A Veto of Hope

Today, the President of the United States vetoed a bill allowing federal funding of stem cell research. Once again, a government of the few and for the few has surfaced in Washington. Never mind that the majority of the American people support such funding. Never mind that a majority in Congress support such funding. Never mind that the world sees its promise.
But today, I look in the eyes of my associate and friend. You see, he suffers from multiple sclerosis. I know his world became a little dimmer today. He can’t take his sons swimming or bike riding because he can no longer use his legs. He want teach his boys how to drive a car because his eyes do not allow him to see like you and me. His wife decided to pursue a life where she was born because MS in eyes of society has rendered him useless even though he’ll never admit he is thinking that.
But I am here to say that he is not useless. Those boys love him even more now then before they knew he had MS. His ex-wife may have taken the boys but she still believes in him and would do anything for him.
He once wrote (when he could write) that people with disabilities “are just simply given a bad straw in life”. Well, Mr. President, look in their eyes and tell me what you see. Although with the Russian president you were wrong so I’ll tell you. What you’ll see is despair. You will see individuals who want to contribute to society not live it. You will see individuals with masters and phds who once keep America competitive among the world’s most competitive people. Mr. President, what you have done today was vetoed their hope.