Ethics Lesson from N.Y. Gov. Paterson: SNL's Mocking Not Funny to Disabled

   New York Gov. David Paterson is known for his self-deprecating sense of humor, but he wasn't amused  when "Saturday Night Live"  aired a skit this week making fun of his blindness. Portrayed as a befuddled leader disoriented because of his blindness, Paterson told the media : "I can take a joke, but I thought it was important to speak up for those who don't have a voice and don't have a job. 

"There is only one way that (blind) people could have an unemployment rate that's six times the national average. I'm afraid that that kind of third-grade humor certainly adds to this negative environment,"  said Paterson, as quoted by CNN.

ETHICS OF HUMOR

What are the ethics of humor? It's a question that NBC's "Saturday Night Live" doesn't seem to have considered. The show has scored huge highs in the ratings -- some of the biggest in the show's long history -- since Tina Fey began portraying Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, along with Amy Poehler's impersonation of Sen. Hillary Clinton. I guess the show's producers decided they were just too hot to worry about the ethics of humiliation and ridicule. It's what made the show a success.

But humor that discriminates against those who can't help being who they are -- that's different. If you're a politician then you've chosen your path. But you can't help being born black, brown, yellow or red. You don't chose to be mentally or emotionally disabled. And the physically disabled didn't ask to be blind, deaf, or crippled. You don't beat up on someone because of their age -- being a child or elderly. Everyone knows this, except those who believe they are above ethics -- above kindness and consideration.

WHASSA MATTER, CAN'T TAKE A JOKE?

How many times have you heard "Can't you take a joke?" or "You're too sensitive, you shouldn't let it bother you." These are statements used to mask discriminatory behavior. It's the victims' fault, say the abusers.

Funny and offensive don't really go together. As Paterson's spokesman Errol Cockfield Jr. said: "The governor is sure that 'Saturday Night Live,' with all of its talent, can find a way to be funny without being offensive," reported the N.Y. Daily News.  Paterson's office said that the skit which ridiculed people with physical disabilities, implied that disabled people are incapable of having jobs with serious responsibilities, reported the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.  In SNL skit (photo right) Fred Armisen portrays a bumbling Gov. Paterson holding chart of jobless statistics upside-down.

AS IF THE BLIND ARE BUMBLING CLOWNS

"Now that (Alaska Gov. Sarah) Palin's not around, they seem to have run out of material," Paterson told reporters. "The idea of a person rolling around the stage in a chair, being disoriented, can't find anything, bumbling, in a sense looking like a clown is a way disabled people are portrayed all the time.

"The perception that disability equals inability to be responsible is totally wrong."

National Federation of the Blind spokesman Chris Danielsen explained: "The biggest problem faced by blind people is not blindness itself, but the stereotypes held by the general public about blindness and blind people. The idea that blind people are incapable of the simplest tasks and are perpetually disoriented and befuddled is absolutely wrong. This misconception contributes to an unemployment rate among blind people that stubbornly remains at 70 percent."

Lighthouse International President Tara A. Cortes emphasized that SNL "crossed the line between parody and pandering to demeaning stereotypes:"

"To use his (Gov. Paterson's) disability as the focal point of comedy is in very poor taste. We applaud the courage it takes every day for people who are blind and visually impaired to live productively and effectively. Saturday Night Live has taken a cheap shot at that courage," she said, adding that SNL should issue an on-air apology.

So far neither NBC, SNL Producer Lorne Michaels, or the SNL cast and writers have made any comments. It sounds like they continue to consider themselves above it all. In their refusal to even acknowledge the concern of others, you could say the savvy and glib SNL crew are also disabled --but they do have jobs. 

Hey, to show they understand the error of their ways, Saturday Night Live really should hire a blind comedian and/or a blind writer. A plus for employing the blind --  the new-hires could tell them when they are being ass holes again.

By Sharon McEachern