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Editor's note: Business Week Online columnist John A. Williams received more than 300 e-mails about his article on Christopher Reeve's controversial Super Bowl ad, which showed the paralyzed actor "walking"(see BW Online, 2/9/00, "Christopher Reeve's Super Bowl Ad Scored a Touchdown"). Here are edited excerpts from some of your letters:
cotton_bales@email.msn.com writes:
There are two issues relevant to the backlash against Christopher Reeve. First, because millions are aware of Reeve's disability, he is an obvious target. (The same is true of Larry Flynt, who was recently profiled on a late-night talk show, and was also shown getting out of his wheelchair to walk.) The disabled have lived with the pain of their disabilities for so long, and the nondisabled, being aware of their pain, like to show them what may be possible. But these portrayals serve as a "tease," making people go from feeling hopeful to feeling deceived.
Second, the fact that Reeve was well-known prior to his accident probably makes people who have long been disabled feel that the public is responding to his celebrity, rather than to his disability.
Epbcddc writes:
Thanks for sharing your views about Christopher Reeve's Super Bowl ad. Like you, I believe that he has chosen to make the world a better place as a result of his injury, and I admire his tenacity in advocating increased research into the amelioration of spinal-cord injuries. However, I think I understand why so many people with disabilities find his talk of a "cure" disturbing: How can you accept and treat as an equal someone who "should be cured?"
Many adults I know with disabilities think they are fine as they are. They don't want to be "cured." They want equality of opportunity and to be treated decently. It is understandable that people who have adapted to their disabilities and struggle to lead lives of quality and dignity might take offense at the suggestion that their efforts have been for naught, because they haven't been "cured."
CHunter@hsus.org writes:
I am so pleased with your article on Christopher Reeve. I was ambivalent when I saw the ad. Striking a balance between self-acceptance and hope is so difficult.
HOLLY H MC writes:
Thanks for your excellent column. As a person with a spinal-cord injury, I can honestly say that your insight and sensitivity to both sides of the cure-vs.-care argument is refreshing. Who's to say what's right? How could one possibly compare the thoughts of a [low-function-level] paraplegic to a vent-dependent quad? If Christopher Reeve were playing basketball and downhill skiing, his story would be completely different.
SBrown8912 writes:
I have read your article several times now. I have written about Reeve with a different viewpoint than the one you express. The problem I have with this issue can be summed up in your sentence: "The greatest investment we can make is in people who develop technology and in people who can benefit from it -- this is a message that must get out."
If you had ended your sentence with the first "people" I would not be writing this letter. But Reeve, others, and, in this column, you, seem to me to be mixing investing in people with investing in things. I am hardly against technology. I use it every day, sitting in my power wheelchair, typing on a laptop.
I believe Reeve's message is mixed. He parades his philosophy that he cannot live a fulfilling life without walking, so he devotes so much energy to the cause of SCI [spinal-cord injury] research. But walking or not walking, Reeve is Reeve, as his aptly titled autobiography, Still Me, tries to portray. The big problem is that as long as he puts this incredible focus on walking, his actions belie his rhetoric.
shrews@InfoAve.net writes:
I understand your points about Chris Reeve using whatever means at his disposal to help raise awareness and money for SCI research, but in admonishing the disabled community for being "jealous" of Reeve's wealth or celebrity you missed the point completely.
What disturbs people is that the message he is putting out is the only one that is EVER put out: When you're disabled, all you think about is walking. He never talks about using your talents to better society or getting on with your life. Nor does he focus on the accomplishments of the millions of disabled Americans who get up and go to work and raise families -- just like anybody else. These are the true heroes of the disabled community: They are positive role models and aren't merely banging the Hope Drum day and night.
WChanning writes:
Reeve's Super Bowl ad appearance did not send a positive message to people who are not as financially privileged. The commercial should have shown Reeve getting out of his "chair," and then it should have shown others around the world getting out of their wheelchairs for a standing ovation. Instead, we get this picture of a privileged person acting normal, which means the rest of the world can keep on dreaming the good dream. Your support of Reeve's commercial tells me you haven't thought about this deeply enough.
Disabledpersons writes:
After seeing the ad, I was quite upset and angry with Mr. Reeve. After reading your column, I now have a different view of him. Thanks.
CJones5565 writes:
I agree with you that Christopher Reeve is entitled to his view. I still didn't care for the ad. Only since he became disabled has the "community's" leadership had to deal with the cure mindset coming from someone of prominence who is "one of us." They can't hide him in a corner, nor will he ever adopt or adapt completely to the movement's philosophy.
I was at the Paralympics opening ceremony in '96, and Reeve was the emcee. He spoke about the athletes' courage, their triumph of the human spirit (you know how the rest of it goes). At one point, he said something about walking again. I was disappointed because I felt the games were about the athletes and their activities, not him. But the crowd cheered and gave thunderous applause, which made me realize that the disability community is large and diverse, with as many viewpoints as there are disabilities. I also realized that the "disability community's" agenda doesn't represent everyone. Your article reminded me that you need another perspective to remain balanced.
Write to John at JMMAW@aol.com EDITED BY DOUGLAS HARBRECHT
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