Stammerers can reach for the top
US President-elect Joe Biden is proof the sky is the limit for anyone with a stammer, a Stirling councillor said this week.
Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache, whose own stammer even resulted in him using a different name as a child because it was easier to say, says it shouldn’t define him or Mr Biden.
However, he hopes Mr Biden whose delivered the speech of his life in Delaware at the weekend shows that anyone who does cope with the condition that there is nothing they cannot achieve.
As a child, Joe Biden - Vice President under President Barack Obama - worked on relieving his stuttering by reciting poetry in front of the mirror while monitoring his facial reactions.
He later said the “outcast status” it gave him made him that much stronger and more empathetic later in life.
In May 2015, Vice President Biden sent a letter to the Stuttering Foundation of America offering some valuable advice to those struggling with stuttering.
In it he said: “If I could share one piece of advice with all of those struggling with a stutter, it would be this: When you commit yourself to a goal and when you persevere in the face of struggle, you will discover new strengths and skills to help you overcome not only this challenge, but future life challenges as well. I promise you – you have nothing to be ashamed of, and you have every reason to be proud.”
The sentiment is one shared by Councillor Tollemache, ward member for Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.
He said: “I am delighted to see Joe Biden elected as President of the United States. There were reports of people mocking him at political rallies for his stammer. This is the behaviour of bullies.
“Politics can be bruising but never should be personal. Let’s hope we can enter a new era where we are kinder to each other, without resorting to personal attacks and discrimination. Our politics and our society would be much better off. Some of the things
I see on social media are appalling.
“I hope what Joe Biden has achieved shows that there is nothing someone with a stammer cannot achieve.
“My stammer is part of me and we are all unique and let’s celebrate that in ourselves and others. I am not defined by my stammer and Joe Biden will soon be defined by ‘Mr President’.”
The Green councillor once struggled so much that he used the name of Australian tennis player Fred Stolle to help himself.
However, while he still has difficulties with his speech, he has gone on to have a successful career and a full life, including involvement in the community.
Having been elected to Stirling Council in 2017, he also regularly speaks in the most public of forums.
“Living with a stammer has made my life both interesting and challenging,” said Alasdair. “I have had high and lows. What I have found helps me is, firstly, patience. Let’s all slow down and listen and give each other time to speak. Please don’t finish my sentence for me.
“Secondly, and this perhaps applies to other conditions as well, we are all unique with something to contribute, so treat me with respect and let’s all offer each other support.
“Many of the roles I have had have involved public speaking, especially standing for election,” he added. “I have learned not to be concerned about people’s reaction to my stammer and would encourage anyone, especially young people, not to restrict themselves and go for their dreams.”