[nfb-talk] National Federation of theBlindCommentsonSaturdayNight Live Segment

Tue Dec 16 05:38:54 UTC 2008

You beat me to it. I was just about to send the link. I actually thought it 
was funny. I also thought it was more a comment on his politics than his 
blindness. I actually have gotten in the way of a TV camera before without 
realizing it.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 11:22 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] National Federation of 
theBlindCommentsonSaturdayNight Live Segment

> Here is a link to the original sketch:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLiLT9GJROA
>
> And, here is a link to a response by the governor.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIbQCi8C1dE
>
> I admit that I am a loyal SNL viewer .Maybe they should have not performed 
> this sketch, but SNL tends to be an equal opportunity offender. In my 
> opinion this was more a play on the governor as a politician rather than 
> on the blind as a whole.
>
> Dan Hicks
>
> "If you want to go quickly, go alone.
> If you want to go far, go together."
>                        - African Proverb
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "tribble" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>
> To: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>; "NFB Talk Mailing List" 
> <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 7:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the 
> BlindCommentsonSaturdayNight Live Segment
>
>
>> What was in that skit?
>> --le
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 4:35 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind
>> CommentsonSaturdayNight Live Segment
>>
>>
>> Indeed!!!  Furthermore, let me remind us all that this is by no means the
>> First time that SNL has done this to us.  Remember 1988 and the tax 
>> thing.
>> If I recall correctly, the skit involved a  blind guy getting interviewed
>> for a job; at least, that was the idea.  But, you never saw such a sorry
>> specimen of a potential job applicant; sorry for himself through and
>> through.  I'm sure others can recall the details better than I; but, you 
>> get
>> the idea.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray
>> Phone or Fax::
>> +1 (985) 360-3375
>> e-mail:
>> rforetjratcomcastdotnet
>> Skype Name:
>> barefootedray
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Michael Freholm" <mfreholm at unbridledaccess.com>
>> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 4:22 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Comments
>> onSaturdayNight Live Segment
>>
>>
>> The description of the skit leaves out quite a bit.  I don't know how to
>> describe the actor's portrayal of the governor's expression.  It was 
>> cruel
>> to say the least.  And he persisted with it throughout the skit.  And it 
>> did
>> not end with that portion of the segment.  Two or three times after his 
>> part
>> was over he came back out and blocked the camera with the "newscasters"
>> calling out directions that were not followed.  His face, with that 
>> stupid,
>> confused look on it blocked the shot nearly completely as everyone 
>> laughed
>> at the blind guy who couldn't figure out where to go.
>> My girlfriend says I shouldn't get offended.  She doesn't understand. 
>> I'm
>> not taking this personally.  I'm angry for the blind kids who are being
>> raised in a world that has pitifully low expectations for them.  I'm 
>> angry
>> for blind people who can't get jobs they are more than qualified for 
>> because
>> society believes us to be incompetent.  I'm angry for the blind woman who
>> can't get services from a fertility clinic because they say a blind 
>> person
>> can't be a good parent.  Blindness is not a tragedy but these situations 
>> are
>> indeed tragic.  When a show as popular as SNL so cruelly and heartlessly
>> makes fun of us, the world is watching and laughing and the lies are
>> perpetuated.  We deserve better.
>> Michael K. Freholm
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of John G. Heim
>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 4:07 PM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> 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 Americans-blind
>> 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."
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ###
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org 