This notice has been approved for distribution by the LPA Board of Directors. It is written by Jimmy and Darlene Korpai, Chapter Presidents for Chapter 40.
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> A NETWORK FOR CHANGE
> PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE E-MAIL
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> On April 05, 2009 the NBC network aired an episode of Celebrity Apprentice which was degrading to people of the LP community. On the show, Donald Trump challenged this crew of b-list luminaries to come up with a viral video campaign for ALL laundry detergent. Playing on the product’s “small and mighty” slogan, Melissa River’s team came up with a video entitled, “Jesse James Dirty with Midgets.” During the 2-hour program things seemed to go from BAD to WORSE! Not only was the word “midget” used in a derogatory way a dozen times, other comments were made to further degrade people in the dwarfism community.
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> During the program one of the cast members, Jesse James, said: “They know that people point and laugh at them and they are comfortable within themselves and they have fun right back”, informing the general public that it is acceptable to ridicule a person of short stature or with a difference.
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> The cast member Hershel Walker says “What about if we use little people and let them wash themselves in ALL detergent in the bathtub…and you hang them out to dry” (Portraying people of short stature more as an object rather than a person).
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> Response: (Joan Rivers) “HANG THEM OUT TO DRY!”
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> Response: (Clint Black) “I don’t know…I mean…I am trying to envision how we hang them.
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> Response: (Joan Rivers) “Well…I have a terrace. We can hang them out on my terrace.”
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> As a volunteer organization and a community of people with little numbers in the general population, it takes a lot of work and effort to take one step forward in raising awareness about our organization and our members. It is even more difficult when a two-hour program seems to throw us five steps back and overshadows years of work.
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> After this offensive program aired, a few people in LPA decided to take action. After informing people about the program and encouraging them to call those involved we hoped that our message would be heard. We contacted NBC, Mark Burnett Productions, All detergent and Donald Trump to inform them that they sent a negative message out to the general public. Through their program they sent the message that it was okay to use the word “midget” and make derogatory comments about people of short stature. We asked them to post a short statement regarding the previous week’s episode at the beginning of the episode that followed. We found it very important that this issue was addressed during this next episode or the opportunity to educate and repair the damage would be lost. The statement we asked to be posted was simple, to the point, and we hoped would rectify some of the damage caused to our organization and its members. The statement said the following:
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> After learning that last week’s episode of Celebrity Apprentice was offensive to many people we would like to inform the general public that dwarfism is a medical condition and in many cases is considered a disability. The word “Midget” is considered highly offensive by the dwarfism community. It was not our intent nor should it be that of others to portray people with dwarfism in a harmful way. Like other disabilities, dwarfism can impact any family. Therefore Little People of America was created and continues to lend support for people and families who are affected by dwarfism. If you would like to learn more about Little People America and support our cause, please visit our website: www.lpaonline. org
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> After countless phone calls, e-mails and faxes, we finally got a phone call from the Executive Producers from Mark Burnett Productions. During the phone call they mentioned that NBC, Trump and Mark Burnett reviewed the show and stand by their production. They therefore refused to post any statement, make a donation or remove the content involving the show from their web site. Our request to simply try and fix some of the damage caused by these media giants fell on deaf ears. We realized that a few hundred phone calls was just not enough. Whatever actions we decide to take, like other things in life, needed to be done in large numbers in order to be heard…loud and clear.
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> A Network
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> Because words are heard in numbers, we are putting together what we would like to call the “Network”. In order for our voices to be heard we must move forward and make our concerns known when such offensive programming is seen, heard or printed. It is then crucial that as a community we respond in numbers, swiftly and aggressively
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> To learn more on how to become a part of this network to advocate for yourselves and the LP community please visit www.lpa-midhudson. org. We welcome any suggestions or help that you can offer. You may also contact: Jimmy or Darlene Korpai at lpa40@… com
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> HEAR IS WHAT YOU CAN DO
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> As a first step with this new network, we are responding to the offensive programming of the Celebrity Apprentice episode, which was so degrading for people of short stature. We decided to file a compliant against NBC with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC www.fcc.gov) . The compliant along with supporting letters and material from others, will bring to the attention of the FCC that the word “midget” is considered offensive to the dwarfism community and should not be seen or heard on TV or radio. It will also bring to their attention that it is unacceptable to portray people of short stature as objects rather than people and in a degrading manner as seen on April 05, 2009. In order for this type of material to be considered obscene, indecent and or profane by the FCC, it needs to be seen as such by many people. We ask that you join in our efforts and file a compliant on behalf of every member of your family.
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> We ask that you join this “Network” and become part of this advocacy effort for yourselves and the LP community. Many complaints have been sent to the FCC already. If you have not filed a compliant on behalf of yourself please take a few minutes to see the attached information on how to file a compliant fast and easily or use the links below to go directly to the FCC web site.
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> You can cut and paste the necessary information from the attached form (in blue) to your complaint form that you will file online or print it out, fill in your information and mail to the FCC.
> To view filling options with the FCC web site visit: http://esupport. fcc.gov/complain ts.htm?sid= d1e640&id= d1e669
> DIRECT TO THE ONLINE FCC FORM http://fjallfoss. fcc.gov/cgb/ fcc475B.cfm
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> It is VERY IMPORTANT that we make a strong case against this program. If we do and convince the FCC to find that the program was offensive, we can use this to our advantage and notify and send a message to other broadcasting companies and networks that it is unacceptable to air programming which is degrading and humiliates people of short stature. Our goal is to notify and educate before a show is aired which effects the dwarfism community in a negative way. Address it before it becomes an issue. We need to educate so that we do not hear that “We did not know” and the damage is already done!
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> With these efforts, eventually our message will be heard and it will be known that certain terminology and the mistreatment of people with dwarfism is unacceptable. This has already taken place with the New York Times newspaper. Thanks to the efforts of some, you will never see the word “midget” referring to a person of short stature in that newspaper again…ever! This all will take time yet the more people that get involved the less time it will take to see results. Today we hope for change. With our efforts change can come tomorrow.
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> Jimmy, Darlene and Hailey Korpai
> LPA Mid-Hudson Chapter 40