[nabs-l] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Saturday Night Live Segment

[pyyhkala at gmail.com]

Hi,

Here are some more articles, and a link to the skit.  I also have an
article I liked on Facebook, see below.

NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/nyregion/15skit.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
(the article has more detail on the controversy)

You can also watch the skit in question at this link:
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/update-gov-paterson/881501/

You can read what the public is saying on Twitter at the link below
that does a real time search:
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=snl+blind
If using Jaws on the above Twitter page, if you press the number 2
(for heading level 2) it will take you directly to the comments that
people post.  Twitter is a micro blogging service.

Best,
Mika
Twitter Micro blog:
http://twitter.com/pyyhkala
Facebook:
http://profile.to/mika

On 12/15/08, Linda Stover <liamskitten at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Could someone provide more info or links to more info concerning this
> particular situation?  I think it would be extremely helpful to
> understand if this is a spoof directed specifically at blindness, or
> if the spoof is more directed to certain "blindisms" that the governor
> frequently exhibits.  I know that when I was watching segments of this
> nature concerning the election on the show, certain
> quirks/phrases/mannerisms were used to excess to perhaps heighten
> humor/absurdity.  Keeping this in mind, I'm wondering as I said what
> exactly the comics were paridying.
> Courtney
>
> On 12/15/08, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Ijust watched CNN and they said something about this segment of SNL.
>> I don't watch SLNL, but I support Paterson, and someday I want to be
>> Governor, so there's no excuse for attacking Gov. Paerson for any
>> reason.
>> Beth
>>
>> On 12/15/08, Freeh, Jessica <JFreeh at nfb.org> wrote:
>>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> CONTACT:
>>>
>>> Chris Danielsen
>>>
>>> Public Relations Specialist
>>>
>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>>
>>> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>>>
>>> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>>>
>>> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>> Comments on Saturday Night Live Segment
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Largest Organization of the Blind Criticizes Attack on Blind Americans
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Baltimore, Maryland (December 15, 2008): Chris
>>> Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation
>>> of the Blind, said: "The biggest problem faced by
>>> blind people is not blindness itself, but the
>>> stereotypes held by the general public about
>>> blindness and blind people.  The idea that blind
>>> people are incapable of the simplest tasks and
>>> are perpetually disoriented and befuddled is
>>> absolutely wrong.  This misconception contributes
>>> to an unemployment rate among blind people that
>>> stubbornly remains at 70 percent.  That is why
>>> the National Federation of the Blind is
>>> disappointed that Saturday Night Live chose to
>>> portray Governor Paterson in a comedy routine
>>> that focused almost exclusively on his
>>> blindness.  Attacking the Governor because he is
>>> blind is an attack on all blind Americans­blind
>>> children, blind adults, blind seniors, and newly
>>> blinded veterans returning from Iraq and
>>> Afghanistan.  The National Federation of the
>>> Blind urges the producers of Saturday Night Live
>>> to consider the serious negative impact that
>>> misinformation and stereotypes have on blind
>>> people before continuing in this unfortunate vein of humor."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ###
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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