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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>This should provoke some thought and discussion,
but you should also send your replies directly to the original author of this
message.</FONT><BR></DIV><!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
<P align=center><B><FONT face=Arial>THOUGHT PROVOKER 148</FONT></B></P>
<P align=center><B><FONT face=Arial>REALITY CHECK</FONT></B></P>
<P align=center><B><FONT face=Arial>August 16, 2009</FONT></B></P>
<P align=center><B><FONT face=Arial>Thought Is The First Step To
Beyond</FONT></B></P>
<P align=center><FONT face=Arial>By Guest Author</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face=Arial>David Lafleche</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“Well, what do you think?” Mister Jones
asked hopefully.</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>Mister Smith, the network programming
director, shuffled through the stack of scripts with a puzzled look on his
face. This was not a good sign. He finally replied, choosing his
words carefully. “It’s an unusual idea for a show, but it will never
work.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“Why not?” Mister Jones asked. “You said
the writing was good, and the characters were well-developed. What’s
wrong?”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“It’s the characters themselves,” Mister Smith
sighed. “I mean, come on. It’s bad enough that your male lead wears
glasses; but the blind girls? Two handicapped people in the same
show?”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“Their blindness is hereditary,” Mister Jones
explained. “Caroline could serve as a role model for Rhoda. Besides,
I figured that a disability would add depth to the characters, expand
possibilities for plots and dialogue, and so on.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“Maybe so,” Mister Smith grudgingly
agreed. “But our focus groups don’t like it. People who might watch
this show would be creeped out by having two handicapped people to look
at.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“Ah, but I’ve countered that!” Mister Jones
rebutted. “Caroline and Rhoda are always working, smiling, or teaching
something. They try to be constructive. What’s so creepy about
that?”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>Mister Smith struggled to excuse
himself. “Well, uh, two handicapped females with an upbeat attitude?
Yeah, right. Besides, you’ve made these girls too smart! Handicapped
girls aren’t going to be popular; but giving them high I.Q.s? That’s way
over the top. Now, this ‘Caroline’ character is blonde, right? So
make her a bit more dumb. That’s funnier. And Rhoda might work, if
she dressed up in Goth style, and frowned a little more.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“I know where you’re going with that,” Mister
Jones objected. “Caroline will not be ‘dumb.’ I want her
respectable. And Rhoda may be blind, but she isn’t bitter. I don’t
do that ‘Disease-of-the-Week’ stuff.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“Can’t you at least make them some kind of
superhero team?”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“It’s been done.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>Mister Smith finally cracked a smile.
“That’s what sells.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“No, that’s what you hope sells. What’s
the point of doing a TV show, if I have to write like everyone else? I
might as well Xerox everything.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“My sentiments exactly, Mister Jones.
There’s no point in you trying. Nobody will believe your show in a million
years.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“Oh, sure,” Mister Jones rebutted
sarcastically. “But put a British geek on a flying broomstick, and THAT
they’ll believe.”</FONT></P>
<P align=justify><FONT face=Arial>“Fantasy gives younger viewers hope,” Mister
Smith replied. “But handicapped people are unnerving. Two of them is
too much.”</FONT></P><BR>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Greetings</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Read through the above short story and send me your thoughts
at: </FONT><A href="mailto:newmanrl@cox.net"><U><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>newmanrl@cox.net</FONT></U></A><FONT face=Arial> Recall that I
place all responses upon my web site as soon as I receive them for all the world
to read and learn from and that web site url is </FONT><A
href="http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/"><U><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>http://www.thoughtprovoker.info</FONT></U></A></P>
<UL>
<UL>
<P><FONT face=Arial>What IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS: Thought Provoker is an
independent e-mail discussion forum with the purpose to aid in the effort to
change what it means to be blind. Participants, both readers and writers
share their honest feelings and we learn from each other. I Robert
Leslie Newman am the author and moderator. At this time a new PROVOKER
runs for four weeks. THOUGHT PROVOKER can be sent directly to anyone
who contacts me with a request to join the THOUGHT PROVOKER mailing
list. Otherwise I post all new THOUGHT PROVOKERS upon my web site
“ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT” for all in the WWW to
read and learn from. In Addition, all past PROVOKERS are posted there
and can be responded to as well. I do insert commentary after some
responses. But more importantly know that I do not edit anyone's
response other than run them through a spell checker and that's not
perfect.
Responses can be written to the Provoker itself or to the responses of
others. Think about it, if you feel that any response is not complete
or does not fully convey the right philosophy, write in and give your
feelings, provoke thought. There again, if you do choose to respond on
the comments of another, take issue with the content and not the
person.</FONT></P></UL></UL>
<P><FONT face=Arial> For now it is optional to have your
name and any other personal information placed with your response. You
write what you want us to know. I do feel giving your occupational status
and/or location is important (your city, state or region and
country).</FONT></P>
<UL>
<UL>
<P><FONT face=Arial>In regard to a definition of blindness, I am taking the
broad view that blindness is any level of vision loss which is affecting the
individual functionally, emotionally, socially, economically, politically,
etc.</FONT></P></UL></UL>
<P><FONT face=Arial> If you feel this forum would be of
value to another, pass the address on. Additionally, if you no longer wish
to receive Provokers, advise me of that fact and I will honor it.</FONT></P>
<UL>
<UL>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Finally, I give my permission to use this material to
educate others. Do give credit back to the forum and the
respondent. Thank you. </FONT></P><BR><BR><BR></UL></UL>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Robert Leslie Newman </FONT><BR><FONT size=2
face=Arial>Email- newmanrl@cox.net</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2 face=Arial>THOUGHT
PROVOKER Website- </FONT><BR><A href="Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info"><U><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info</FONT></U></A>
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