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

Ray Foret jr rforetjr at comcast.net
Tue Dec 16 01:42:03 UTC 2008


By way of reflection, let me put this question to you.  I'm going to ask 
this question in two ways.  I've already done this method before, to quite a 
mixed response I must say.  Here's the first version.

1.  Do you say that if a blind person can't laugh at himself, he's all the 
time nothing but a stuffed shirt and tie just awaiting the call of battle in 
the name of the cause and it's all he lives, eats, sleeps and breathes?  Do 
you say that such a serious federationist has no understanding of how it is 
to live a normal life because he's so involved with the federation that the 
Federation is his entire life?

2.  Now, let me turn it around.  Do you say that any blind person who laughs 
at himself; for any reason what so ever has no idea of the serious work we 
have yet to do?  Let me take it perhaps to the extreme.  Do you say that any 
blind person who laughs at anything what so ever or anyone whom so ever has 
no business calling himself a true Federationist because he's just too busy 
yucking it up with his sited friends who live in a kind of dream world and 
therefore, do not even come under the radar of being anything of a 
responsible blind person?

    Okay.  Extremes, I know.  But I had a good reason for doing that just 
now.  I cannot help but suspect that, as a rule, most of us fall somewhere 
just about the middle of those two extremes.  If you want to see my feelings 
on this matter at some length, consult the group archives.  Some time back, 
I attempted to broach the subject and provoke a  detailed discussion upon 
the matter.  I must say, in all canner, it was not a very successful 
attempt.

Sincerely,
The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray
Phone or Fax::
+1 (985) 360-3375
e-mail:
rforetjratcomcastdotnet
Skype Name:
barefootedray

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "tribble" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 5:43 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Comments onSaturday 
Night Live Segment


I'd like to hear that SNL segment and see whether I think it's funny.
Sometimes we need to laugh at ourselves, and gov patterson, being a
politician,  is obviously fair game for jokes, blind or not.  Look at what
they do to other public figures.  I know there is the problem of public
misconceptions about blindness, but a blind politicians can't arbitrarily
declare himself off limits to the comedians.  Again, I'd have to see the
routine before passing judgement.
--le


----- 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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