From: russell@pmarlowe.uucp (Russell Shanks)
Subject: Re: Why I love Disney, Part 47
Summary: minor corrections and commentary 
Keywords: Khrushchev Image 
Reply-To: russell@pmarlowe.cts.com (Russell Shanks)
Organization: rsg
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 04:20:34 GMT

In article <18g693INN5lt@agate.berkeley.edu> witness@garnet.berkeley.edu () writes:
>
>The problem with image-fixation is this - when corporate image becomes more
>important than the lives of animals and the health risks of a WDW patron
>who suddenly needs medical attention but is hushed over some to protect 
>themselves from any negative images with the public - then I think the
>fixation becomes harmful and wrong.

   The problem, as I see it, lies in the inevitable size of the company.  It's
 easy to identify the goals and beliefs of an individual, but a company consisting
 of 60,000+ people from different backgrounds and ideals, well that's a bit
 more challenging.  The tone the company is still trying to follow is that set
 by it's founder, but its undesireable to expect everyone in the employ of the Disney 
 company is a clone of Walt Disney. I'd be willing to bet the decision to kill 
 the vultures isn't well supported by the Disney cast.  It involved just a few.
 After the shock of realizing what happened past, I was more interested in seeing how
 the company delt with it. The penalties assesed by the government are just the
 outcome of a stupid act.  How the company reacts to it, defines the integrity of
 Disney.

   I can only speak from my experience and a few friends,  but in the instances
 where medical attention was required at Disneyland, the cast was discreet
 but extremely concerned and helpful.  I am extremely pleased with their
 policies. Anyone could argue that this is done to prevent lawsuits, and I
 might agree that on a corporate level that is true, but that doesn't change
 the fact that when a person needs help, they are there ready, willing and 
 able to help.   As far as "hushed" goes, sorry that folks didn't get a chance
 to watch, but the person was cared for.

>not necessarily a good thing.  Disney feeds into this image preoccupation
>by excluding employees who might not look the way they want, by discriminating
>against sexual orientation, by sending out the hypocritical message that
>"it's a small world after all" - we are all human and should be tolerant
>of each other, but only as long as you look and have the sexual orientation
>that we feel is acceptable.  No - all of us at Berkeley aren't communists

   In my research I've found relatively few cases of Disney discriminating
 against anyone.  The issue of dancing partners is the only recent case which
 comes to mind.  As far as the rules of employment, or presentation, Disney has
 shown no impropriety.  To expect the Republican Party to air Democratic
 candidates during their conventions, or a Catholic church to allow a 
 Muslim to speak during services, would be surprising.  Disney has chosen
 their focus, and have the right to air their form of entertainment.

>who are stiff miffed that Walt wouldn't allow Nikolai Kruscheff into
>Disneyland because Walt didn't agree with his political beliefs! (though
>this is another historical point of Disney's intolerance of differences).

	Actually, this is incorrect.  It was the State Department which vetoed
  Khrushchev's visit.  Walt Disney was reported to be furious over the decision.  
>
>Image is another problem with Disney characters - have you noticed how often
>Disney has sent our children the message that ugly is evil and beautiful is
>good?  "Beauty and the Beast" is not necessarily an exception to that
>either - as the Beast is transformed into a handsome prince eventually
>anyway - hence the story's moral in that aspect is already flawed.
>
   I agree with you.  I was disappointed that the Beast didn't remain
 a beast.  The ending seemed to have missed the entire point of the story.

>
>Ann 
>

Russell

-- 

______________________________________________________________________

    Russell Shanks               Internet:   russell@pmarlowe.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney,alt.folklore.urban