Disabled kids show host draws criticism, praise - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Psycho Dad · 02-28-2009, 01:22 PM

Disabled kids show host draws criticism, praise - CNN.com

Quote:

By Lateef Mungin
CNN
(CNN) -- A children's show host who was born with one hand is facing criticism from parents over her disability.

BBC spokeswoman Katya Mira said the corporation has received at least 25 "official" complaints recently about Cerrie Burnell, new host of two shows on the BBC-run CBeebies television network, which is aimed at children younger than 6.

The official complaints do not count the dozens of negative comments lodged in Internet chat rooms, Mira said.

In one chat room, a father lamented that Burnell being on the show forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities.

However, there have also been messages of support for Burnell. What do you think about the complaints?

"We have also received 99 appreciations of her," Mira said.

Burnell started as a presenter of the shows in late January after acting with theater companies in Manchester, England, and Brazil.

A BBC news release in January introducing Burnell made no mention of her disability, but a publicity photo showed the right sleeve of her sweater pulled up, showing her arm stops just below her elbow.

The issue has spurred a debate in England among newspapers, columnists and bloggers.

Burnell said she has heard the criticism and will not let it bother her.

'It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children. It just goes to show how important it is to have positive, disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general," Burnell said.

Michael Carrington, BBC controller of CBeebies, said the company is standing by Burnell.

"Cerrie is warm and natural and we think that, in time, all moms and dads and children will love her as much as we do," Carrington said.

This just boggles my mind. I can't see how in today's world something like this can be a problem for people. Is it any wonder that people can grow to adulthood and not understand how to accept people rather than feel awkward at their differences?

I'd like to think that this father is the exception and not the norm:

Quote:

In one chat room, a father lamented that Burnell being on the show forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities.

Forced? It isn't force, it is an opportunity. Here is a chance to show someone you should be able to explain anything to a bit of understanding and compassion and that people with disabilities are no freaks but real people.

Cerrie Burnell sums it up best:

Quote:

'It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children. It just goes to show how important it is to have positive, disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general," Burnell said.

flat5 · 02-28-2009, 02:56 PM

"forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities."

So he had to stop doing what to explain something about life to his child?
Poor guy. Poor father.

inBOIL · 02-28-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

In one chat room, a father lamented that Burnell being on the show forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities.

It's unfortunate that that guy has already reproduced.

MSD · 02-28-2009, 08:55 PM

There's really nothing I can say aside from reiterating my generalized hatred of people as a whole. The world is full of idiots.

RetroGunslinger · 02-28-2009, 09:32 PM

If I remember correctly, my six-year-old self would have referred to a one-handed TV show host as being "some kind of fuckin' awesome". Therefore, I can only theorize that the parents complaining are also disabled.

Just not physically.

Cynthetiq · 02-28-2009, 09:33 PM

"Oh no, I've got to talk to my kid about what the outside world is like...."

seriously fucked up.

ametc · 02-28-2009, 11:36 PM

This shouldn't be a problem. If we want our kids to grow up not being assholes, we should set an example. Whoever has a problem with her being disabled have got their own bigger issues they should deal with.

highthief · 03-01-2009, 04:14 AM

Quote:

In one chat room, a father lamented that Burnell being on the show forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities.

Quote:

Originally Posted by inBOIL

It's unfortunate that that guy has already reproduced.

QFT.

Strange Famous · 03-01-2009, 04:47 AM

I think this is being blown out of all proportion.

A few nutters on some website said she "scared" their kids - no one bar the odd maniac is seriously saying she shouldnt present the show if she is good enough a presenter. And she has a disability with one arm, so she isnt exactly incapable of doing any physical job you need to as a presenter of a kids TV show.

You know, cos she is a pretty girl and on TV this gets a lot of attention. The real issue is that people who have various disability problems are disadvantaged twice in the workplace - once by their disability and once by people's prejudice to it.

Psycho Dad · 03-01-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

I think this is being blown out of all proportion.

I don't know about out of proportion. I'm just thinking something like this should be very simple to explain to a child. What other life lessons are parents sticking their heads in the sand over? If Burnell were openly lesbian, I could understand that some parents would be upset. I'd still think they were closed minded and would rather they explain to a child who was old enough to understand. But a person's physical disability has no basis in cultural or moral meaning that I readily recognize.

snowy · 03-01-2009, 08:14 AM

Teaching children about the diverse world we live in includes teaching them about people with disabilities. I say kudos to the BBC for hiring a disabled presenter who can teach children this important lesson.

That father needs to grow the fuck up.

ring · 03-01-2009, 08:26 AM

Sometimes things need to be a big deal
for a while. It can be a teaching tool. After some whiles,
it's not a big deal anymore. This ignorant person is helping others to go beyond their own un-informed state, and he too is learning..(I hope.)

mixedmedia · 03-01-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSD

There's really nothing I can say aside from reiterating my generalized hatred of people as a whole. The world is full of idiots.

I love you.

ngdawg · 03-01-2009, 09:10 AM

I remember years ago, WCBS here hired a newscaster who had a hereditary syndrome that made her hands look like lobster claws. There was some initial flack that eventually died down, but then she got pregnant. You'd have thought she mated with a warthog!!! The hate mail that she got for "bringing in another person with the affiction" was disgusting.
Last I heard, she'd taken a job in CA and her baby had the same thing, but that's the only problem, if you can even call it that.
I had a playmate that had the "lobster hands" (one hand only) and we never thought twice about it, never were cruel...how many letters of complaint from kids did they get? I'm betting none. Kids don't care-they might get curious but unless they're fed some mental poison from their parents, they will generally shrug off differences as long as the person that has them isn't an asshat toward them

I concur with MSD-the world is full of idiots.
And I don't agree that this is a disability; it's just a difference.

yournamehere · 03-01-2009, 09:19 AM

"a father lamented that Burnell being on the show forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities."

Sounds like the kind of father who describes spending a night at home with his child as "babysitting."

mrklixx · 03-01-2009, 09:40 AM

I told someone who has been in a wheelchair all of her life about this story, and she said "so, some people are up in arms about it?"

But seriously, one of the things I find most interesting and odd about this story is that the US has had a little known children's show called Sesame Street that had a regular cast member from 1971 to 2003 who was disabled. And while her disability (deafness) may not be as physically noticeable and striking as a missing limb, the still addressed her disability from day one. They also frequently have "regular kids" on the show with various disabilities.

gardens · 03-03-2009, 07:54 PM

I'd like to add something but it seems my point has been made by the posters before me

so I'll just say that it is that fathers kind of thinking that is "ruining" America that being having kids doesn't mean you need to be a parent

whats going to happen when its time for the "sex talk"

edit

The reason I say this thinking is ruining America is because they have a three to one ratio of compliments to complaints, whereas here in the good ol US of A that would be the other way around. I think it really says something to the character of a peoples that they have called in to voice their appreciation for something "controversial" before the controversy

ranton · 03-03-2009, 08:40 PM

The tone and focus of this discussion would be quite different if we all stopped the pity party and called it what it truly is if any of us where in that persons life. Disability occurs when an individual has relinquished the will to succeed in a task (Burnell has not!). Stop now with the responses of the horrors of losing your limbs, sight or hearing. The accomplishments of an individuals' life relies completely on the willingness to overcome CHALLENGES. The parental cowards who claim to be guarding their offspring's best interest are simply extending their insecurities and lack of self confidence to their children. I am appalled with the lack of grass roots support from the Challenged Community. There should be a deafening out cry in support for the role model Burnell displays for all physically challenged individuals.

02-28-2009, 09:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
RetroGunslinger eats puppies and shits rainbows Location: An Area of Space Occupied by a Population, SC, USA	If I remember correctly, my six-year-old self would have referred to a one-handed TV show host as being "some kind of fuckin' awesome". Therefore, I can only theorize that the parents complaining are also disabled. Just not physically. __________________ It's a rare pleasure in this world to get your mind fucked. Usually it's just foreplay. M.B. Keene

02-28-2009, 09:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	"Oh no, I've got to talk to my kid about what the outside world is like...." seriously fucked up. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-01-2009, 04:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
Strange Famous follower of the child's crusade?	I think this is being blown out of all proportion. A few nutters on some website said she "scared" their kids - no one bar the odd maniac is seriously saying she shouldnt present the show if she is good enough a presenter. And she has a disability with one arm, so she isnt exactly incapable of doing any physical job you need to as a presenter of a kids TV show. You know, cos she is a pretty girl and on TV this gets a lot of attention. The real issue is that people who have various disability problems are disadvantaged twice in the workplace - once by their disability and once by people's prejudice to it. __________________ "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." The Gospel of Thomas

03-01-2009, 08:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Teaching children about the diverse world we live in includes teaching them about people with disabilities. I say kudos to the BBC for hiring a disabled presenter who can teach children this important lesson. That father needs to grow the fuck up. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

03-01-2009, 09:10 AM	#14 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	I remember years ago, WCBS here hired a newscaster who had a hereditary syndrome that made her hands look like lobster claws. There was some initial flack that eventually died down, but then she got pregnant. You'd have thought she mated with a warthog!!! The hate mail that she got for "bringing in another person with the affiction" was disgusting. Last I heard, she'd taken a job in CA and her baby had the same thing, but that's the only problem, if you can even call it that. I had a playmate that had the "lobster hands" (one hand only) and we never thought twice about it, never were cruel...how many letters of complaint from kids did they get? I'm betting none. Kids don't care-they might get curious but unless they're fed some mental poison from their parents, they will generally shrug off differences as long as the person that has them isn't an asshat toward them I concur with MSD-the world is full of idiots. And I don't agree that this is a disability; it's just a difference. __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em. Last edited by ngdawg; 03-01-2009 at 10:26 AM..

02-28-2009, 02:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	"forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities." So he had to stop doing what to explain something about life to his child? Poor guy. Poor father.

02-28-2009, 08:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	There's really nothing I can say aside from reiterating my generalized hatred of people as a whole. The world is full of idiots.

02-28-2009, 11:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
ametc Psycho	This shouldn't be a problem. If we want our kids to grow up not being assholes, we should set an example. Whoever has a problem with her being disabled have got their own bigger issues they should deal with.

03-01-2009, 08:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
ring ░ Location: ❤	Sometimes things need to be a big deal for a while. It can be a teaching tool. After some whiles, it's not a big deal anymore. This ignorant person is helping others to go beyond their own un-informed state, and he too is learning..(I hope.)

03-01-2009, 09:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	"a father lamented that Burnell being on the show forced him to have conversations with his child about disabilities." Sounds like the kind of father who describes spending a night at home with his child as "babysitting." __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

03-01-2009, 09:40 AM	#16 (permalink)
mrklixx President Rick Location: location location	I told someone who has been in a wheelchair all of her life about this story, and she said "so, some people are up in arms about it?" But seriously, one of the things I find most interesting and odd about this story is that the US has had a little known children's show called Sesame Street that had a regular cast member from 1971 to 2003 who was disabled. And while her disability (deafness) may not be as physically noticeable and striking as a missing limb, the still addressed her disability from day one. They also frequently have "regular kids" on the show with various disabilities. __________________ This post is content. If you don't like it then you are not content. Or perhaps just incontinent. This is not a link - Do not click here I hate animated avatars.

03-03-2009, 07:54 PM	#17 (permalink)
gardens Tilted Location: Kolob	I'd like to add something but it seems my point has been made by the posters before me so I'll just say that it is that fathers kind of thinking that is "ruining" America that being having kids doesn't mean you need to be a parent whats going to happen when its time for the "sex talk" edit The reason I say this thinking is ruining America is because they have a three to one ratio of compliments to complaints, whereas here in the good ol US of A that would be the other way around. I think it really says something to the character of a peoples that they have called in to voice their appreciation for something "controversial" before the controversy Last edited by gardens; 03-08-2009 at 01:00 PM.. Reason: clarification

03-03-2009, 08:40 PM	#18 (permalink)
ranton Upright Location: Trigger, Pistol Grip, USA	Pissed The tone and focus of this discussion would be quite different if we all stopped the pity party and called it what it truly is if any of us where in that persons life. Disability occurs when an individual has relinquished the will to succeed in a task (Burnell has not!). Stop now with the responses of the horrors of losing your limbs, sight or hearing. The accomplishments of an individuals' life relies completely on the willingness to overcome CHALLENGES. The parental cowards who claim to be guarding their offspring's best interest are simply extending their insecurities and lack of self confidence to their children. I am appalled with the lack of grass roots support from the Challenged Community. There should be a deafening out cry in support for the role model Burnell displays for all physically challenged individuals.