So I’ve been thinking a lot about Jerry Lewis, given the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' announcement that it will give Jerry Lewis its Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscar Awards ceremony this Sunday.

Mainly, I’ve been thinking about the logic used by the Jerry Apologists  – How on earth can you pick on a guy who, despite his obvious disdain for people with disabilities, raises so much money for those with MD, which no one else does? This is a good argument.

The Jerry Accusers reasonably respond – How on earth can we stomach a guy who is seen as some kind of hero, despite regularly ranting things like, “Pity … if you don't want to be pitied for being a cripple in a wheelchair, don't come out of the house.”

Rendered down, the Lewis argument is this: Pity equals money. Dignity equals unmet need.

I think this is the wrong argument, since the activists have provided more services, wheelchairs and treatments overall, for a larger cross-section of people with disabilities, than Lewis ever did or could. And they did it by smashing the charity paradigm.

The activists can take credit for our nation’s curb cuts, accessible restaurants, lift-equipped buses and mainstreamed classrooms. Lewis can take credit for summer camps. The activists can take credit for ensuring responsible state and federal budgets that cover treatments, doctors and equipment for all people who need them. Lewis can take credit for some folks with muscular dystrophy being served in specialized clinics. The activists can take credit for every advance people with disabilities have made in American culture. Lewis, well … Lewis can take credit for Ben Stiller’s satirical observation in Tropic Thunder that an actor who plays a stereotype of a person with developmental disabilities will most likely get accolades. Like, you know, Lewis did.

Lewis can take credit for the insulting term “poster child” becoming part of the American lexicon.

The activists can take credit for government officials across America nervously tweaking their plans to meet ADAPT’s approval.

Lewis has raised money for one segment of the disability community, and he has done it by belittling us all. Our activists have secured rights and services for ALL of us, and they did it by forcing nondisabled America to give us respect.

An interesting point of view, one which illustrates that there may be a generational gap in how Lewis is perceived. My problem with Lewis is that he refuses to change, or even to listen with an open mind. Even dinosaurs evolved. Of course, the evolution would need to include more than language and attitude, but at least that'd be a start because it would indicate the man was listening to something other than his Ego. Gary www.garypresley.com

PART 1 If this were a skit on SNL in the 70's I would start by saying Josie you ignorant slut. But, it's 2009 and you're just ignorant. You can bash Jerry Lewis all you want, I know small minds, as yours, can't be changed. I refuse to let you diminish the efforts of the MDA. First off, get a more current "Pity" quote from Jerry Lewis. 2001, come on. "activists have provided more services, wheelchairs and treatments overall, for a larger cross-section of people with disabilities, than Lewis ever did or could" MDA doesn't try to service others, but others benefit from their funded research. Weak argument #1. Nobody is discrediting the importance of "our nation's curb cuts, accessible restaurants, lift-equipped buses and mainstreamed classrooms". Summer Camps provide 1 week of joy and a sense of normalcy for many who never get that feeling. Often those feelings help springboard many with MD to want to live independently. Activists can't and don't do that.

PART 2 "activists can take credit for ensuring responsible state and federal budgets that cover treatments, doctors and equipment for all people who need them". Again, nobody's discrediting those efforts. MDA is trying to find a CURE to eliminate "people who need them". Activists can't take credit "for every advance people with disabilities have made in American culture". The people with disabilities who carve out a life despite being disabled AND NEVER BITCH ABOUT IT do way more for the disabled community then activists ever will. "poster child" weak argument. Congrats on being feared over respected. "Our activists have secured rights and services for ALL of us, and they did it by forcing nondisabled America to give us respect." Here is your biggest problem. Respect can never be forced upon. Nondisabled people do not respect you. They fear the petty lawsuits activists will hurl at them. In my 43 years I've earned respect from many people.

PART 3 If an obstacle got in my way I talked to people to remove the obstacle. I've never had to file a single lawsuit to get what I needed for life. I've EARN respect from people of many levels. I have never been pitied. All you activists keep blaming an aged entertainer for all your life's woes. Until you realize that you invite pity onto yourself you can never truly be independent.