Posted: 9/4/2007 at 11:35 AM
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LAS VEGAS (AP) - Showman Jerry Lewis sets a goal for his annual Labor Day Telethon to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association of $1 more than the previous year. He met that mark, plus almost $3 million on Monday.
"We did it. We did it. I got my buck more. And more. We can go shopping," a jubilant Lewis said as the tote board topped $63.7 million for his 42nd telethon. Last year's record was $61 million.
Thought you may be interested in this... It's exciting to see so much money raised!
The telecast has raised $1.46 billion to fight the disease since it began in 1966 on a single television station in New York City. This year's telecast was carried by 190 stations in the United States and Canada and carried worldwide on the Internet.
That's the kind of progress I like to see!
(link to article)
I’ve never watched the Telethon before, I just recently got a TV and don’t watch it very much. Anyway, I’ve noticed some people talking about how the Telethon basically just capitalizes on ‘pity’ that people may be feeling towards those with disabilities, and therefore reinforces a negative viewpoint. What do you think? Is that true?
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Tim,
Thanks for the post, as it gives a place for Disaboomers to express their opinions. It's great to see so much money being raised for a good cause, but I know many people with disabilities find the approach of the Labor Day Telethon to be paternalistic, condescending and in general not a good thing in enlightening the general public's attitudes towards people with disabilities.
I haven't watched more than a few minutes for years, as I find it kinda hokey, so perhaps it has changed somewhat, but I doubt it. It is hard to argue with success, but at what cost?
They wanted Linda to be a posterchild for UCP in her youth, she declined. What do Disaboomers think?
Bruce
OK - Apparently you haven't been paying attention so let me bring you up to speed. Please read the following to find out what the rest of us already know:
fridanow.blogspot.com/.../piss-on-pity-piss-on-pity-piss-on-pity.html
http://karasheridan.com/?p=162
www.dailykos.com/.../302
And saving the best for last-
www.ragged-edge-mag.com/.../jerry92.htm
PS Check this out too.
karasheridan.com
Thanks, Able_Writer;
I read the articles, sounds like the telethon has a pretty bad rap! And, from the descriptions people are giving of how things go down the bad rap seems to be deserved.
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