Protest Cuts Short Jerry Lewis Appearance

[kskiska]

(CBS) CHICAGO A noisy protest Wednesday night cut short a Chicago appearance by entertainment legend Jerry Lewis.

Lewis was at the Chicago Library to promote his new book, "Dean and Me - A Love Story."

The auditorium was packed when disability activists in wheelchairs began heckling Lewis.

Lewis has held telethons to fund research to find cures for people with muscular dystrophy. But members of a group called Jerry's Orphans accused him of portraying the disabled as people to be pitied.

(snip)


Disability rights activists contend Lewis would benefit more people by focusing on issues such as accessible buildings and employment.

more…
http://cbs2chicago.com/entertainment/local_story_320225955.html

[chelsea0011]

1. Most fund raising is exploitive to some extent, some more than others

[Ian David]

2. They sound selfish to me...

"Fuck the un-born kids you might cure some day. It's too late to cure us!"

I could be wrong about this (I am, after all, wrong 1/12 of the time).

[anotherdrew]

11. they are right in line with the deaf who never want to hear

It's true, there are deaf people lobbying against implants that will one day let deaf children hear, because that will ruin their deaf culture and portray deafness as something 'bad' needing 'fixed.' Now I might be sympathetic to that view if there were a voluntary deafness movement, but last I checked there isn't.

This group of Jerry's Orphans are beyond belief. As if their condition were perfectly normal and something that any person should be glad to experience because it's not really a disAbility at all. Somewhere behind all this I smell a nasty confluence of right-wing mythology and left-wing identity politics. Probably they will be hung around democrats necks by the reich-wing radio types.

I would expect that Jerry Lewis and (doesn't he work with) Easter Seals have altered their portrayals of people with MD over the years. I would expect that that has been the case for over 10 years. I know that they've always focused on what the kids CAN do and shown stories of people living with MD that were not all sad pity parties for decades.

Jerry Lewis doesn't deserve to be Cheney'd.

[Domitan]

53. Care to clarify?

What do you mean that you don't see a "voluntary deaf movement"?

Just a deaffie asking here.

[Hawkeye-X]

64. Actually.. I'm one of the deaf DU'ers

and I know I don't want to hear again, and neither does my wife. We are proud of our culture. Technological advances has come far ahead to BENEFIT the deaf, not force deaf to become hearing.

[noonwitch]

74. In addition, there are drawbacks to the implants

I have an uncle who is completely deaf, as is his wife. Most of their friends are deaf, but both of their children hear. I don't think either one of them would have the implant, they are happy with who they are and the lives they live, and I am happy for them. They have a TDD phone, a computer to email people and their kids will call hearing relatives if there is an emergency.
My ex-aunt (she was married to my other hearing-impaired uncle, who died) had the implant, and she had some natural hearing beforehand. She could talk and hear on the phone once they started making phones with adjustable volume and all that. It is my understanding that once a person has the device implanted that it destroys any natural hearing the person may have. If I were deaf and had a small amount of natural hearing, I'd want to keep what I had rather than have something mechanical implanted in me.

It does seem to me that there are hearing people who don't understand. It would make our lives easier if we didn't have to try harder to communicate with deaf people, but it's not fair for us to expect deaf people to alter their bodies to make us more comfortable.

[Lowell]

120. I think you are all wet

I've been hearing impaired since the Vietnam war. There is nothing voluntary about it and at the same time there is nothing wrong with being deaf. It is true that there is a deaf culture but I think unless you have experienced it first hand you have no room to talk.

[pop goes the weasel]

12. You are wrong

Why are people with disabilities expected to just give up on living the lives they have in the hopes that, oh some day, there will be a cure? Time goes on, you have no job, you can't even get down the street, but don't you dare be cranky about being utterly and completely abandoned becaue, jeez, all those nice people want to make sure that future generations don't have your problems. What about you? Why, you can be wheeled out to serve as a pity point to get people to reach for their wallets and make a donation.

People with disabilities don't mind that money is raised to do medical research. But we do mind that no one wants to spring for curb cuts or keep aisles in the stores uncluttered, or offer an education that might keep us from having a 70% unemployment rate. I personally am more concerned that the wheelchair ramp at my place of (part-time) employment has sunk so low that it no longer meets with the landing at the top, than I am with whether or not anyone is doing any research on my disorder. I'm more concerned that the things I have needed to do to improve my economic status and secure my future have been impossible for me to reach simply due to transportation issues.

Jerry's Orphans are pissed at him, not because he raises money for research, but because he won't do a damned thing to help raise awareness of disability issues. Look at your own response--you are furious that those cripples dare to be uppity! There is a huge need for public awareness on the needs of people with disabilities, and the supposed friends of people with disabilities who refuse to help are on the same level as those whites who donated to Booker T. Washington's Tuskeegee Institute only because he swore up and down that black people would stay in their place.

[Ian David]

13. You are 100% correct. I apologize for being both slightly wrong and lazy

If I'd taken the time, I would have also expressed much that you just did as well.

[JNelson6563]

14. I am proud to say

our city voted for and funded curb cuts all over the city and the same with accessibility in the buildings. Additionally my local county Dems office is very accessible which was one of the reasons we chose it. We even choose our event venues with that in mind.

I wish most of society wasn't so cheap about making life more accessible to all.

Julie

[superconnected]

61. Good for your city. If I remember Walmat has narrow aisles

and stuff cluttering the middle on the wider ones. I have a feeling with American corps turning into Walmart world - up-holding that companies business style because of their profit margin, it's going to get worse for disabled people and not better.

[Chicago Democrat]

18. Being disable sucks so much, basically

sometimes I want to kill myself. Education other people about how to treat disabled people is maddening and I'll tell you.

Even the most liberal people can be the absolute worst when it comes to bad behavior, prejeduce as social barriers. Some of the worst right wingers get it totally right.


DAMN STRAIGHT MUSCULAR DIST PEOPLE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO KEEP JERRY HONEST.

[hughee99]

73. They're pissed at Jerry...

not because of what he is doing (raising money for research) but because he's not doing more for curb cuts and handicap access? He's not fighting against anyone on this, he's just not helping as much as they think he could. I'm sorry, but IMHO you can certainly see where someone would get the wrong idea about the protesters being "uppity". Jerry has done a lot of good things for people with disabilities, and there's people protesting him because they want him to do even more. Yes, the protesters have a point that these issues need to be addressed, but I think they're going about it the wrong way. Perhaps this is an issue that someone else needs to "carry the ball" for, rather than demanding that Jerry take this on too.

[Pastiche423]

75. Please explain to me

Exactly how Jerry has done a lot of good things for people with disabilities.

Please list them.

Btw, are you disabled?

[hughee99]

76. Jerry Lewis has been doing the MDA telethon

for almost 40 years raising millions if not billions of dollars over that period for the MDA. I contend that the MDA does good things with this money, money that Jerry helped them to raise. Am I wrong in this? Has Jerry done something to harm those with disabilities that I don't see?

Also, I don't see how my personal situation as relevant to my argument but for the record, I am not disabled.

http://www.mdausa.org/special/annual/index.cfm?id=management05

"In 2004-2005, 76.4 percent of every dollar MDA spent went directly to program services, with only 23.6 percent going to supporting services. MDA reduced the amount it spent on management and fund-raising by 10.2 percent below the previous year’s costs.

A record total of $134.3 million was allocated to research, health care and community services, and public and professional health education."

More information about their services here:

"Financial support for the purchase of assistive equipment is another important component of MDA health care services. In the past year, MDA helped to purchase more than 3,100 wheelchairs and leg braces and hundreds of communication devices. More than 5,700 repairs were made to wheelchairs and leg braces, while MDA loan closets across the country distributed some 4,500 pieces of durable medical equipment such as lifts, walkers and hospital beds."

http://www.mdausa.org/special/annual/index.cfm?id=services05

[Pastiche423]

77. Your abled-bodiness is very relevant

to this issue.

Your able-bodiness is not affected by Jerry Lewis condescension, his asking for pity and his PUBLIC statement that if a disabled person does not want the pity he is selling, then they should STAY AT HOME!

Well, excuse my paralyzed ass, I will not stay at home. I will not stay out of society. And I will not accept his false pity.

Jerry Lewis has been doing this for years and many in the disabled community are sick of it.

[hughee99]

82. My argument is that...

Jerry has done a lot of good things for disabled people, and whether he has or he hasn't, it has no relation to my personal status. Now do you believe that he hasn't helped anyone, or just that he's done more harm than good? As you said, not being disabled, I'm not in a position to truly understand the damage he has done, but I don't see how anyone would contend that he hasn't done any good, either.

Jerry raises money for MDA and to do that, he sells pity. I agree. The commercials to raise money for Hurricane relief, Tsunami relief, Earthquake relief, breast cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, homelessness, save the children for the price of a cup of coffee, and countless other charities also do this to varying degrees. IMHO, it's tough to raise money by telling people "we don't need your help, but help out anyway". Jerry raises as much money as he can in what is unfortunately the most effective way. It's the trade-off of any charity.

[barb162]

96. Nicely put; he's raising money to help find cures.

If that's not helping....

[Rufus T. Firefly]

117. Would we have wheelchair access if it weren't for "pity?"

Would we have parking spaces for the disabled, the Americans with Disabilities Act, etc.? I don't believe it is "pity" to help someone who needs help, but you can't deny that what everyone is calling "pity" has a lot to do with the legal advances, as well as donations and research funding that has gone into many of these problems.

[barb162]

95. the telathons? raising money for research?

[WCGreen]

100. But contracting MS is almost a sure death sentance...

So that is different from being deaf, or disabled as I am... These kids are not going to live past 20 or so no matter how easy it is to get into a Mcdonald's....

Why should some other people in the "disabled" community scream that Jerry should raise awareness of accessability... I find it odd... Very odd... Jerry choose a long time ago to dedicate his charitable giving to raising money for MS...

I just don't understand why he is being critisized... He is also from a time when people looked at the disabled as crippled... Give the guy a fucking break....

[JudyM]

118. Doesn't he do the fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy? Not MS. nt

[MADem]

3. Jesus Christ on a bike, what a bunch of shitheads!

Jerry Lewis is an OLD MAN. He started that MD thing to HELP the kids. He is also a showman, in the old time sense. Whatever it takes to get them to part with the cash, he will do it. His heart is in the right place, and always was. He may have gone about doing the good works in a schmaltzy way, but that was the FASHION back in the day.

I remember when the telethon was an event--TV, on for 24 HOURS a DAY!!! No test pattern!!!!

I also remember getting the biggest laugh of my life when CHARO, the Spanish singer who was married to Xavier Cugat, was doing a number wearing one of those tube top bustiers, and as she shimmied along, she shimmied right out of her top!! Pro that she was, she just yanked the thing back up and kept on singing....of course, Jerry was plutzing....rolling his eyes...sputtering, speechless!

Jerry Lewis is no saint, but he brought attention to a disease that no one gave one shit about, up until he pushed it to the fore using his time, talent, energy and connections. That's an unfair rap they are laying on him.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. He may be a dinosaur, but he brings a lot of cash to the table.

'Jerry's Orphans' have been dogging him for a while. They essentially discount all of the awareness raising and money his campaigns have generated because they dislike his approach of guilting people into donating to the MDA. Sure, it's not consistent with current emphasis on the positive abilities of the the disabled but as you pointed out, without Jerry Lewis the MDA would not have achieved the recognition and money it garnered from these telethons over the decades.

I can understand that they want the MDA to take on a different fundraising approach to conform to modern views on disabilities, but focusing on the aging celeb who has raised so much money for the organization is mean-spirited IMHO.

[MADem]

9. Well, maybe the ORPHANS ought to get off their asses and try it their way

We'll see how far they get.

I swear, I cannot understand the "bite the hand" attitude. And frankly, what causes the average slob to donate to medical research causes is a very personal thing--either you have a loved one with the problem, or some clever bastard has reached out and yanked on one of your heartstrings. People want that virtuous feeling that comes from giving to a worthy cause, and if these folks are gonna say "Gimme your money, but I am doing fine" there isn't that 'positive charity feedback' happening!

If they show these people doing "so well" with their disabilities, the GOP bums will say "Hell, they seem happy enough--screw 'em! I'll give my spare cash to .... Tom DeLay!!!"

[Chicago Democrat]

17. read this

http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/archive/jerry92.htm

[MADem]

28. I did read it; Gormy Cuss provided that link n/t

[Gormy Cuss]

32. No, that was someone else. But I do have a link with a different POV

Presented just as that -- a different point of view from a disabled writer.

www.salon.com/people/feature/2001/06/06/lewis

Jerry Lewis speaks the truth
The veteran comedian is in trouble with the militant disabled for using words like "cripple" and "pity." They're wrong; he's right.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Lorenzo W. Milam

[MADem]

35. Oh, it WAS Chicago Dem who provided it, further down!!

I knew I had seen the link and read the article!

Good article, BTW--thanks for that link!

[Chicago Democrat]

16. I liked the show... but thinking about it from a disabled person's

perspective and I can totally see how Jerry portrays MD people as totally helpless and pathetic. Its about PATHOS. THe whole thing. They always have the sick little kid trapped forever and hopeless and the poster child idea is just sad and sick.

Read this article and be informed about the history of this first. The entire thing was started by Reagans' head of EEOC. not some crazy handicapt kids rebelling. This has a long history.

http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/archive/jerry92.htm

[MADem]

21. Interesting piece but I would suggest to the Orphans that if they

don't like the direction of the charity that Lewis, for all of his schmaltzy faults, singlehandedly has dedicated his life to, and which by all accounts is well-run, accountable, and puts the dough into research, that they should start their own effort, and work positively to change perceptions and foster their own agenda. Instead, they want to take over his life work, kick him out, and run his charity the way THEY want to run it. Sure, they have a stake, they have the disease, after all, but there is no rule that there can only be ONE charity to support a given disease. Cancer has tons of them, for example.

Their focus seems to be on tearing the guy down, getting him "gone" and denigrating his effort, and I think that is a waste of energy. No one lives forever, and Jerry doesn't have many years left.

Whatever he has done that might not be "PC" he has done it to get the cash for the research. He'd likely dance naked on national TV if it would help find a cure--I think that he sees the goal, he's obsessed with it, and doesn't care what has to be done to reach it. Some might disagree, sure, but running around protesting seems to have the result of depressing donations, and that isn't good for the ones suffering from the disease.

I think they are screwing themselves, frankly--you catch more flies with honey, and all that...

[KamaAina]

22. I heard MDA pays for all of Lewis' travel

including a trip such as this one to promote a book that has squat to do with MDA.

and which by all accounts is well-run, accountable, -- NOT.

[Pastiche423]

24. In addition...

Jerry Lewis does not do the marathons for free. He's paid to make other people feel pity for crips.

Furthermore MADem, ask some former Jerry's Kids how they feel about him. Their sentiments will NOT give you the warm and fuzzies.

[MADem]

30. Look, I am not arguing with the assertion that he plays the pity card

I KNOW he does it. I know it annoys some people, but I also know it motivates some people who would not donate to open their wallets--some people respond to pathos. But even that critical article cited above noted that his is one of the ten best-run charities in the country.

All I am saying, is rather than spend precious time bitching about an old man who has raised a King's ransom in support of this cause, the time might be better spent positively focusing on their issues, rather than tear down an old guy. They've personalized their gripes, asserted that Jerry is the source of all evil, and what will it get them, at the end of the day? He'll be dead eventually, and who knows if anyone else with his level of clout and dedication--despite his faults, and he certainly has them--will pick up the standard?

We'll just have to agree to disagree, I guess.

[Pastiche423]

36. "...a King's ransom in support of this cause..."

Link, please.

Honestly now, would you like being told to stay at home if you are in a wheelchair if you don't want to be pitied?

I do not want, need or like to be pitied.

Jerry Lewis is a smarmy asshole that does this for fame and money and condescends cripples behind and in front of the public.

There is a word called dignity, that everyone deserves. Lewis robs many of their dignity.

[MADem]

39. See post 34, below, and follow the link

You and I will just have to disagree on this issue, I cannot see my changing your mind, nor you changing mine.

[Aimah]

51. I don't see how the protesting is going to help the cause.

The MDA is raising money to help the cause. Some people have to feel sorry for others before they want to give money. So maybe those people don't feel sorry anymore. People with MD are strong enough to go and protest Jerry. Maybe these people will stop giving money. The protestors win the battle but lose the war.

[barb162]

98. That's what I think too

[shrike]

60. I knew one

Who had no problems with him. She's also dead now, because her body finally gave out. Her family and friends were devastated.

Smarmy asshole he may be, but at least the guy's doing something.

I understand the need for dignity, for curb cuts, et. al. But there are lots of celebrities in the world. Cannot more than one person take hold of this issue?

[superconnected]

62. I'm agreeing with all of your posts here. They need to do their own fund

and raise their money/awareness themselves if they don't like how the jerry fund is raising it.

Their group doing anything elses is whining on his coat-tails.

[MADem]

27. My assertion was based on this paragraph from the above cited, and rather

critical, article cited above:

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is one of the nation's largest charities -- and considered one of the best-run (last December, Money magazine cited it as one of the ten best-managed large charities in the U.S.). Since its start in 1950, its focus has been on medical research, its goal the cure of neuromuscular diseases. Criticism of its fundraising tactics by Kemp a decade ago irritated the group, but it's safe to say its management has never truly understood the reasons for Kemp's criticism. The new critisms also took them unawares.

[MADem]

52. The breakdown of their expenses does not show that, FWIW n/t

[ThePopulist]

66. Well, if they don't want his money that's he's so generously giving....

then they shouldn't take it. He's being very nice and kind doing this for them and I don't understand why they're making a deal out of nothing. This is so fucking stupid. These people have mental problems.

[proud2BlibKansan]

94. I stopped donating to this telethon a long time ago

when I learned how much they paid their executives.

I have also wondered for many years now why they have yet to find a cure. Maybe this is a dumb thing to say and I will admit I don't really understand the science involved in medical research, but just how much more money will Jerry need to raise to find a cure? Do they really want to find a cure?

[guruoo]

122. You nailed it

:applause:

[Connie_Corleone]

4. I doubt if this protest is going to help their cause any.

Why don't they find someone else to represent them? Lewis is trying to help find a cure.

leave the man alone.

[Kralizec]

10. Nowadays, there is no protest that can help anyone's cause, it seems. (nt)

[Chicago Democrat]

25. Tell that to Cindy Sheehan

And those monks that set themselves on fire.

[zbdent]

5. When I read the title of the book, I had a vision

of Repuke/Freepturds protesting because they thought he was writing about a friendly relationship with Howard Dean . . . :evilgrin:

[David Briggs]

6. Handicapable.

Jerry should have invited them outside and kicked their asses.

[Strawman]

7. Jesus Christ

Call me crazy, but I do feel sorry for some kid who isn't going to live into his or her twenties because of some disease or people who are so debilitated from these diseases that they will never be able to be employed.

I don't think it's Jerry whose blocking their agenda. It's mostly corporate greed. Companies who don't want to pay to accomodate people who are physically challenged but capable of doing many things if simple accomodations were made for them. The reason is because it might cut into their executive bonuses, not some perception Jerry has created.

I guess sometimes it's easier to just attack the people who really do care about you because others just ignore you completely.

[Chicago Democrat]

15. Here is some important Background Information:

http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/archive/jerry92.htm

A Test of Wills:
Jerry Lewis, Jerry's Orphans, and the Telethon

by Mary Johnson

"I decided after 41 years of battling this curse that attacks children of all ages, I would put myself in that chair, that steel imprisonment that long has been deemed the dystrophic child's plight. . . . I realize my life is half, so I must learn to do things halfway. I just have to learn to try to be good at being half a person."
From "What if I had Muscular Dystrophy?" Parade magazine, Sept. 2, 1990

---------------------------------------------------------------------


"The very human desire for cures . . . can never justify a television show that reinforces a stigma against disabled people." It was 11 years ago when those lines appeared on the opinion page of the New York Times -- September 3, 1981. Labor Day. On the tube, the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon was in full swing. The article was by Evan J. Kemp, Jr., now chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. At the time Kemp was Director of the Ralph Nader-inspired Disability Rights Center. "Aiding the Disabled: No Pity, Please," read its headline.

Evan J. Kemp, a man with one of the neuromuscular diseases the Muscular Dystrophy Association said it was fighting to cure, was criticizing its star-studded fundraiser. Kemp was also criticizing MDA's star and savior, comedian Jerry Lewis.

Society, Kemp charged, saw disabled people as "childlike, helpless, hopeless, nonfunctioning and noncontributing members of society." And, he charged, "the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon with its pity approach to fund raising, has contributed to these prejudices."

Kemp contended that such prejudices "create vast frustration and anger" among disabled Americans, then numbered at 36 million. Kemp charged that disabled people suffered far more from lack of jobs, housing -- lack of access to society -- than from the diseases MDA sought to cure. He accused the Telethon's "pity approach . . . with its emphasis on Œposter children' and ŒJerry's Kids' " -- of creating prejudice. He called upon the Telethon to reform; to portray disabled people "in the light of our very real accomplishments, capabilities and rights." The Telethon, he insisted, "must inform the public of the great waste of money and human life that comes from policies promoting dependence rather than independence

More at

http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/archive/jerry92.htm

[KamaAina]

23. Half a person? Even the slaves got to be three-fifths! (sarcasm)

:sarcasm:

I realize my life is half, so I must learn to do things halfway. I just have to learn to try to be good at being half a person."

What a perfect spokesman for the cause. Someone who believes the people he's allegedly speaking for are "half people." :sarcasm:

[twaddler01]

42. We aren't "half" people

I refuse to believe that. I (being disabled) am just like everyone else. I might do things differently and have a slightly different lifestyle, but I am not a HALF person! Maybe it is like that with those who don't know what it is like, but not sure if this applies to me......

[slackmaster]

19. I had to laugh out loud when I heard this on the radio this morning

The real Jerry Lewis must be something like the character he played in the movie The King of Comedy.

[Pastiche423]

20. Is this the same Jerry Lewis that said...

"Pity? you don't want to be pitied because you're a cripple in a wheelchair, stay in ya house!"

http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/extra/jerrylewis052401.htm

We, crips have been protesting Jerry's Labor Day Marathon for years.

For all of you on this thread defending him, are you crips? Have you heard him (behind the scenes) denigrating crips for years?

Fuck Jerry Lewis!

[MADem]

31. Don't move to the UK

The little village I lived in always had a massive drive for a charity they called the Crippled and Spastic Children's Association. House to house collections, a big fair, it was a huge event every year.

Don't know if they still use those terms, but this was in the 90s....!!!

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

40. To answer your question, yes I'm a "crip"

Though the term I refer to myself is gimp or quad. 22 years as a c-3 quadriplegic. My first 24 years were spent able bodied. I'll certify that being a crip sucks. Having tasted both sides of the situation I have a perspective perhaps missing from those born disabled. I agree with the supposedly offensive comment you quote above. I see it in peoples eyes everywhere I go. I got over it. I can overcome that perception easily once the opportunity arises. Generally I don't worry what people are feeling about seeing me but when I leave the house. I'm realistic about people's perceptions and hold no grudge if what they feel is pity. It's natural if you see someone struggling with a crappy deal to feel for them if you're a compassionate person. I wish spinal cord injury could get some of Jerry's fund raising talents.

[MADem]

43. So do I--stem cell research, whatever could be done

We need it now more than ever, not just for you (and you certainly deserve the benefit of research as much as anyone) but also for your fellows in chairs, who are back from the sandbox.

[MsAnthropy]

26. I'm curious how much money he's brought in and where it went

and why hasn't a cure been found after all that money

[Pastiche423]

33. Excellent question!

I'd also like to know what advances have been made towards the cure of MD through his marathons.

[MADem]

34. Here is a report on the cash from an unaffiliated agency that monitors

charities: http://www.give.org/reports/care_dyn.asp?278

MDA meets their accountability standards, FWIW.

[twaddler01]

38. To answer your 2nd question

It is complicated. MD is a genetic disorder that would likely require some sort of "redoing" the genetic code. Studies have been and are being done. They are looking at how to create more dystrophin (which is laking with those of us with MD), reduce the breakdown of muscles in the body, etc. I believe it is getting "somewhere" but not sure on how the funding gets distributed through MDA (Muscular Dystophy Association) or Jerry. I personally have the disease so I tend to be more optimistic. It looks like it is a long-term search, however.

[MsAnthropy]

56. The process is so agonizingly slow it makes it crazy

I want to know why there aren't cures for lots of things by now but then I have to take a deep breath and remember that we've really come a long way in the last 100 years. I'm just impatient. If humankind does anything in its time on earth it should use our brains to eliminate suffering.

[kskiska]

29. Jerry can't do everything.

He's chosen MDA as his cause, and has spent his lifetime working for it. Maybe people with other types of disabilities can find another celebrity to espouse THEIR cause.

[twaddler01]

37. I personally have suffered from Becker's MD

my whole life and here I am thinking that things look promising. Now, everyone thinks we should all feel sorry for those with the disability or pity them. It seems to me it is partly a marketing technique to show others in their wheel chairs and how the disease has taken over their lives.

I have been to summer camps, I've even been a local ambassador. I find it sad that people think we are trying to make everyone "feel sorry" for us. I actually do feel sorry for others out there that have it worse than me--I've been around it. I'm not in a wheel chair (yet) but this disease still really stinks and I know someday it could get to where i cannot walk anymore :(

I really don't know how I feel about it all. I don't really watch the telethons, so I don't know. All I know is I don't want to feel pitied but I also want to be respected that I have a disability and that yes, I do hope for a cure someday.....

[0007]

41. Sounds like the freepers are behind this one!........n/t

[Pastiche423]

44. Huh?

Why did you say that?

[0007]

46. The freepers have believed for years that Jerry Lewis has been

pocketing the money on his fund raisers. "Jerry's Kids." Go over there and throw it up to 'em and find out the feeling, huh?

[Pastiche423]

47. No thanks

I don't go "over there".

I've been a crip for nineteen years and I don't need a freeper to tell me how I feel about Jerry Lewis.

Why don't you go to an online Disability website and ask how they feel about Jerry Lewis?

[0007]

48. Be my guest!!

[Pastiche423]

49. Your guest for what?

[Chicago Democrat]

68. Could it possibly be that they are just correct?

Freepers like broken clocks can be right twice a day.


Not a political issue. Its aboout HOW CHARITIES ARE RUN IN THIS COUNTRY!


Fucking why does every disease under the sun have to GO OUT AND BEG FOR MONEY?

What the fuck are taxes for?

[katamaran]

45. There's gotta be a joke about France in there somewhere....

...I just can't find it...

[Caretha]

50. Ask me any question

Until August 16 of this year I worked for MDA for 5 years as a district director.

[TygrBright]

54. Are "feeling sorry for" and "respecting" mutually exclusive?

Because as an able-bodied individual I have a hard time NOT feeling a wrenching surge of "sorry for" people who can't enjoy all of the freedoms I enjoy, even while I respect their accomplishments in living life to the fullest on their own terms. Is this a bad thing?

Thing is, people rarely give wads of cash to further the achievement of goals valued by people who seem perfectly satisfied with the hand life's dealt them. The impulse to help, to support, to contribute, etc., generally rests on one (or occasionally both) of two foundations: Wanting to achieve something that will benefit themselves (that's part of why I give to the Democratic Party, for instance-- self-interest plays a STRONG part--) or the altruistic desire to help those seen as needing help.

I won't go into the complex of noble and ignoble motives behind that altruism (me, I tend to assume the noble motives, but then I try to see the best in human nature while not denying the worst.) But the point is, unless you are someone who is personally touched by MD, the motivation for charitable contributions MUST be altruistic. Some altruism is more attractive than other altruism. Some altruism-- condescending, ego-gratifying, 'lookame, I'm a great hooman been'-- is pretty unpleasant, in fact, it's closely akin to self-interest.

The community of people with an honest self-interest in seeing a solution to a particular problem is not always large enough to fund the quest for that solution. The choice is a tough one. Either diminish the potential resources by self-selecting AGAINST dishonest self-interest and the creepier forms of altruism, or suffer the risk that other aspects of the problem will be exacerbated by the uncritical acceptance of any and all forms of resource generation.

The "Orphans" seem to have decided that the tradeoff of cash for a potential future solution filtered through an expensive, not-terribly-accountable fundraising institution is not worth the cost of perpetuating painful and disempowering stereotypes that decrease the present quality of life for those with MD. From their point of view, it is a rational conclusion.

Mr. Lewis is neither gilded saint nor hypocritical sinner. Among his motivations for his extensive focus on MD fundraising is doubtless a sincerely altruistic impulse. He also gets quite a lot of tangible personal benefit from his activities, as well as the intangible but powerful sensation of moral righteousness. He works very hard indeed, physically and creatively, in his chosen activities. The actual value of his efforts can be measured in many ways, and is always subjected to the perception of the beholder.

My investment in this issue is small compared with those directly affected by MD, so I'm hesitant to draw unequivocal conclusions or assign hard-and-fast value judgments to any particular position or its proponents. My concern is tangential, even abstract: While I acknowlege the right (indeed, the duty!) of those affected more personally by the issue to draw such conclusions and act upon them, I worry a little bit that this controversy puts another dent in the already-battered bucket of human interdependence.

By appearing to hold human altruism to such lofty standards as "the only proper way to amass resources to solve problems is by demanding the most desirable motivations from the givers," are we subtly suggesting that simple (even unthinking) "oh, no, how awful for them" impulses are an unworthy motivation for charitable action? By demanding 'ethically correct' charity, are we discouraging those less-perfect charitable impulses that are nevertheless crucial to forming a viable, interdependent human community?

uncertainly,
Bright

[Pastiche423]

55. Google: jerry lewis + disabled + protests

Maybe you can find some answers to your questions there.

[ikojo]

57. I have a cousin with Cerebral Palsy that I have

not seen in decades..why you ask....her mom treated her as is she were an infant all of her life. Once she became an adult she bolted and has not been in contact with her family since.

This is what I see the disea-a-thons doing..infantalizing those with disabilities. They are presented as children who are unable to do anything for themselves.

It is this portrayal of those with disabilities that angers me and one reason I do not contribute to organizations like MDA.

[Chicago Democrat]

69. My sister is totally warehousing my metally/physically ill nephew...

Steve's 21 and has absolutely no muscle developement. She feeds him sugar. Coca cola. No exercise, no vitamins. He never sees the 600 Social security disability money or food stamps. There is no savings for his future. Instead he plays the same video game all day. He looks like a concetration camp victim. Still somehow, he escapes into his fantast world and is happy i guess. Happy as long as his other brothers dont attack or make fun of him.

She refuses to let me put a simple fucking filter on the well water, which has all kinds of problems. Like cadmium. Steve has a fist sized cyst on his chest I suspect be cause of the bad water.

I have offered to send him to school. Or help him find a job ANYTHING to get him to have SOME KIND OF LIFE!@


I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! ALL I CAN DO IS LEAVE STEVE WHAT LITLE MONEY I HAVE AND HAVE AFTER I DIE SOMEONE LIKE MY BROTHRE MANAGE IT. Steve is afraid of everyone and everything now. He withdraws into his mind. His mother takes all the money for herself and blythely lies to herself that he is FINE! It drives me insane.

[noonwitch]

58. If they ever find a cure for MD, Jerry Lewis will deserve partial credit

He has raised a lot of money for the research over the years. I never felt like Jerry was exploiting disabled children, I always figured he had a particular love and sympathy for them (probably because he once knew someone who had MD) so he chose to use his celebrity to raise money to help find a cure/tretment/services to make their lives better.

Some people are just way too sensitive.

[shrike]

59. Oh, for Pete's sake, people

A couple I know lost their beloved daughter, who suffered from muscular dystrophy, a few years ago. I never saw so many tears at a funeral in my life. Everybody loved her. She also participated in Lewis' fund raising and never once felt pitied, or "less than a human being." The folks who knew her were in awe of her; such courage and humility in the face of such troubles.

This couple would give anything in the world to have their daughter back. If Lewis' work can ever find a cure for this damned thing, I say leave him alone.

[superconnected]

63. My neighbor died last month at the age of 17 with MS. His mom- my

moms best friend, is having a terrible time dealing with this.

There are no curb cuts in the area, and I saw him many times out on the side walk with his remote control wheel chair waiting for the disabled bus.

I think the mom would want her kid back more than the curb cut though. Too bad jerrys hecklers won't start their own fund and quit criticizing another persons.

both could do good.

[ThePopulist]

65. So fucking stupid

I'm sorry but what these people are doing is so dumb. This man is taking the time out of his private life to do this nice thing for these people. If they can't appreciate it they don't deserve the money he's trying to be generous with and help them out.

[Chicago Democrat]

67. He's a highly paid spokesman

It has been his job for all these years. A JOB. Not charity.



Where does this money go? To THE KIDS? NOT ONE PENNY.


All the money goes to doctors and multimillion dollar reasearch facilities. Woops Did I say ALL? No 80% for RICH DOCS. Over 20% For JERRy and ADMIN.. LOOK AT THEIR FINANCIAL REPORT! no they don't actually list how many 10's of millions of this 'charity' goes to Jerry Lewis directly.


What a fraud. Jerry making all his money since 1960 on the backs of some "half a person".

[Raine]

80. Yeah. really

and it has kept Lewis name before the public othewise he probably would have been forgotten. It's not all from the goodness of his heart, Lewis gets plenty out of it.

[hughee99]

83. If you're going to try to find a cure or treatment for something...

Who are you going to give the money to besides doctors and multi-million dollar research facilities? Isn't that where research money for AIDS, Cancer, Heart disease, CP, CF, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and pretty much every other health issue goes? Is there someone better equipped to find a cure that they can give this money to?

[Pastiche423]

85. Did you even read the article?

"Lewis yelled at them to get out and stormed off the stage."

"When he spotted these activists in the audience that were in the front row in their wheelchairs, he even went so far as to say; "These people are going to walk out of those chairs and drive home tonight. I bought those chairs for them,’" said witness John Gabrysiak.

Now, that's just what he said in this one article. He bashes the people he's supposedly raising money for.

This issue is about Jerry Lewis, not about fundraising.

[hughee99]

86. I sure did...

If you'll notice, I didn't respond to the OP, but to a comment made on the above post.

"All the money goes to doctors and multimillion dollar research facilities. Woops Did I say ALL? No 80% for RICH DOCS. Over 20% For JERRy and ADMIN..."

This was asking about the fund, and the fund raising, not about Jerry personally. My question about THIS comment, was that if you're going to to try find a cure or treatment for something, the doctors and million dollar research facilities are going to end up with the money.

In any case, these people were there to protest him. He, it sounds like, treated them like shit. Did he show pity for them? It doesn't seem so. Wasn't that the original issue? It seems like he treated them JUST AS POORLY as he treats everyone else.

"He bashes the people he's supposedly raising money for"... That's my other point, he's not SUPPOSEDLY raising money for them, he IS raising money for them (or at least for the MDA, I don't know what, if any, issues you may have with that organization). Seeing all the comments about him, I will grant you that he's an asshole, but he's an asshole who's raising money for the MDA, as opposed to other assholes who do nothing. Is the way he portrays the disabled not worth the money he raises by doing so? I can't say, because it's easier for me to understand the good that is done with the money than the negative stereotype that is portrayed to raise it.

[Pastiche423]

87. Of course it's easier for you

You're not a crip. You do not understand what it feels like to struggle in the walking world.

[hughee99]

88. No, I do not...

But I do understand the benefits that that the MDA can provide with the money raised. Do you believe that crips would be better off without the telethons because they do more harm to people's perception than they can do good with the money that is raised?

[Pastiche423]

89. See post #85

[hughee99]

90. See post 82...

Also, I've also asked you several times, Do you believe that Jerry is doing more harm with his portrayal of crips than good with the money he raises?

[Pastiche423]

91. Yes, I believe

Jerry is doing more harm with his portrayal of crips than good with the money he raises.

I want him and his ugly portrayal of crips gone.

Most able-bodied haven't the slightest knowledge of the differences of why someone is in a wheelchair. So, when Jerry Lewis spouts out his incredible bullshit ("if you don't want to be pitied, stay at home", for one), it affects all of us in wheelchairs.

He cares about the money he makes and the fame he generates. He does not care, about the disabled community, which is clearly shown by his idiotic statements about crips.

[u4ic]

107. I'm curious

First of all, I am disabled as well (not in a wheelchair, but often have had problems walking, due to severe CFIDS/Fibro) - this is an honest question.

Is it common to use the word crips/crippled? I've only heard the word from the 'older' generation, with a mixture of sneering and pity. Is it a word that the disabled community has reclaimed?

[Pastiche423]

109. Many in the disabled community

have adopted crip as a power word. In a small way, it says to the world, WE will choose what to be called.

While talking about words, there is one word that I and many, many others detest: Wheelchairbound.

We are not bound to our chairs, whether w/ropes, restraints or superglue. We are not Hannibels. We use wheelchairs as mobility devices.

[u4ic]

110. Thank you

:hi:

[Pastiche423]

112. You are most welcome

;-)

[ThePopulist]

84. So what?

Bill Clinton is a VERY highly paid spokesperson. So's Al Gore. Big deal. They sometimes use their speeches as double-ups to raise money for the Hurricane victims and things like that.

I'm sorry but I have to differ with you regarding the children not benefitting from the money. All the research done helps find a cure. That's what these people do for a living and I trust their judgement on the topic.

[ThePopulist]

97. All I'm going to say is....

Do you honestly think they would still have as many donations if they didn't have him?? Never mind Jerry Lewis or whether or not he's an ass. That's none of my business and to be honest with you I really don't give a fuck about his intentions so as long as he is producing RESULTS. That's what counts in the real world - RESULTS. No amount of good intentions are going to save somebody with the disease. You have to provide funds for the people to do the research. Sorry, that's the way the game works. If anybody doesn't like that, start up your own organization and run it your own way. Not trying to offend anybody here, just telling it the way I see it.

[Pastiche423]

99. You may have tried not to offend anyone

but you did. You have offended me and many people in the disabled community w/your asinine comments on an issue you know NOTHING about.

Please tell me what RESULTS he has achieved? How many people do you know that have been cured in the almost four decades he's been doing his condescending, disgusting and degrading act?

Better yet, why don't you search for one of his orphans and ask them how they feel about him? The orphans I know are so embarrassed and hurt that they don't want to admit being one of his orphans.

I hope he is followed by protesters the rest of his miserable life.

[ThePopulist]

103. Okay

You wrote:

---
You may have tried not to offend anyone but you did. You have offended me and many people in the disabled community w/your asinine comments on an issue you know NOTHING about.
---

Excuse me sir, no disrespect but my comments are not asinine. They are realistic. Actually, I do know quite a bit about the disabled community. My grandfather was disabled for over a decade before his death a year ago. My other grandfather was disabled the last 4 years of his life. My grandmother was on an oxygen tank for the last 5 years of her life. My best friend is on SSI because he is mentally disabled. I know quite a bit about the community.

---
Please tell me what RESULTS he has achieved? How many people do you know that have been cured in the almost four decades he's been doing his condescending, disgusting and degrading act?
---

Uh, how's about no *cure* yet because they haven't found a cure. At least there has been progress with treating the condition. Think about all the money that has been raised by him that would have gone in somebody else's coffers had he not done what he did. The money spent that was raised by Mr. Lewis has been used to make the lives of those affected with the disease better because of all the breakthroughs and improvements that money has funded.

You wrote:
---
Better yet, why don't you search for one of his orphans and ask them how they feel about him? The orphans I know are so embarrassed and hurt that they don't want to admit being one of his orphans.
---

Again, personally I don't know the man and I don't care what he's like in his private, personal life. He's raised money for foundations that have found medical improvements that have improved the lives of patients. That's RESULTS. That's what I was talking about.

You wrote:
---
I hope he is followed by protesters the rest of his miserable life.
---

Again, I really don't give a shit. That's his problem. But I just find it stupid and useless to waste time and money heckling him when he's providing money for research that is looking for a cure.

Look man, you're obviously way too emotional and disturbed over this topic. It obviously affects you personally in whatever way so I'm going to respectfully bow out and not discuss this topic with you any more because I'm not getting into a fight over Jerry Lewis.

[Caretha]

102. I'm going to respond to your post

Earlier I posted that I had worked for MDA for the past 5 years in the position as a District Director and would answer questions. No one seemed to want to know the real scoop.

I've read the posts following mine and have seen all the misconceptions about Jerry Lewis, the MDA Telethon and how those funds are raised and spent.

#1 - MDA is run by 2 old men, Bob Ross & Jerry Weinberg. They both mentally live in the old Hollywood days of the 50's, and only in the past 2 years have they been drug into the 21st century (I can give examples if anyone is interested).

#2 - MDA has for several different reasons have their Divisional/Regional & District offices refer to the Telethon as "The MDA Labor Day Telethon" and do not officially call it the "Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon".

#3 - Several times in the past Jerry Lewis has embarrassed MDA - he's kind of a rogue with some power.

#4 - 99% of the money raised by MDA is raised by District offices all year through different fundraising events. The dollars displayed on the National toteboard during the telethon represents the $$ raised during the year from the districts. (btw, those figures are bogus) I can assure you the several million I raised in my district over 5 years had 0 (that's zero) raised due to "Jerry" and his name.

#5 - To clarify the above statement - That was neither pro nor con about Jerry Lewis.

#6 - For the past several years, MDA has debated whether to cancel the Telethon. Again for various reasons. There are 212 District offices that raise funds all year long, then for 8 weeks have to dedicate all their time to putting together a local telethon that ties into the National Telethon w/Jerry in LA. It's very time consuming and costly. My local station that has produced the telethon for the past 38 years is paid a little over $26,000 to produce the local telethon, and we did not raise in our district 26k by callin donations during the show to cover it. It was a net loss, and I suspect that is the case for most districts.

#7 - 99% of all MDA's MD clients do not have contact with the National office or Jerry Lewis. Each district has a HCSC (Health Care Service Cordinator) that handles MDA client health - equipment/medical needs. Some districts do it better than others.

#8 - Medical equipment is mostly paid for by medicare insurance or the client's insurance - MDA supplements what insurance does not pay for.

#9 - The one thing MDA does well is fund research, and it has made some pretty incredible strides and offers hope for mostly the unborn who will have muscular dystrophy. The research and the progress being made will also affect other muscular diseases. Even heart disease.

#10 - MDA, although a 501(c) non-profit is very much run like a corporation. One of the biggest problems is that they have very poor training & hiring practices. The employee turnover rate is astronomical compared to most companies. I was considered a "long lifer" at only 5 years. The corporate culture is very archaic and in someways very opressive. Hince the huge employee turnover.

Again, I'm willing to answer specific questions, but hope this has shed some light on this thread.

[ThePopulist]

104. Whatever man

Again, I don't care about Jerry Lewis and his eccentricities. The man is making money for the foundation so that's all I care about. I just think it is so fucking stupid for people to say that the money he's raising is making "rich doctors" richer. Well no shit. Who else is going to do the research? The janitor?? Please use a bit of common sense people.

It's one thing to not like him but he's raising money for a good cause that is making the lives of a lot of people better through his work. If they don't like him then they can dump him. I don't care. It's none of my business.

[troubleinwinter]

108. Your item #4

Do I understand that Jerry's show raises only 1% of the total MDA funds and that the $ numbers are FAKED??

[Caretha]

113. Yes

#4 - 99% of the money raised by MDA is raised by District offices all year through different fund-raising events. The dollars displayed on the National toteboard during the telethon represents the $$ raised during the year from the districts. (btw, those figures are bogus) I can assure you the several million I raised in my district over 5 years had 0 (that's zero) raised due to "Jerry" and his name.

I think that #4 is fairly explanatory. I'm not certain how they do it at the National Telethon level regarding the tote and the $ it displays, but I'm fairly certain it is similar to the way all the district offices do it on the local telethons. For instance, the local toteboard's do not reflect the total of all the real dollars raised in the district that year. It is called "Protecting the Tote". That is company slang for deciding what amount the toteboard will reflect at the end of the show. The amount is always more than it was the year before. In order to insure that your tote never goes down even if your district is not able to raise the same amount or more the following year. This way your tote will not show a decrease from the year before but will always show an increase. A district director basically writes the show, including all the toteboard dollars that will be revealed on the air prior to the show.

During the show each local telethon is called at a specific time on the hour to see how many $ of local donations are coming in during the show. Those $ are added to the National Toteboard. So the National toteboard reflects the $ raised through the year by all the local districts plus the call in donations to local telethons during the show.

MDA's philosophy regarding Telethon is threefold. The Telethon's three missions are to:

#1 Educate the public
#2 Raise money
#3 Thank MDA's sponsors

Regarding #3, Thank MDA's sponsors, allows MDA to give "Cause Related Marketing" recognition to companies who either donated or sponsored an event for MDA that year. Invaluable advertising for most businesses showing their community that they are the good guys. Often I was able to procure a sponsor by telling them we would recognize them on the Telethon that year.

Let me be quite clear, there is nothing unethical about the above
practice.

Each year MDA produces an annual financial report, and it is available at any local MDA office.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

119. Does anyone have proof that he's paid?

If he is, then it changes the equation somewhat...but then the MDA is the bad guy, isn't it? Paying someone to make fun of the people they claim to help...

Again, if someone actually has something other than a forum posting that shows that MDA pays him, that would be great. If not, it's just "common knowledge," which is often incorrect.

I found this:
http://www.rideforlife.com/archives/000190.html
"Lewis is paid nothing. All entertainers and performers donate their time for the cause."

So if this is true, then some people should feel VERY bad about keeping this story alive.

[hogwyld]

70. Good Lord!

What stupidity! If you don't like something, start your own charity!
Think about it, Jerry Lewis was at the pinnacle of his fame and popularity when he took on this all encompassing cause. Does anyone honestly think they would have raised even a fraction of the billions brought in by Jerry? He made the telethon an event, raised the awareness about MD. No wonder this society is falling apart with all the splinter groups demanding their own slice, instead of working for the greater good. Time to go buy my shack in Montana, and wait out the storm.

[caspar]

71. Jerry Lewis

I'm absolutely floored at the hostility I'm seeing here toward disabled people. If you're not disabled, it's not your place to tell people who are how to feel about the way they're depicted and spoken about.

[Pastiche423]

72. Bravo!

And thank you.

It really burns my buns to hear people that have no friggen idea what it's like to live disabled in an abled bodied world scold us for not wanting to be pitied.

Moreover, they seem to agree that if we do not want to be pitied, we should stay at home, like "Saint Lewis" stated in public.

[caspar]

79. You're very welcome

I was totally clueless on this until I did some reading (spurred by discussion of "Million Dollar Baby"--I think it was an interview with Mary Johnson). It was a very humbling and eye-opening experience for me--made me think a lot.

[brentspeak]

106. Doesn't matter if one is disabled or not

We're all fellow human beings, after all. No one's opinion is "more equal" than any other's.

[caspar]

121. I disagree.

Everyone has a right to an opinion on any issue. No one has a right to tell someone else how to feel about their situation.

[Raine]

78. Lewis has been using this for years

to keep his name in the news cause his career is nowhere.

[upi402]

81. Whaaaat?

:shrug:

[Algorem]

92. Gary Dee,who used to be a very popular "shock-jock" talk show host in

Cleveland,used to tell story of how Jerry Lewis,with a gun and a couple tough-guy types,barged into the radio station and roughed him up and threatened him because he used to talk on-air about Jerry Lewis using using the muscular dystrophy thing improperly and all that.

[Chicago Democrat]

93. wow

incredible but totally incharactor.


He's a washed up hasbeen bully. Men get either mean or enlightened.

Jerry is mean.

[Algorem]

101. can't seem to find that story Googling,but he wasn't kidding about it

I must've heard him say it a few times and he was extremely popular so it's got to be well known..I saw some things googliing that I'd forgotten-Gary Dee got show in New York on Imus' station and he did an interview on 60 Minutes once,about "shock jocks".Anyway it was obvious he was dead serious about that story and could tell it shook him up.The wildman that he was it probably didn't stop him from eventually talking about Jerry Lewis and the MDA thing again,though.

[goforit]

105. This is why we have a f*ck -up world!!!....Try to do good then ya get

smacked right back down!!!

[Pastiche423]

111. What good do you mean?

Being portrayed as someone to pity in a condescending and degrading way doesn't feel good to the millions of disabled people in this country.

Jerry Lewis does not bring in the big bucks for MDA on that one day/year he puts his fat, jowly face on the air for his own ego. It is the MDA, a year round organization, that does.

Let me ask you a question. If whistle ass worked (ha ha) one day a year to bring in big bucks for a cause that is dear to your heart, while belittling and making jokes about you being a half person, would you support him?

The article is not about the MDA, which does do good, but about Jerry Lewis who has proved he is a horrid representative for the disabled.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

116. Well, then the MDA should refund all the money he's raised.

Since it's apparently dirty. $55 million this year, and you'd rather not have had him raise it? Combined with all the previous years, would research be where it is without his telethons?

I'm no Jerry Lewis fan, but you can't deny that he's helped the cause. I've never heard him belittle or make jokes, but if he has, then that makes him a jerk...however, would you rather set the money he's raised on fire, or actually use it for some good?

And I have seen items that say that he doesn't really raise all the money on Labor Day - that the dollar amounts are actually what the MDA has raised all year. But can you be certain that if Jerry Lewis had never gotten involved, and raised awareness, that they would be raising all that money all year? Having a famous face associated with a cause is very beneficial.

[AngryOldDem]

114. Jerry's Orphans need to find another cause to bitch about

I know two families who have preteen kids with MS -- both are classmates of my older son. The prognosis for both is not good, but they seem to be holding their own quite well -- probably due to the advancements in research and treatment that have been accomplished since they were both diagnosed, funded in part through the annual telethon.

Also, they and their families have been extensively assisted by the local Muscular Dystrophy Association (which also gets telethon funds), not only in terms of medical treatment but also with the daily expenses that go along with having a child with this cruel disease. Wheelchairs, refitting homes to accomodate wheelchairs, and buying wheelchair-lift vans are not inconsiderable expenses. Both kids go to an MDA-sponsored summer camp each year, too.

These families will tell anyone who will listen that they could not have gotten this far without the support -- financial and otherwise -- of those in MDA. Now, if Jerry's Orphans want to put THEIR money where THEIR mouths are, I'm sure these families will be glad to get their help, too.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

115. Yeah, screw Jerry Lewis.

What a dick. Fighting to cure a disease HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE! He's a rat bastard. :sarcasm: