It’s about that time again — the time that Jerry Lewis and his MDA Telethon invades our TV sets with their stomach-turning pity party exploiting people with disabilities. You would think that as many times as he and his PityThon has been crashed and protested by Disability Rights activists (including some ex-MDA poster folks) that he would get the picture, but he continues to cling to the outdated view of people with disabilities as objects of pity and exploitation. He continues to use his telethon to perpetrate the false notion that people with disabilities are hopeless, pathetic creatures who are not fully human.
The pity pot, charity model of giving must go! It’s tired, outdated, and perpetuates all of the negative stereotype of people with disabilities. If you think that there is nothing that you can do, think again! You can write a letter to the TV station in your town that airs the MDA telethon to remove it from the air. You can write a Letter To The Editor of your local newspaper speaking out against it. If you have a blog, or website, speak out against the telethon on your blog or site. Finally, you can do what I love doing best — protesting. Many ADAPT folks, and members of other Disability Rights groups have found out where in their city the telethon was being held, or what TV station was airing it, and picketed outside the venue, or even managed to disrupt the proceedings! Through the years, I have done ten to twenty actions against Jerry Lewis and his telethon. One of the coolest slaps in Jerry’s face, in my opinion, was back in 2003. His telethon had come to Philadelphia with the usual nauseating drivel, and got lots of media coverage. Less than 24 hours later, over 200 people with disabilities marched from Philadelphia to Washington, DC ro bring awareness of the legislation formerly know as MiCASSA. We, too, got lots of media coverage, and the contrast between the pathetic creatures that Jerry Lweis portrays us as, and the powerful and strong activists who were embarking on this historic March was brought up over and over again. I was one of those marchers, and proud that WE, not Jerry, had the last word.
So, get out there folks, and say NO to Jerry and his PityThon! Do it not only over this weekend, but every day. Do it by getting out there, and living your life the way you see fit. Do it by living, and learning, working, and loving, and writing and voting, and being out and about and visible in your community. Every person with a disability who lives life to its fullest, realizes his or her potential, and gets up, and stands up for their rights, is a slap in the face of Jerry. One day, we shall overcome, and be free of the stereotypes!
[...] The Roving Activist talks about the anti-telethon protests she?s been involved in with ADAPT and explains why people should say no to pity. [...]