Got this from a friend of mine....just passing it on...
Torrie
It's getting to be that time of year again, so I feel that I should post this message regarding the Jerry Lewis Telethon. If you agree, please pass this on to friends and family who may contribute to this organization.
Before you turn on your TV this Labor Day weekend, you should know that the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon promotes extremely outdated attitudes towards people with disabilities. Many disabled people, including myself, find it downright offensive. In order to get money, the telethon portrays people with disabilities as objects of pity who are living miserable, hopeless lives. Too often, it focuses on what they cannot do rather than their abilities and accomplishments. Another tactic they use is to bring on a sobbing parent to beg for money and express their terror (often in front of the child, as if he/she doesn't understand) that the child may die. Some people with muscular dystrophy do die prematurely, but most do not and can live productive lives, including many with severe disabilities, such as Stephen Hawking, the renowned astrophysicist.
As if this weren't enough, the telethon's spokesman, Jerry Lewis, has proven himself to be an extremely bigoted person. On CBS This Morning in May 2001, Jerry spoke the following words: "Pity? You don't want to be pitied because you're a cripple in a wheelchair? Stay in your house!" Needless to say, we "cripples in wheelchairs" are not about to let an offensive statement like that go unchallenged, and the outcry after the program aired forced MDA to apologize for their offensive attitudes for the first time. Yet, Jerry continues to represent the organization, and his attitudes have not changed.
But it's for a good cause, you say. Yes, they do raise a lot of money and some of it does go to help people, but at what price? The price paid by people with ALL disabilities is a high one. Every time someone is referred to on the telethon as crippled or helpless, millions of people see that and believe it to be true. As long as we are not seen as capable, productive citizens, people with disabilities will never achieve the equal rights that we need and deserve. We will be at constant risk from the proponents of telethons, assisted suicide, and institutionalization - those who feel that our lives are not worth living unless we are "cured" or killed.
There are things that MDA and similar charities could be doing that would truly help people with disabilities. They could be making productive use of their air time to portray disabled people as capable and successful. They could show the real problems that people with disabilities face, such as discrimination, lack of insurance, the difficulties in paying for attendant care, and inaccessible buildings and housing. They could use their funds more wisely in support of those kinds of goals. But despite numerous letters and complaints, despite a group of people with MD who call themselves "Jerry's Orphans" and protest the telethon every year, Jerry and the MDA do not listen. In fact, this year, the MDA was sued by two volunteers who were banned from working at their summer camp after many years of service, because they have MD and cannot lift campers. What kind of organization does not allow adults with the same condition to serve as role models for youth? Not the kind I want to support, that's for sure.
This year, people with disabilities of all kinds are coming out of our houses and speaking out about Jerry. We ask that you support our fight for respect and equality.
How You Can Help:
1. Support charities that seek to empower people with disabilities rather than treat them as objects of pity. Examples include independent living centers, activist groups, rehabilitation centers, group homes, and other organizations that help people with disabilities find employment, housing, attendant care, and other needed services.
2. Please do not support MDA until they change their attitude towards people with disabilities. Write them a letter explaining why you no longer donate to them and what steps they can take to regain your support. Ask your employer to support a different charity.
Contact MDA by writing:
Muscular Dystrophy Association
National Headquarters
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(800) 572-1717
mda@mdausa.org
3. Learn more about the real lives of people with disabilities. The following is a good list of links to get you started.
Jerry Lewis vs. Disability Rights Activists: Main telethon protest site, check for the latest news!
http://www.cripcommentary.com/LewisVsDisabilityRights.html
AND
http://www.stoppity.org/
Electric Edge: http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/
Stephen Hawking: http://www.hawking.org.uk
Mark and Blane Beckwith: http://www.mcare.net/lat12jan.html
Jerry's Orphans: http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/sep97/drnat9.htm
Susie's CP Resources: http://www.susiecphome.com/home.html
Raymond Hu, painter: http://www-atdp.berkeley.edu/1623/students/jason/Raymond.html
Robert Softley: http://www.softley.co.uk/
Disability Cool: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/7319/discool.htm
Disability Links: http://www.igc.apc.org/pwd/index.html
Empowerment Zone: http://www.empowermentzone.com/
Disability and Sexuality: http://www.disabledsex.org/
4. After reading these links, watch part of the telethon and look for offensive attitudes towards people with disabilities. Do your best to speak out for respect and empowerment in your everyday life.
5. Pass this e-mail on to anyone you feel should be made aware of this situation.
-Karin
Torrie
It's getting to be that time of year again, so I feel that I should post this message regarding the Jerry Lewis Telethon. If you agree, please pass this on to friends and family who may contribute to this organization.
Before you turn on your TV this Labor Day weekend, you should know that the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon promotes extremely outdated attitudes towards people with disabilities. Many disabled people, including myself, find it downright offensive. In order to get money, the telethon portrays people with disabilities as objects of pity who are living miserable, hopeless lives. Too often, it focuses on what they cannot do rather than their abilities and accomplishments. Another tactic they use is to bring on a sobbing parent to beg for money and express their terror (often in front of the child, as if he/she doesn't understand) that the child may die. Some people with muscular dystrophy do die prematurely, but most do not and can live productive lives, including many with severe disabilities, such as Stephen Hawking, the renowned astrophysicist.
As if this weren't enough, the telethon's spokesman, Jerry Lewis, has proven himself to be an extremely bigoted person. On CBS This Morning in May 2001, Jerry spoke the following words: "Pity? You don't want to be pitied because you're a cripple in a wheelchair? Stay in your house!" Needless to say, we "cripples in wheelchairs" are not about to let an offensive statement like that go unchallenged, and the outcry after the program aired forced MDA to apologize for their offensive attitudes for the first time. Yet, Jerry continues to represent the organization, and his attitudes have not changed.
But it's for a good cause, you say. Yes, they do raise a lot of money and some of it does go to help people, but at what price? The price paid by people with ALL disabilities is a high one. Every time someone is referred to on the telethon as crippled or helpless, millions of people see that and believe it to be true. As long as we are not seen as capable, productive citizens, people with disabilities will never achieve the equal rights that we need and deserve. We will be at constant risk from the proponents of telethons, assisted suicide, and institutionalization - those who feel that our lives are not worth living unless we are "cured" or killed.
There are things that MDA and similar charities could be doing that would truly help people with disabilities. They could be making productive use of their air time to portray disabled people as capable and successful. They could show the real problems that people with disabilities face, such as discrimination, lack of insurance, the difficulties in paying for attendant care, and inaccessible buildings and housing. They could use their funds more wisely in support of those kinds of goals. But despite numerous letters and complaints, despite a group of people with MD who call themselves "Jerry's Orphans" and protest the telethon every year, Jerry and the MDA do not listen. In fact, this year, the MDA was sued by two volunteers who were banned from working at their summer camp after many years of service, because they have MD and cannot lift campers. What kind of organization does not allow adults with the same condition to serve as role models for youth? Not the kind I want to support, that's for sure.
This year, people with disabilities of all kinds are coming out of our houses and speaking out about Jerry. We ask that you support our fight for respect and equality.
How You Can Help:
1. Support charities that seek to empower people with disabilities rather than treat them as objects of pity. Examples include independent living centers, activist groups, rehabilitation centers, group homes, and other organizations that help people with disabilities find employment, housing, attendant care, and other needed services.
2. Please do not support MDA until they change their attitude towards people with disabilities. Write them a letter explaining why you no longer donate to them and what steps they can take to regain your support. Ask your employer to support a different charity.
Contact MDA by writing:
Muscular Dystrophy Association
National Headquarters
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(800) 572-1717
mda@mdausa.org
3. Learn more about the real lives of people with disabilities. The following is a good list of links to get you started.
Jerry Lewis vs. Disability Rights Activists: Main telethon protest site, check for the latest news!
http://www.cripcommentary.com/LewisVsDisabilityRights.html
AND
http://www.stoppity.org/
Electric Edge: http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/
Stephen Hawking: http://www.hawking.org.uk
Mark and Blane Beckwith: http://www.mcare.net/lat12jan.html
Jerry's Orphans: http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/sep97/drnat9.htm
Susie's CP Resources: http://www.susiecphome.com/home.html
Raymond Hu, painter: http://www-atdp.berkeley.edu/1623/students/jason/Raymond.html
Robert Softley: http://www.softley.co.uk/
Disability Cool: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/7319/discool.htm
Disability Links: http://www.igc.apc.org/pwd/index.html
Empowerment Zone: http://www.empowermentzone.com/
Disability and Sexuality: http://www.disabledsex.org/
4. After reading these links, watch part of the telethon and look for offensive attitudes towards people with disabilities. Do your best to speak out for respect and empowerment in your everyday life.
5. Pass this e-mail on to anyone you feel should be made aware of this situation.
-Karin