"Half persons," "mistakes" who "came out wrong," captives to "steel imprisonments," if "you're a cripple in a wheelchair and you don't want pity, stay in the house!" While tomorrow marks the 21st anniversary of the late Harriet McBryde Johnson's first Charleston, SC protest of the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, the stigma fostering mind which uttered those words is gone. Jerry has lost his kids.

The question now is, will tonight's six hour Lewis-less MDA Labor Day Telethon be cause for celebration or continuing protest? Are telethons inherently dehumanizing or can the MDA raise money by fostering a sense of solidarity, that we're all connected, that at some point in our lives we all need help?

Our group will be watching closely and doing its best to keep an open mind. Tonight's telethon is from 6 to midnight. In that we lost Harriet 39 months ago, we'd very much appreciate reading your thoughts and insights about tonight's program. Sincere thanks in advance.

John R. Polito
Charleston, SC


Last year's 20th annual MDA Telethon protest group



Edited by JohnRPolito (09/04/11 08:14 AM)