Lynn Schmidt: Special Olympics offers inspiring break from exhausting politics Nov 30, 2023 Nov 30, 2023 Updated Jan 6, 2025 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Lynn Schmidt kAm!@=:E:4D D66>D E@ 92G6 :?G2565 ?62C=J 2== 2DA64ED @7 @FC =:G6D[ 2?5 ?@E :? 2 8@@5 H2J] #6D62C49 3J E96 p>6C:42? !DJ49@=@8:42= pDD@4:2E:@? 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So where is she? kAm$A64:2= ~=J>A:4D H2D 7@F?565 3J tF?:46 z6??65J $9C:G6C :? `heg 2D 2 H2J 7@C A6@A=6 H:E9 :?E6==64EF2= 5:D23:=:E:6D E@ 82:? 7C@> E96 36?67:ED @7 DA@CED] $96 H2D 2 D:DE6C @7 !C6D:56?E y@9? u] z6??65J 2?5 $6?D] #@36CE u] z6??65J 2?5 t5H2C5 W%65X z6??65J] (9:=6 tF?:46 H2D DFCC@F?565 3J A@=:E:4D 2?5 A@=:E:4:2?D[ E96 $A64:2= ~=J>A:4D H2D 2?5 4@?E:?F6D E@ 36 4@>A=6E6=J ?@?A2CE:D2?]k^Am A Special Olympics athlete participates in the 2022 games at Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri. Andrew Kauffman, Special Olympics kAm%96 >:DD:@? @7 $A64:2= ~=J>A:4D :D E@ AC@G:56 J62C\C@F?5 DA@CED EC2:?:?8 2?5 2E9=6E:4 4@>A6E:E:@? :? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 ~=J>A:4\EJA6 DA@CED 7@C 49:=5C6? 2?5 25F=ED H:E9 :?E6==64EF2= 5:D23:=:E:6D] %9:D 96=AD E96> 56G6=@A A9JD:42= 7:E?6DD[ 56>@?DEC2E6 4@FC286[ 6IA6C:6?46 ;@J 2?5 A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2 D92C:?8 @7 8:7ED[ D<:==D 2?5 7C:6?5D9:A H:E9 E96:C 72>:=:6D[ @E96C $A64:2= ~=J>A:4D 2E9=6E6D 2?5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am kAm|2?J A6@A=6 H:E9 :?E6==64EF2= 5:D23:=:E:6D =:G6 =:G6D @7 :D@=2E:@? 2?5 :?24E:G:EJ] $A64:2= ~=J>A:4D 92D 366? :>AC@G:?8 E96:C =:G6D H:E9 E96:C AC@8C2>>:?8 :? DA@CED[ 962=E9[ 65F42E:@? 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 3F:=5:?8]k^AmkAm|@C6 E92? d]e >:==:@? 2E9=6E6D H@C=5H:56 A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 $A64:2= ~=J>A:4D] (:E9 E96 DFAA@CE @7 >@C6 E92? ` >:==:@? 4@2496D 2?5 G@=F?E66CD[ $A64:2= ~=J>A:4D 56=:G6CD ba ~=J>A:4\EJA6 DA@CED 2?5 @G6C `__[___ 4@>A6E:E:@?D E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$A64:2= ~=J>A:4D |:DD@FC: 92D `a[ch` 2E9=6E6D[ c[aaa 24E:G6 G@=F?E66CD[ 2?5 a_d G@=F?E66C 4@2496D A2CE:4:A2E:?8]k^DA2?mr@>A6E:E:@? D66>D =:<6 E96 HC@?8 H@C5 E@ 56D4C:36 $A64:2= ~=J>A:4D 82>6D] (9:=6 :E :D 4@CC64E E92E 2E9=6E6D 4@>A6E6 7@C >652=D[ ?@ @?6 D66>D E@ 36 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 E@ “362E” 2?@E96C 2E9=6E6] %96 2E9=6E6D 4966C 7@C 2?5 2C6 AC@F5 @7 @?6 2?@E96C] |2J36 :E :D 3642FD6 2E 2 566A =6G6=[ E96J <?@H E96 492==6?86D E92E 6249 @7 E96> 7246D ;FDE E@ 86E E96C6]k^Am kAm~?6 3C2G6 2E9=6E6 H2D DECF88=:?8 E@ 4@>A=6E6 2 ad\>6E6C H2=< H9:=6 FD:?8 9:D H2=<6C] tG6CJ@?6 :? 2EE6?52?46 D66>65 E@ DE@A H92E E96J H6C6 5@:?8 2?5 5:C64E65 E96:C 2EE6?E:@? 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FD] x 2AAC64:2E6 2== E96 2E9=6E6D[ G@=F?E66CD[ 4@2496D[ A2C6?ED[ 42C68:G6CD[ DE277 2?5 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E >6>36CD H9@ >256 :E 2== A@DD:3=6]k^Am Schmidt is a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: lynnschmidtrn@outlook.com. 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Is gossip actually good for us? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Talking about others can strengthen relationships, build trust and reinforce social norms — but knowing when to stay quiet still matters. Could AI make our jobs easier but less meaningful? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Automation promises greater productivity, yet workers risk losing the relationships, experience and sense of purpose that give their careers value. 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