From: Al and Masha Sten-Clanton 
Subject: Re: Movie ``Mr. Magoo'' to include statement on blind (fwd) (Forward 
From dandrews@visi.com)
The woman got our organizational name wrong, which I think really does
indicate how hard it is to eradicate old notions about how to treat us
blind folks.  Nevertheless, I think such a "public service" statement is a
step in the right direction.  The best step would be some jobs for blind
folks at Dizney, of course.
Happy holidays to all!  To the guide dogs, happy howlidays!
Al
On Fri, 19 Dec 1997, Andy Baracco wrote:
> 
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 20:47:55 -0800
> From: Kelly Ford 
> Reply-To: "BLIND-ISSUES - For spirited debates,              Blind-Issues
>      accommodates." 
> To: BLIND-ISSUES@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: Movie ``Mr. Magoo'' to include statement on blind (fwd)
> I might call this a case of winning the battle but losing the war in a
> sense.  How many people that are blind will be able to read this
> statement?  If one's into advocating over this issue, why not ask Disney
> to include a voice over of the statement?  Mostly I'm just passing this
> along.
> Posted at 7:33 p.m. PST Wednesday, December 17, 1997
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Movie "Mr. Magoo" to include statement on blind
> LOS ANGELES(Reuters) - Sensitive to complaints from the blind, the Walt
> Disney Co said Wednesday it will include a disclaimer at the end of its
> Christmas season movie "Mr. Magoo" about a bumbling short-sighted man.
> A Disney spokeswoman said "a positive statement" would appear on the screen
> at the end of the film and before the credits roll.
> "It's still in the process of writing and post production so I can't tell
> you exactly what it says," said spokeswoman Terry Curtin. "It's not really
> a disclaimer, more like a public service announcement."
> The movie, starring Leslie Nielsen and Kelly Lynch, is based on the popular
> cartoon series which featured the voice of Jim Backus as the myopic,
> accident-prone Mr. Magoo.
> The National Federation for the Blind had complained such a character was
> not a positive portrayal of blind or partially-sighted people and even
> called for Disney to scrap the project.
> "They originally demanded we pull the movie, but then realized that was
> unrealistic," Curtin said of the protest.
> "We have had many talks with them and are more sensitive to what their
> thoughts are," she said.
> She said the statement would condemn discrimination against the blind and
> stress that people with sight handicaps could lead normal lives.
> The proposed statement had not been shown to the group in  advance of the
> film's opening, she said.
> REUTERS
> 
> 
> 
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