From: "Christine M. Faltz" 
Subject: attitudes, jobs and Mr. Magoo
When the Emancipation Proclamation freed black men, women and children
from slavery, and when the Thirteenth Amendment was passed, were people of
color free?  No.  They were not able to vote (even when the lws changed on
this, they changed only for men and Jim Crow laws operated to keep them
from the ballot box).  Were they, and immigrants coming into the U.S.
hired, despite being allowed to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness?  No. Why?
Because of hostility, ignorance and attitudes, and cartoons, fiction and
even nonfiction which permeated the public mind with reinforced
stereotypes.
In an age where people torch subway station attendants and lie down in the
street and allow trucks to roll over them because they see it in a movie,
I defy anyone to say that fictional characters do not have an affect
broadly and strongly on how a particular group is treated.
I remember an episode of Mr. Magoo when I was eight years old, were he
bumped into a building and said "oh, pardon me."  If that doesn't rely on
the misinformation and ignorance surrounding blind people, I don't know
what does.  
I have never once mistaken a bulding for a person, and i have a good sense
of humor, and I fail to find it amusing.
As for the person who discussed the fact that Amos 'n Andy have a
following, that's fine.  If they want to attempt reappropriation of
something so negative and harmful, more power to them; it's just another
method of protest.
But I'm certainly not about to laugh at blind people's expense, especially
when my daughter will be going to preschool with children whose families
have seen this movie.  And I still wonder at the truly ignorant comments I
get when iI'm out alonewith my daughter.  Well, of course: exposure to
bumbling idiots with bad vision, kindoly and sweet as they might be (and
many aren't) in literature has helped to keep in place the ancient molds
of oblivion, tragedy and inferiority.
Personally, at this point, I'm glad the movie is being made, because it
will afford a fantastic educational oportunity.  I think we should make
fun of it, distribute cartoons and posters deriding the content of the
movie.  Fight fire with fire.  Too bad we can't get the scrpt ahead of
time.
Christine (aware that attitude affects behavior -- of employers,
educators, and the general public)
---
---------------