[Date Prev][Date Next]
[Chronological]
[Thread]
[Top]
Re: RAT Fwd: Burien Little Theatre Is Under Attack From Censorship
Llysa, thanks for posting this info with the
RATs. Something strikes me about this
organization DAHRT. Recently I have taken a keen
interest in children with special needs and have
begun researching, studying and educating myself
about children with emotional, physical and
mental disabilities. One of the first bits of
information learned is the use of "people first"
language within the profession, which is then
hoped to serve as a model for laypeople to begin
using. For example, instead of saying "disabled
child", one should say "child with a disability".
The idea is that it works to include persons who
are challenged within a larger whole rather than
put challenged persons into a stigmatized
compartment. Besides their lack of sensitivity
and understanding of a play as touching as
"Inishmaan", I think DAHRT's credibility is
really comprimised by their outdated use of
reference.
But then again, I guess AWDHRT or ADHRT sounds
silly.
--- Thsimple@aol.com wrote:
> This is really amazing!
> Or is it?
>
> What do you think? I am very curious...
>
> DAHRT has a website - you can respond directly,
> I believe...
>
> Llysa
>
> ATTACHMENT part 2 message/rfc822
> From: Robert Edgmon <robert.edgmon@dig.com>
> To:
> Subject: Burien Little Theatre Is Under Attack
> From Censorship
> Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 19:26:05 -0800
>
> To All Supporters of the Performing Arts,
>
> Burien Little Theatre (BLT) is currently in the
> middle of running "The
> Cripple of Inishmann" by Martin McDonagh and as
> a result, is currently under
> attack by Disabled Americans Have Rights Too,
> (DAHRT) a group that has in
> the past successfully sued the Tacoma Dome and
> is currently suing Garth
> Brooks.
>
> DAHRT, without seeing the play, finds the word
> "Cripple" in the title of the
> show offensive enough to demand that the show
> be closed down. This group
> has sent a letter of protest to the City of
> Burien ( from whom we rent our
> space) and the local newspaper stating that
> running a play with the word
> "cripple" in the title perpetuates prejudices
> and bigotry against disabled
> Americans. They have approached local
> businesses and asked that they stop
> supporting the theatre, they have gotten
> posters taken down and are
> threatening to picket the theatre. To a
> theatre the size of BLT, where we
> exist only from show to show, these actions
> threaten our existence.
>
> There is a fine line between sensitivity and
> censorship. Far from being
> insensitive, "The Cripple of Inishmann"
> accomplishes more in an evening than
> multiple sensitivity classes because it both
> entertains and causes
> self-examination. However, DAHRT feels that a
> word in a title is so
> distasteful that it outweighs the positive that
> over 111 pages of script
> bring to an audience, a performance that DAHRT
> has never seen.
>
> However, the reality of the matter is
> economics. Should DAHRT succeed in
> driving away audience members, censorship has
> won. Because at the end of
> the day, without an audience, BLT cannot pay
> its bills, cannot continue. If
> DAHRT succeeds, BLT will be forced to choose to
> perform only those works
> that have no chance of offending anyone at any
> time. If one word in a title
> can cause a show to be shut down, imagine what
> shows we will be limited to.
> And a DAHRT success at BLT will embolden them
> and other groups like them to
> censor other, larger theatres, live
> performances and art shows.
>
> The only way to stop censorship is to get the
> targeted work out to as many
> people as possible. BLT needs your help. If
> the growing shadow of
> politically correct censorship concerns you,
> please show your support for
> the theatre, the actors and production crew by
> sharing this message with as
> any many people as you can. If we can show
> that the attendance for the
> final six performances of "The Cripple of
> Inishmann" has not been affected
> by this baseless protest, we will have sent a
> message that stimulating,
> thought provoking live theatre will not be
> bullied into silence.
>
> Thank you
> Robert Edgmon
> President and Artistic Director
> Burien Little Theatre
> 206 242 5180
>
>
>
>
=====
Greg Romero
Dramaturg
rm 120 theatre
PO Box 300165
Austin TX 78703
(512) 481-8366
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text
---------------------------------------
To [un]subscribe to the rat-list, send an email to "majordomo@ratconference.com"
with [un]subscribe rat-list" in the body of the message.
For information on other functions send a message containing the word
"help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.
---------------------------------------
You may also [un]subscribe on the web at http://www.ratconference.com/cgi-bin/web_domo.pl?list=rat-list