[nfb-talk] National Federation of theBlindCommentsonSaturdayNight Live Segment

tribble lauraeaves at yahoo.com
Tue Dec 16 20:14:07 UTC 2008


your first link was removed for copyright reasons, but I liked the second 
one with Patterson's response.
Thanks.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 10:22 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."
>
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
>
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