From: David Andrews 
Subject: Wall Street Journal Article
     The implication of Wolfe's article is that the people who enjoyed Mr.
Magoo cartoons did so because the shows made fun of Magoo's visual impairmen
t.
However, this is not the case. It certainly doesn't account for my fondness
for the cartoon. (In fact, as my own eyesight fails, it is painfully apparen
t
that there is nothing funny about being visually impaired.) The cartoon was
popular because the adventures of Mr. Magoo are an optimistic metaphor for
life.
     Magoo wandered through each episode narrowly escaping unknown hazards.
Although the audience knew of the dangers that awaited Magoo -- falling off
a
steel girder, getting hit by a train -- he was totally oblivious to his own
vulnerability. He cheerfully went about his life without any awareness of th
e
perils that loomed.
      Nonetheless, Magoo always made just the right choice and thereby avoid
ed
the impending disasters. Despite the hazards, the cartoon always ended with
him safe, saying, "Mr. Magoo, you've done it again."
     We each live our lives in a manner very similar to Magoo. We often are
oblivious to the many hazards that we manage to avoid thanks to plain dumb
luck. Indeed, we are so accustomed to being protected by dumb luck that we a
re
dismayed when it doesn't come through for us.
     Like Magoo, I'll bet that each of has had at least one experience in
which everything turned out fine even though our plans seemed doomed to fail
:
the birthday party that turned out great even though the cake got ruined, th
e
last-minute, thrown-together report that got you pats on the back, etc. When
this happens to me, I smile and say to myself, "Mr. Magoo, you've done it
again."
      I liked the Mr. Magoo cartoons because they painted such an optimistic
view of life. When I was young, I knew that the world is a pretty scary plac
e.
It was not easy to leave the protection of my family. The message I received
from Magoo was that everything would turn out all right. Mr. Magoo made it
easier for me to venture out into the world.
     I'm sorry that some insensitive children made fun of Wolfe's visual
impairment. I am also sorry that Wolfe gives Mr. Magoo such a bad rap becaus
e
of that experience. I think we all -- including Wolfe -- could get a little
spiritual uplift from watching Mr. Magoo.
  -- Mickale Carter
David Andrews (dandrews@visi.com)
or BBS: (telnet to nfbnet.org) or call (612) 696-1975
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