I was troubled by the Christopher Reeve Superbowl commercial in which he is seen standing and walking, shaking hands and receiving an award, sometime in the future.
I know there are those who have worked long and hard to get persons with disabilities seen more in the media, such as positive images of people in wheelchairs doing everyday things. Now we have a commercial where Christopher Reeve, a man with a complete spinal cord break,a quadriplegic who breathes with a ventilator, hiding his disability with computer graphics to advertise for an investment company. The commercial was seen by 100 to 115 million people in the U.S., and millions more elsewhere.
Just think of the good he could have done if, instead, he had rolled up on stage in a wheelchair to receive the award! What if we had seen a commercial that showed that we don't judge a man's worth by his ability to walk and stand? Think of the positive image that would make: a man, a normal man who has accepted his body and gone on with his life to achieve something the world feels is worthwhile.
I'm not saying that people with disabilities are all heroes for fighting the brave fight against what life has given them. But I am saying that people with disabilities can be heroes too. Not for the "brave fight," but for the same reasons that anyone is a hero.
Christopher Reeve could be a real hero. He does help raise awareness of spinal cord research, and he has helped raise money for it. And maybe the "cure" can be discovered sooner because of his contributions. But let everyone see how he did it. He did it in his wheelchair.
Gary Ray Rogers
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
A waste of ink
Stick with factual reporting. The Gag (November/December) was a waste of ink and paper! Ragged Edge and Mouth should avoid any future collaboration.
Anthony Trocchia
Brooklyn, NY
Fan mail
I'm an avid reader of your publication -- I love the informative articles and the in-your-face reporting! The world needs more reporting like this!
Laura Jane Price
Poughkeepsie, NY
Back to table of contents
