Labor Day and MDA

I went looking for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon this Labor Day weekend, as I had missed it last year for the first time in years.  Turns out, I hadn't missed it after all - there is no Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon!!  I looked all over this year, found nothing.  I looked through all of my T.V. offerings, and it was nowhere to be found.

So I went investigating with the help of my buddy, Chris.  This is what we found: yes, Jerry Lewis is alive. He's mid-eighties now, and still lives in Las Vegas. And there is still an MDA Telethon - of sorts.  It's broadcast from L.A. now, and is only for a few hours on Sunday.  It's only broadcast on a few local channels.

I'm not sure how I missed all of these changes, but I know I wasn't the only one bewildered when I went looking for the event on Monday.  As near as I can figure, apparently Lewis made a homophobic remark (in 2010) that was picked up on microphone and greatly displeased MDA big wigs.  Jerry & his Kids parted ways in 2011, and the last 2 years the pared down telethon has been in effect.

What a shame that one mistake has resulted in the demise of such a  beloved Labor Day institution.  I have always looked forward to the Telethon, and even helped collect money for the cause with my church youth group.  The little old ladies were the most generous - with their hard earned money, as well as lemonade and cookies!!  MDA became even more memorable to me when my grandmother was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (or ALS) when I was in my teens.

After all those years of service to MDA and all of those millions upon millions that Jerry Lewis helped to facilitate, it's a damn shame that one remark - mind you, a stupid, uninformed, careless remark - brought a near halt to the fundraising efforts, and therefore research efforts, of such a wonderful organization.  I don't recall the final tally for this year, but I do know it couldn't begin to compare to pre-2010 results.

Jerry - your Kids and your fans missed you this past weekend.  We applaud all of your work for MDA, and we wish you well.  I hope MDA officials feel it was worth such a loss for one politically incorrect mistake - nothing like chopping off your nose to spite your face.  If it is not P.C. for me to say that, so be it.  I'm feeling very crabby about the whole issue of political correctness.  We are a nation of peoples who are easily offended and WAY TOO sensitive.  Does one off-the-cuff remark really deserve to put an end to one man's personal quest to snuff out Muscular Dystrophy?  I, for one, don't believe so.  What do you think, bloggers?  Let me know.

Love always, Darci