovaleski and brought shame upon himself.
And, therefore, Donald Trump, you do a great disservice to the very name and life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who, though losing his ability to walk, ran further and faster and lifted up a nation and the entire world higher than you could even dream.
Donald Trump, you do a great disservice to the very name and life of Helen Keller, who, though losing her ability to see and to hear, saw the shining faces and heard the cries and whispers of those oppressed and privileged alike, and felt more love in her heart than you are ever capable of realizing.
Donald Trump, you do a great disservice to the very name and life of Stephen Hawking who, though losing his ability to move his body as he once did, has since moved human scientific knowledge and has thus taken our understanding to heights you could never begin to imagine.
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Donald Trump, you do a great disservice to the very name and life of Muhammad Ali who, though losing much of his body strength and motion, had more spiritual strength, fortitude, courage, and grace than you could ever know.
Donald Trump, you do a great disservice to the very name and life of Alan Turing who, though standing on the autism spectrum, as one of the greatest heroes in World War II by breaking the Nazi code, stands higher and firmer in the admiration of people whose numbers you could never even count.
Donald Trump, you do a great disservice to the very name and life of Congresswoman Barbara Jordon who, though ultimately losing her ability to use her muscles, was a congressional powerhouse and a leader, and someone you will never and could never stand beside.
Donald Trump, you do a great disservice to the very names and lives of all of my hundreds of former students at Perkins School for the Blind, who have more self-awareness, a greater sense of community, and a higher degree of compassion and empathy than you could ever feel or demonstrate.
And Donald Trump, you do a great disservice and bring shame to the very name of the United States of America and the office of the presidency by even running for this high position.
