twenty-one

so, the british press has recently been set ablaze by the online comments of a random man, on the subject of Cerrie Burnell, a children's television presenter. Cerrie was born with one arm, you see, and this is apparantly causing grief and anxiety in homes all over Britain: children are scared, they are distressed, they are asking their parents questions about human difference (oh god, no).

i don't quite know where to start with this.

let's begin with my more calm thoughts on the matter, the ones that appear after an issue has been swirling round your head for a little bit. i noticed a great number of the responses, be they by journalists or anonymous posters, stated that children just don't care, that they are more accepting and that it is the parents that have a problem; and whilst this is probably more true than not, it doesn't take into account the parents who say that their child is distressed by Cerrie's appearance. i think this is an important issue to address, because it helps fuel the argument of the complainers: noone wants to force a three-year-old to look at something that distresses them, right? making children cry is not generally seen as a Good Thing. how can we respond to this, if we don't want to be branded as bullies? instead of capitulating to the demands of the parents (obviously, because they are wrong), or ignoring their concerns completely, we should enter into a discussion with them: it is just as important for adults to have their experiences and views broadened as it is their children, after all. have you tried asking your child why they are upset by Cerrie's arm, we could say. since fear is often caused by the unknown and unfamiliar, have you considered trying to explain to your child what she or he is seeing, instead of just changing the channel? if these sort of things don't have any affect, have you considered not projecting your child's reaction onto the WHOLE CHILD POPULATION OF BRITAIN and demanding that a perfectly able and talented presenter be sacked? no? something to think about, maybe.

(okay, so the last one might not win awards for diplomacy).

i have to admit, the nice, understanding part of me, the part that advocates conversation, the part that tells me to face opposition with a quiet voice and a will to engage, is probably not the most vocal or prominent part of my brain. my immediate reaction to the story was something like this (as shouted at the computer screen whilst reading):

1. wtf.

2. no, seriously, wtf.

3. 'One father said he would ban his daughter from watching the channel because he thought it would "give her nightmares" '- did you ASK your daughter, at all? no? oh, i see, you're her FATHER, you can obviously READ HER MIND.

4. oh hallo, did you just use the term "political correctness" to explain Cerrie's employment? did you really just do that? really? did you? "political correctness"? really? of course there must have been HUNDREDS of candidates more suited to the job than Cerrie, hundreds of two-handed, sparkley, talented, two-handed, amazing, two-handed candidates who were ignored because they didn't tick the "minorities" box. what kind of a world do we live in, eh, where such DISCRIMINATION is unchallanged?

4 a. you realise you just implied that, when it comes down to it, Cerrie isn't a skilled, brilliant person, but a disabled person, right? or, a skilled disabled person, if you're being generous. the bbc may have given the job to the best candidate, you know. well, you obviously don't.

5. you are scared that your children will ask you a QUESTION? you want someone to lose their JOB, because you can't face a tiny child asking you to explain why not everyone has two hands and arms? this is one of the most pathetic things i have ever ever heard ever. ever. grow up, please. this isn't a reason to sack a tv presenter; it is, however, a reason for you to reflect on your parenting skills.

all in all, people make me very angry, rantwriting angry (sorry, guys). for something a little more balanced and calm, let's hear from Cerrie herself:

"I am pleased that this whole thing with me has raised the issue and that attention has been drawn to the fact that disabled people in this country do face real prejudice."Her message for those commenting on website message boards is that she hopes the controversy will help other people "see the person and not the disability".

wise words. let's hope it happens.