Soeren Palumbo Fremd HS Speech 2/28/07

Soeren Palumbo delivers essay to classmates honoring Olivia, his younger sister with an intellectual disability.

• Category

  News & Politics

[prtati87]

omg. this video had me crying. i seriously loved it & i wish everyone could hear him say that exact speech. this is something everyone should hear. it's so true how people dismiss the word as nothing but then cringe when they hear a word like "faggot" or other racial derogatory terms. i seriously love this kid. we need more people like him!!

[95Yully]

I have so much respect for this kid. It was shown to every english class at my school today today and I was literally holding back tears. My younger sister has down syndrome and I definitely get where he's coming from. He also presented his point in a really good way. I'm so happy this was made!<3

[Doug Liu]

As an aspiring Teacher, I hope this video stays on forever, so I could show it to my students if I ever catch them using the r-word so they can learn how hurtful it is to others. I also hope to present this video to my colleagues, so they can learn from this video as much as I have.

[acermcracer]

This is AWESOME!!! I have a significant physical disability and have been called the r-word or worse multiple times!

[Christopher Cooper]

GREAT heartfelt speech, but unfortunately NO one will ever understand- until they personally walk in the shoes of the family or person with someone with special needs!

[Jody McBrien]

I am the parent of a brilliant 27-year old with Asperger's, and I know both his pain and my own at the constant scapegoating he has endured from peers, teachers, and now employers. Whenever we hike or walk the beach, he points out things I would never notice on my own. I wish he would be respected and valued for who he is, but even in employment, peers and superiors treat him like he is stupid.

[lillymml]

Most inspirational and beautiful video I have ever seen! I am praying for Olivia and her family and every child and adult in this world that doesn't realize the extreme harm their doing by discrimination!

[Austin McConnell]

no it doesnt

[Shmoeseph12345]

This is one of the most inspiring speeches ever. A while after I heard this, I heard one of my friends say the r word and I slapped him across the face.

[NataliezLikeWhoa]

I was there.