From: Earl.Appleby@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org (Earl Appleby)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Jerry's orphans
Date: 7 Oct 92 16:43:30 GMT
Reply-To: Earl.Appleby@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:279/14 - Project Enable, Dunbar WV
X-Fidonet: Able News Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 24750

[This is from the AbleNews Conference]

Thanks very much for your message of September 5, Missy, regarding our
ABLEnews reprint on Jerry's Orphans. Sorry about not getting back to
you sooner, but would you believe they lost my point number, my node,
hey, my entire net...I kid you not! (As far as I know we're still
gone, so answer me here if you wish.)

I've been wanting to write a short piece reflecting my thoughts on
Jerry Lewis, the MDA, and the Labor Day telephon and your thoughtful
and thought-provoking reponse has bumped that up on my too-many-
things/too-few-hours agenda <grin>.

I appreciate your sharing your thoughts. That's what this place
(ABLEnews) is all about. And I offer mine to in the same spirit of
open discussion and learning from and about one another.

MM>Hey, I don't like the pity approach either. Unfortunatly, that's what a
  >lot of people respond to.

We agree on both of these points. The last one is, as you rightly say,
unfortunate. But I guess I'd have to ask my version of the classic
"what doth it profit a man?" query. What does it profit a man to gain
a donation at the cost of his human dignity? Or rather, should any man
or woman, boy or girl, have to accept the bigotry of his benefactor as
the price of his assistance? And I respect the right of each
individual to answer that question for himself because he or she will
pay the price now or later.

I've been there too with CURE on another front of the same war. A
number of people and organizations share CURE's opposition to starving
persons with disabilities to death, particularly those dehumanized by
the hate term "vegetable." Some playing to popular prejudices make a
point of emphasizing how much "better" (i.e., functional) the intended
victim of euthanasia is than others, usually past victims and whole
classes of people who have been written off (as the Jews in Nazi
Germany). I understand where the PR types are coming from, but that
does not prevent me from being disgusted at the premise and disturbed
about where it is taking us.

I'll admit the fact that my Dad who lived with us at home in coma
could not always "do tricks" as I would describe what doctors would
sometimes ask of him to their face may personalize my views. But I'd
like to think that I would have had them any way, in large part,
because that was how Dad raised me.

I hope I haven't digressed too much, Missy, but it is this perspective
that leads me to support "Jerry's Orphans," while wishing to fight all
the harder for "Jerry's Kids." Now as for Jerry...

MM>So don't be too hard on Jerry Lewis.
  >He's trying to do a good thing the most effective way how.

It can be difficult to judge a man's motives but how a man conducts
himself and how he speaks of others tells you something about his
character. And what I've seen and heard tells me you are a kind soul
but perhaps too kind in this instance.

Dianne Piastro, whose column, "Living With Disability" is syndicatd by
the Newspaper Enterprise Association, described Lewis OFF-CAMERA when
the give-the-public-what-they-expect excuse could not cover his
blatant bigotry:

        When Jerry Lewis, as MDA's national chairman, arrived to
        fulfill his 1991 telethon pledge to bowl with an Illinois
        10-year-old, a television show's crew awaited him.  A
        Chicago Sun Times reporter quoted Lewis' reaction:  "Well,
        I have a problem with 'Entertainment Tonight' because they
        always shoot me in close-up with this wide lens that makes
        me look like a mongoloid."

Sorry, Jerry, time to go!!!

Speaking of which, I guess it's time for me to go to <smile>. I hope
this wasn't too long a reply to a concise comment that raised a number
of important issues and for which I thank you most heartily!

Looking forward to seeing you again in these parts again, real soon,
Missy. Your thoughtful comments are always welcome here.

Regards,
Earl

 * SLMR 2.1 * ABLEnews...counting on U for our s*ccess. (1:275/429.4)

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!279!14!Earl.Appleby
Internet: Earl.Appleby@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org