[nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Comments onSaturday Night Live Segment

[tribble]

Thanks for the link -- it is kind of funny, in an embarrassing sort of way. 
I like the note about Paterson having a good sense of humor -- gotta have 
one if you're going to do anything in this life, especially with a 
disability.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 3:06 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Comments onSaturday 
Night Live Segment


My opinion ion this is about the same as my opinion about the reaction to
the movie "Blindness". I think it's counter-productive to get huffy. Instead
of criticizing SNL, the NFB should have seen it as an opportunity to educate
the public.  Calling the skit an "attack" is not going to do any good.

Can you ever make fun of blindness?  Is that ever funny? Here's a link to a
description of the skit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/nyregion/15skit.html?hp

It says the skit started with the actor portraying Gov. Paterson rolling
around the set in a chair. It says he attempted to shake ands and missed. It
says he was holding a chart up side down. It says he blocked the camera
shot. I have to say, I've done the equivalent of all those things. I kind of
think that is funny.

On the other hand, you shouldn't make fun of people for something they can't
control. It's embarrassing to find out you're blocking the shot when
somebody is trying to take a picture. When you make fun of that, you have to
do it in a way that shows that you get that. If not, it's not funny, it's
just cruel.

It would have been way funnier if Governor Paterson had been depicted as
competent  in spite of his disability. Well, better than the guy from
Illinois anyway. Paterson might not be able to tell which side of a chart is
up but he's not so stupid as to try to sell a Senate seat when he knows he's
already being investigated.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)"
<JFreeh at nfb.org>
To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 12:45 PM
Subject: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Saturday
Night Live Segment


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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