Guest guest Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 - Great ! Sometimes it pays to speak up! Dawn Subject: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] Fw: DSALA - STAR 97.8To: "Down Syndrome" , DownSyndromeInfoExchange Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008, 11:00 PM Whoo Hoo, DSALA Sent an 'official' email to the radio station and they removed the sound bite! See the email below. DSALA - Retarded Dear STAR 98.7, I am writing you on behalf of families of children born with Down syndrome and other disabilities that cause cognitive disabilities (mental retardation) . I have received several emails from families in our organization who have enjoyed the music on Star 98.7 for years but are now rethinking that choice. They are responding to your bumper “Now let’s get retarded… the good retarded.” I had issues with the song when it came out and had more with the NBA choose to use a play on words and the same music. You are the reason for my concerns. It will be used again and again by individuals and groups who feel that the use of the word “Retard” or “Retarded” in some way makes them cool, instead of either ignorant or bigoted. IT IS SLANDER! I spent yesterday, all day, at La Canada High School where my son Blair, who has DS, told the 5 classes of 7th grade students how DS affects his life and included how he feels when people use the word. He told them that people will do something stupid and then say, “That is so retarded.” Blair told the students that he is not stupid and finds it offensive. Blair is also a gifted actor. You can find him and his many credits on www.imdb.com just enter his name “Blair on.” Blair is doing his best to be a part of society. Your policies at Star 98.7 are hindering his progress. It is just as if you had said “let’s be fags” or lets be n#####’s” that is how offensive this it to this marginalized group of our society. Please consider your broadcast standards for Gay and Lesbians as well as for racial minorities like Blacks and Hispanics and make it the same for our children and adults with mental retardation giving them the dignity that they deserve. I have had similar conversations with other radio stations and television studios. Most have corrected their policies and have had our organization on the public service program to help create more positive public awareness. Please let me know if you would like to do the same. I will be looking for a response to my email within 24 hours. Thank you, Gail cell# Gail onExecutive DirectorDown Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, Inc.315 Arden Avenue, Suite 25Glendale , CA 91203 voice faxgail@...www.dsala.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2008 Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 That is so awesome...but even more awesome is Blair's testimony of explaining to his own peers the truth about how words do hurt. Thanks for sharing! Ann > > Whoo Hoo, DSALA Sent an 'official' email to the radio station and they removed the sound bite! > See the email below. > > DSALA - Retarded > > > > Dear STAR 98.7, > > I am writing you on behalf of families of children born with Down syndrome and other disabilities that cause cognitive disabilities (mental retardation). I have received several emails from families in our organization who have enjoyed the music on Star 98.7 for years but are now rethinking that choice. They are responding to your bumper " Now let's get retarded. the good retarded. " > > I had issues with the song when it came out and had more with the NBA choose to use a play on words and the same music. You are the reason for my concerns. It will be used again and again by individuals and groups who feel that the use of the word " Retard " or " Retarded " in some way makes them cool, instead of either ignorant or bigoted. IT IS SLANDER! > > > > I spent yesterday, all day, at La Canada High School where my son Blair, who has DS, told the 5 classes of 7th grade students how DS affects his life and included how he feels when people use the word. He told them that people will do something stupid and then say, " That is so retarded. " Blair told the students that he is not stupid and finds it offensive. Blair is also a gifted actor. You can find him and his many credits on www.imdb.com just enter his name " Blair on. " > > > > Blair is doing his best to be a part of society. Your policies at Star 98.7 are hindering his progress. It is just as if you had said " let's be fags " or lets be n#####'s " that is how offensive this it to this marginalized group of our society. Please consider your broadcast standards for Gay and Lesbians as well as for racial minorities like Blacks and Hispanics and make it the same for our children and adults with mental retardation giving them the dignity that they deserve. > > > > I have had similar conversations with other radio stations and television studios. Most have corrected their policies and have had our organization on the public service program to help create more positive public awareness. Please let me know if you would like to do the same. > > > > I will be looking for a response to my email within 24 hours. Thank you, Gail cell# > > > > Gail on > Executive Director > Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, Inc. > 315 Arden Avenue, Suite 25 > Glendale, CA 91203 > voice > fax > gail@... > www.dsala.org > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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