26 February 2009

SCARED? I saw this story on the TODAY show this morning and I was GOBSMACKED (as they say in the UK!)...this has got to be one of the most insane cases of idiocy I have ever heard...apparently a controversy has arisen over one of the BBC's new children's television hosts. Not because she was a stripper or sold meth out of her Covent Garden flat...but because she has a limb difference on one of her arms and SOME parents are complaining that their children will be 'scared' by this!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
I'm shocked...this is idiotic and pathetic. For a country that notoriously and historically has not pandered to the ideal that only 'pretty' people be in films and on television this is a travesty. Good on Cbeebies for hiring a talented and bubbly presenter regardless of whether or not she has a disability...and SHAME on the parents who take the time to complain to the BBC rather than explain to their children that 'normal' includes ALL people..all shapes, sizes, colors and abilities. I know we have this conversation all the time with our girls...they might be curious when they see someone with a noticeable disability, but they have never been SCARED!
I'm glad the BBC is handling this in such an informative and honest way.

6 comments:

Patricia said...

Wow...I missed this one...INCREDIBLE!!! I hear stories like this & it truly makes me ill. Like your girls, we see all kinds of people, & Kiara is also very curious, but NEVER has she been scared!

Cavatica said...

That is truly pitiful. Really, what a great learning opportunity.

Calico Sky said...

I watched this the other day with my friend's little one before the controversy hit, although here I think it isn't really a controversy per se, people think that it is a very small minority. Everyone I know things the presenter is fab. In fact my friend's 3 year old didn't even notice until I talked to her about it, because she had recently seen someone with a limb difference and laughed, so we used it to talk about how some people have 1 leg or 1 arm etc and that we are all different, it's ok to have 10 fingers or 2 etc.

Lost and Found said...

How pathetic! I remember when the newswoman Bree (?) used to have her hands hidden as she too had a limb difference and "the public wasn't ready" to see such a public display of disability. Ummmm hello but we like to see butt cracks.

Michele said...

I saw this too and was sad that this girl has to even worry about this. It is nuts but unfortunately some people will always be against anyone that is different. It isn't right but small minded people still exist in this world.

Carrie said...

Wow, that is sad!