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I was flipping through the channels on my television, last night, and landed on this show:
Get off your knees: The John Robinson Story
Here's the blurb that's written in my local PBS schedule:
In the opening scene, Mr. Robinson walks out on stage in front of an auditorium of privileged college students, to a predictible gasp. He gets up to the podium and opens with a line something like this (I don't remember his exact words, and there's no transcript available at the website, yet):
"I've just made a first impression on you. I'm now going to teach you how I've learned to overcome first impressions. As marketing students, you've often been told that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Well, I'm here to tell you that first impressions, while not unimportant, are not insurmountable."
Ooh, I thought. This looks interesting -- I can get another person's take on how to deal with ableism and prejudice.
I never made it even half-way through the show. Unfortunately, that was the longest string of speech from John Robinson, himself... The rest of the talking (except for brief single sentences), came from his father, grandmother, family friends, elementary school teachers, et alia (ad nauseum), about how plucky and inspirational he was, growing up -- just like a normal person!
And, apparently, the only way to deal with ableism is to be a Super!Crip: never ask anyone to accomodate your needs, and to never, ever, let anyone see you get frustrated, tired, or upset.
(It could well be that John Robinson himself has a different memory of how he got to where he is, but this is the story that the documentary-makers fashioned out of what they saw. What I really wish I could have seen is that lecture he gave to those college kids. I like a good college lecture. I'm a geek like that).
---
On a slightly happier note: I made a new icon from one of my favorite National-art-making-month drawings, from this year. Do you like it? The question mark is in Garamond font, and the Exclaimation point is in Falstaff Festival...
Get off your knees: The John Robinson Story
Here's the blurb that's written in my local PBS schedule:
(quote) GET OFF YOUR KNEES profiles the compelling and inspirational John Robinson. A congenital amputee, Robinson - who stands just 3'9" tall - overcame major challenges in order to achieve the life of his dreams. Few, including his parents, expected Robinson to find a job, let alone succeed in business or start a family. Yet through his remarkable tenacity, talent and faith, Robinson made his way in a world not designed for those without typical arms and legs - and now leads what many would consider an ordinary life. This "ordinary" life, however, requires Robinson to struggle with what others take for granted, such as driving a car or playing a round of golf. (unquote)
In the opening scene, Mr. Robinson walks out on stage in front of an auditorium of privileged college students, to a predictible gasp. He gets up to the podium and opens with a line something like this (I don't remember his exact words, and there's no transcript available at the website, yet):
"I've just made a first impression on you. I'm now going to teach you how I've learned to overcome first impressions. As marketing students, you've often been told that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Well, I'm here to tell you that first impressions, while not unimportant, are not insurmountable."
Ooh, I thought. This looks interesting -- I can get another person's take on how to deal with ableism and prejudice.
I never made it even half-way through the show. Unfortunately, that was the longest string of speech from John Robinson, himself... The rest of the talking (except for brief single sentences), came from his father, grandmother, family friends, elementary school teachers, et alia (ad nauseum), about how plucky and inspirational he was, growing up -- just like a normal person!
And, apparently, the only way to deal with ableism is to be a Super!Crip: never ask anyone to accomodate your needs, and to never, ever, let anyone see you get frustrated, tired, or upset.
(It could well be that John Robinson himself has a different memory of how he got to where he is, but this is the story that the documentary-makers fashioned out of what they saw. What I really wish I could have seen is that lecture he gave to those college kids. I like a good college lecture. I'm a geek like that).
---
On a slightly happier note: I made a new icon from one of my favorite National-art-making-month drawings, from this year. Do you like it? The question mark is in Garamond font, and the Exclaimation point is in Falstaff Festival...
