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

Tue Dec 16 12:13:29 UTC 2008

Great message Mike.  If they are going to make a movy about the blind,
they need to show the positive side and prove to the public that a blind
person can live a normal life.  Also, a blind person can do almost any
jjob a sighted person can, with a few modifications.

Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Freholm [mailto:mfreholm at unbridledaccess.com] 
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 5:23 PM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
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."

###

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