Attn: Persons With Disabilities. Is Eddie a valid Spokesperson?
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Attn: Persons With Disabilities. Is Eddie a valid Spokesperson?
Sixtieslibber | Sunday, October 01, 2000 - 01:18 pm  I am not a PWD but would love to hear how you guys reacted to Eddie. He's missing a leg and may have some internal problems because of chemo. To me this doesn't seem comparable to the difficulties faced by PWD's with post-polio syndrome, MD, MS, other chronic conditions, birth defects, the aftermath of a bad accident, military injuries, etc. I would love to know your thoughts. Thanks! |
Ebeckhusen | Sunday, October 01, 2000 - 02:45 pm  Well, many people would consider me not to have a disability (mine is a mental illness called BiPolar II Disorder), but I feel that any form of illness or birth defect that causes one to have to make major adjustments in their lifestyle for the rest of their lives should be considered a disability. Some forms of disability are more minor than others (I've seen some people with variations of MD or MS who appear less disabled than Eddie, for example), but IMHO a missing limb would definitely qualify as a disability. Just my 2 cents, Elizabeth |
Jana | Sunday, October 01, 2000 - 03:01 pm  comparable? how would they be? thats is like comparing a slap in the face to a sunburn? you don't get to CHOOSE? comparable in what way? |
Sixtieslibber | Sunday, October 01, 2000 - 03:44 pm  Sorry guys, guess I didn't make myself clear. Of course Eddie has a physical disability. What I was trying to ask (Thread Title: Is Eddie a Valid Spokesperson?) was whether other disabled people identified with him, feel this is a dumb question, feel Eddie's "character" has made their life harder or easier, seem harder or easier to their friends, or whatever. I'm interested partly because Eddie has talked about becoming a motivational speaker. |
Ricmunoz | Sunday, October 01, 2000 - 03:50 pm  Sixtieslibber: This is not completely on-topic, (my apologies in advance) but I could not resist sharing this excerpt from Salon.com's coverage of Friday's final episode in case the responses you get grow too heavy: "But as NBC's coverage of the Sydney Olympics has demonstrated, there's nothing like a story of triumph over adversity to inspire the viewing masses. Had Eddie been more fortunate, Curtis might have had a chance. America might have rallied behind the heartwarming story of a boy's courageous battle with acne." |
Kearie | Sunday, October 01, 2000 - 04:41 pm  I don't think any disability can be compared to any other diability, they are all as individual as the people who have them. I have a defective brain, due to mental illnesses. I was stunned, ashamed, felt outcast. I was angry and blaming. Confused. I went through a whole bunch of varying emotions. I think everyone with disabilities goes through this. I think we have many things in common. I want to share one thing that I completely believe....perhaps food for thot for you. I don't believe anyone suffers more than another person. Sounds strange, I know. But we have no way of knowing what another's threshold of pain is. We have know idea how strong each other is emotionally and we have no idea how one past experience made certain things easier to deal with, or more difficult. For me, I was able to deal with an abusive family. Physical, emotional and sexual. I was able to deal with a life threatening illness. I was able to deal with my first husband deciding to have homosexual relationships. I had a child out of wed lock and lived in abandoned houses while I was pregnant. I suicidal from the 5th grade on. I had to have a hysterectomy at 26. Is all this comparable to Eddie losing his leg? Is my pain worse? Is the child who's mother dies when they are ten in less pain than I have been? We can't compare....no matter how painful our experiences are. The person who lost their parent and was devastated looks at me and say..."my gosh, how did you cope?" Yet I look at them and think... "I could never imagine that. It would kill me to lose my mom." I think a person with AIDS, dying would be a good spokespreson for a person like Eddie, and visa versa. Pain in loss is simply pain and loss. I can't even know if my life has been more difficult than miss Jamie Kern's. I think during life we will all be pushed to our limit....no matter how different that limit is from the next guy. Can a Vet who lost his leg to war be a spokes person? Can he and Eddie be compared? Who had it worse? We have no clue, so we can't compare. Yet they con both be spokespersons, providing they want to. Mind you they also need to be compassionate, articulate, empathetic and good listeners. Not everyone has those traits. |
Teebird | Sunday, October 01, 2000 - 05:01 pm  Good question!!! This is my first post to this board although I have lurked here thru out the whole show. I am a mother of a 3 year old with multiple disABLITIES. She is hearing impaired and speech impaired. It has not been a full year since all of this has come to light and it has been a year of ups and downs. Times I feel sorry for our family and for our daughter. But, Eddie gave me HOPE, he inspired me not to feel sorry for myself or my daughter. He showed that no matter the disABLITY there is a person underneath and it is that person that is the important thing. The store about the mother who drug her son away from Eddie because he looked different broke my heart, yet it proved that Eddie survived that sort of stuff and my daughter can also. He taught me that with a strong mother a good person can emerge!! All this to say that YES, I think Eddie would make a great spokeperson. Think of the times he told all of us "thanks for the banners, but would you consider sending the money to NWBA instead!!!" Sincerely, Tee |
Mbliving | Sunday, October 01, 2000 - 05:14 pm  I greatly admire Eddie. Not once did his disability get in his way. There were so many challenges like the dance contest, sumo wrestling and bike riding just to name a few that made me so mad because I thought they were unfair to Eddie. He proved me wrong everytime. He participated in all them and even won the sumo challenge. After watching him for so long, I don't think of him as disabled at all. I think he would make a great spokesman. |
Sixtieslibber | Monday, October 02, 2000 - 03:56 pm  Great answers with interesting and varied perspectives. Thanks. Let's keep this going. Thanks to Prince for the summary of the Fox News event. Here is the part related to this thread. “The host mentioned Eddie's disability and if he has considered becoming a spokesperson for handicapped people. Eddie said he would love to and was making a donation to the NWBA.” Thanks to Noslonna for the transcript of Eddie’s CNN chat. Here is the relevant part. <CNN-Host> What do you hope that people learned from you as a person? <Eddie_McGee> I hope that people learned from me as a person that God forbid, that someone you know or love becomes disabled, that there is life after disability and I personally stress wheelchair sports because that worked for me but it is not limited to just that. And to everybody, just get involved with something, no matter what it is; athletic, music, art, whatever if may be and stick to it. Stay away from drugs and alcohol because they will do nothing but rob your body of its natural abilities. |
Phoebes | Tuesday, October 03, 2000 - 10:45 pm  For the love of God, people! Come on! He is disabled...big deal...your point is moot. This area is starting to sound like a contest...everyone's more disabled than the other. It's my first time posting, but I felt the need. Two Points: One-See people for who they are, not what they are, and Two-Love yourself for who you are. There's no certain way for me, an able bodied person, to act, so why should there be for a disabled person? Or for anyone? Think about it, people. It's rare that someone plans to be a role model. Most of us just live. |
Teebird | Wednesday, October 04, 2000 - 04:04 am  Phoebus Thanks so much for sharing that but the question was.....Is Eddie a valid spokeperson? Some of us shared our personal stories just to explain why we felt he was or wasn't a good choice. I personally didn't feel I was sharing a "sob story" and am sorry you took it that way!!! |
Leef57 | Wednesday, October 04, 2000 - 08:15 am  I want to add here that for anyone to be a "Spokeperson" for an organization like that will be based on how you live your life. I think Eddie would have to change an awful lot of things before he could get to that point. |
Suziebird7 | Wednesday, October 04, 2000 - 11:38 am  I'm not disabled but I am a nurse in a rehabilitation center and we have many young people with various disabilities including amputations and paralysis (usually secondary to automobile accidents). I feel that Eddie, like the rest of us, is flawed in many ways. But when it comes to being a spokesperson for people with disabilities, I'd have to give him a great big "two thumbs up." In my 16 years of working with disabled, I don't think I've ever met anyone with as strong of a zest for life and go-get-em attitude that Eddie has. It's really hard to even think of him as disabled. I'd love for the people I work with to be able to "catch" just a little bit of the Eddie spirit. I need to mention that other than that, I've never been a really big Eddie fan, so it's not just my bias talking (I was Curtis all the way!). I do believe that Eddie has much to give to the disabled community! |
Renee | Thursday, October 05, 2000 - 12:43 am  I'm not sure what a "valid" spokesperson would be or should be...or even what that Means. Teebird, I think you have a very good point though. I used to belong to a support group for people with a chronic and potentially deadly disease and what really struck me was how much better many people were able to cope with their disabilities when they had strong emotional support from family and/or friends. I believe that a great deal of Eddie's abilities, both physical and emotional, had to do with his mother and other family members. I think that they should be applauded for raising him to be a strong, self-sufficient individual. Of course, I would also point to them concerning his casual sexism and foul language. I found it very interesting when posters would excuse the way he spoke because he was "young," totally disregarding his mom's referring to a girl as a c*** and B*itch. She was old enough to have a teenage son when she was talking that way. |
Noslonna | Thursday, October 05, 2000 - 01:21 am  There is nothing wrong with the way Eddie behaves. He a lot more caring than a lot of Eddie HATERS. I would like to know when "sticks and stones" was changed to "words." In case you haven't noticed, Eddie has been very civilized in interviews since he left the house. |
Teebird | Thursday, October 05, 2000 - 03:31 am  Thanks Renee!!! Let me say that Eddie was my favorite but I also liked Curtis ALOT. I would have been happy had either of them won first price. There were times when I had to turn the feeds off because of Eddie's language, I have young children in the house!!! I didn't approve of his language but I do think that age has a lot to do with it. He is 21, when I was 21 I had the same trash mouth. The only difference was that I wasn't on tv. I am very impressed with the way Eddie has conducted himself since coming out of the house. He has apologized and I believe it was a sincere apology. I think that his mother and father have discussed with him his language and some of the off colored remarks that he has made and he has taken that to heart. Now what is a spokesperson??? I think Eddie fits the description, he is articulate, he has a cause, he understands what amputee's are going thru. Suzie talked about her work and the people she works with and I am betting that if Eddie had one hour with some of the young guys in her rehab there would be changes, that is what a spokesperson does. He has the ability to tell his story in a way to touch people, he has the abiltity to show what can happen if you set your mind to it, and most important he has overcome obstacles!!! I don't feel sympathy for Eddie, I feel he desevers admiration for succeeding in a world where physical attributes are so important!!! Okay just wanted to add more to this and I took a decongestant last night and didn't sleep well so I am sitting here rattling!!! |
Jbandit2 | Thursday, October 05, 2000 - 07:01 am  i have had polio and know have post polio. i think eddie does people with these peoblems very good showing you are able todo alot more then people think. but there will be a time he we slow down it will get to you after a while i hope he dont over do it. thanks |
Coco | Thursday, October 05, 2000 - 07:11 am  I was not a huge "Eddie Lover" during the show, however, I think the argument here is, is Eddie a good role model for disabled people. The simple fact that people don't look at him as disabled should answer that question. Yes he is. He has shown during the course of the show that just because you're disabled does not mean you can't function in life. He has shown that a young boy can continue to have a happy and rewarding future even with a disability. He may not have used proper language etc on the show but I don't think that has anything to do with him being a good example of how a disabled person can move forward and create a good life for themselves. |
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