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

John G. Heim jheim at math.wisc.edu
Wed Dec 17 22:37:40 UTC 2008


Well, I just thought that calling it an "attack on all blind people" was too 
much. I just don't think we want to get into a debate over whether it was an 
"attack" or not.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wm. Ritchhart" <william.ritchhart at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind 
CommentsonSaturdayNight Live Segment


>I saw the Governor on TV this morning.  His comments were basically no
> different from the comments in the NFB press release.  So I do not see
> the problem?  NFB and the Governor are on the same page.
>
> I am still dying for the people from SNL to explain the following?
>
> If racially stereotyped jokes are not appropriate, and gender
> stereotyped   jokes are not appropriate, and sexual orientation
> stereotyped jokes are not appropriate, then why is it appropriate to
> make jokes about someone's blindness?
>
>
> This is the same negative humor that every other minority group has had
> to endure.  Any person who has ever been the but of this kind of
> so-called humor should be offended.  If they are not, then I believe
> they have forgotten their past.
>
> I personally believe that all the civil rights people who would be
> speaking out if this had been some red-necked bigot making stereotyped
> cracks about some black person should be speaking out now.  Where is
> Sharpton and Opra and all the gay-lesbian groups?  My guess is that they
> are laughing right along with the SNL crew, thinking that there was
> nothing wrong with the stereotype and the messages that it portrayed
>
> THANKS, WILLIAM
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of John G. Heim
> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 10:42 AM
> To: tribble; NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Comments
> onSaturdayNight Live Segment
>
> As a politician he's fair game. But you should never make fun of someone
> for
> something they can't help. Or if you do, you have to do it in a way that
>
> shows you understand they can't help it. You have to show you feel their
>
> ppain, to use a cliche.
>
> You don't make fun of someone who is doing the best they can.  It's that
>
> simple. There's no point in it. It's just cruel. And there's no reason
> for
> SNL to go there when there are so many more deserving targets. Why make
> fun
> of Gov. Paterson in a week when the governor of Illinois was indicted
> for
> graft?
>
> So SNL was stupid and cruel.  But so what? I just don't think you can
> win by
> taking on SNL. We can discuss whether the skit was cruel or not but the
> rest
> of the world just isn't going to care. I think Gov. Paterson's response
> was
> excellent. Yeah, the skit was juvenlile but lets talk about
> unemployment.
>
> ----- 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 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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