From: ztstodd@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Todd Vaarwerk)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: MDA telethons...
Date: 15 Sep 92 02:40:00 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Sep11.165156.14732@ichips.intel.com>, jreece@sousa.intel.com 
         writes...
>My local paper, the San Jose Mercury-News, has already published letters
>from adult dystrophics declaring that the protesters don't speak for
>them.  As with virtually every other identifiable social group in this
>country *some* disabled have chosen to adopt the mentality of
>an 18th-century duellist and look excuses to be insulted.


      Uh Huh.

         OK .. I've been listening to this discussion go on for about
         20 or so posts now.  Normally I try to keep my thoughts
         simple and to myself.  It was only until I got to this post
         that responding to it dropped into my head.

         Truth be told, I only know, to a point, about the _Specific_
         gripe that "Jerry's Orphans" has with the TeleThon.  That
         they feel that however worthy the cause, that the concept
         that disabled children grow up has been left out of the
         message that MDA delivers *Most of the time* .. 

         I did want to respond to this "18th centry dualist" comment
         that Mr. Reece makes however.  Quite often, it is the *some* 
         of a group that fixes the problems that *most* of the group 
         experience.  

         As a disabled person myself, who has endured many a TeleThon,
         I have felt somewhat forgotten in the rush to use the
         "Disabled child" as an advertising ploy.  I would never stop
         MDA or any other Charity (UCPA, Diabetes, Childrens
         Hospitals, etc.) from using all they can to raise what they
         need, but it is *my* experience that ALL disabled people
         should get the recognition of recipt of funds.  Maybe Jerry should
         consider asking people to give to his "Friends" and not his
         "Children".


> 
>> Another issue is the Lewis approach of acting as though the lives of
>> dystrophics (?) is worthless without a cure. People with disabilities
>> have been fighting for some time now to explain what should be
>> obvious: that their lives are as full and as valuable as anybody
>> else's, disability or no. Cures are great, but the "uncured" deserve
>> to live with dignity in any case. 
> 
>Who says the lives of the disabled are valueless?  What seems to be going
>on is that some disabled want to deny the reality that a handicap
>is a handicap, even if it means jeopardizing funding to find cures.


         "Deny the reality of a Handicap ?". Really ??  It only
         appears to me that these people are looking to be treated
         with the RESPECT it has taken them 60 or so years to gain in
         the eyes of the law and public, only to find that despite all
         the struggle, all the public *Feels* they are is "Children" to 
         any group that needs to raise money for them.

         All in all, It appears to be much more complex an issue
         than you seem to state it.  Let's all hope that these groups
         can COMPROMISE.  Although I don't think they should WIN,
         Jerry's Orphans *Do* have a point, and it should be taken as
         a serious concern, not just a Anachistic, Don-Quiote-Style
         Tilt at a Windmill.

         Any Flames by mail, Please.  We have taken up too much
         bandwidth with this already.

         Todd Vaarwerk -- Computer Resources Chair

         The Independents
         [Disabled Student Union]
         142 Student Union
         State University of New York at Buffalo
         Amherst, NY   14260      (716) 645-3028

         ** These opinions are mine alone, and do not represent anyone
                                but me   **