![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thatcrazycajunI am disabling all comments on this post because I do not want yet another argument erupting about all the reasons some feel they have to ignore this plea; I concede the valid arguments of those who object to the personal attitudes and comments of the messenger and to the way in which the message is framed. But I don't think that those in need who depend on this effort should be penalized by attempting to devalue the message. If you truly feel a need to refute, rebuke me or otherwise comment, please take it to my e-mail.
With that proviso, I ask once more, as I do every year at this time, that anyone caring to read my musings and rants and assorted bullshittery in this journal take a moment, on this Labor Day holiday, to think of the thousands who are afflicted with one of the 40 neuromuscular diseases under the aegis of research and patient-care services provided by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The overwhelming majority of funding for this vital work is raised in just one day—this day—every year, through the hard work of thousands and the generosity of millions, during the telecast of its annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day MDA Telethon.
Please, whatever your personal feelings about Mr. Lewis or whether persons with these ailments should be treated as objects of pity, I implore and beseech you to try to find it in your heart to see past that to the incredible work MDA does and consider making a donation to the telethon today, as I am doing. Even a small amount—$5 or $10 or $20—helps keep these efforts going for another year, until the blessed day when cures for all of these diseases are at long, long last found and widely distributed. When that day does arrive—and I firmly believe it is closer now than ever—it will be in large part due to the work of MDA and Mr. Lewis' nearly half-century of work to call attention to the need.
If you feel you absolutely cannot contribute out of principle, I will not gainsay you; certainly there are some legitimate gripes that may be made about Lewis' personal comments in recent years, such as saying that the current Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, ought to be working on a soap opera (I happen to agree, for reasons having nothing whatever to do with her gender or ethnicity and everything to do with her performance in the job and her prior one). Reasonable adults may also differ on the best way to provide assistance to persons with these illnesses, and what type of services, and on what basis.
But without the work of MDA and that of specialists, therapists and others it funds, the revolutionary plasmapheresis treatment that greatly alleviates the suffering of those with myasthenia gravis might never have been discovered; and the equally promising gene therapy treatment for Duchenne's, the deadliest known form of muscular dystrophy, would also not be around. And the summer camps MDA operates throughout the continent would never have offered so much enjoyment, learning and joy to afflicted children for so many years. MDA has long been one of the most reputable and high-performing philanthropic organizations out there, with 77¢ on every donor dollar going directly to research and services as opposed to administrative/overhead costs.
The people at MDA like to say, "Don't give until it hurts; give until it helps." I have been giving since I was in my teens, and I honestly believe it has helped. I hope at least some of you reading will agree and make a donation today.
EPILOGUE, Monday 5:52 PM: This year's show has once again broken all prior records, taking in $63,579,478 in private individual donations; the corporate donations are separately totaled. I would like to think that some of that has come from friends of mine, and if so, I thank you. It means that the day Jerry and his people can do something else with their Labor Day weekend is that much closer.
Please, whatever your personal feelings about Mr. Lewis or whether persons with these ailments should be treated as objects of pity, I implore and beseech you to try to find it in your heart to see past that to the incredible work MDA does and consider making a donation to the telethon today, as I am doing. Even a small amount—$5 or $10 or $20—helps keep these efforts going for another year, until the blessed day when cures for all of these diseases are at long, long last found and widely distributed. When that day does arrive—and I firmly believe it is closer now than ever—it will be in large part due to the work of MDA and Mr. Lewis' nearly half-century of work to call attention to the need.
If you feel you absolutely cannot contribute out of principle, I will not gainsay you; certainly there are some legitimate gripes that may be made about Lewis' personal comments in recent years, such as saying that the current Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, ought to be working on a soap opera (I happen to agree, for reasons having nothing whatever to do with her gender or ethnicity and everything to do with her performance in the job and her prior one). Reasonable adults may also differ on the best way to provide assistance to persons with these illnesses, and what type of services, and on what basis.
But without the work of MDA and that of specialists, therapists and others it funds, the revolutionary plasmapheresis treatment that greatly alleviates the suffering of those with myasthenia gravis might never have been discovered; and the equally promising gene therapy treatment for Duchenne's, the deadliest known form of muscular dystrophy, would also not be around. And the summer camps MDA operates throughout the continent would never have offered so much enjoyment, learning and joy to afflicted children for so many years. MDA has long been one of the most reputable and high-performing philanthropic organizations out there, with 77¢ on every donor dollar going directly to research and services as opposed to administrative/overhead costs.
The people at MDA like to say, "Don't give until it hurts; give until it helps." I have been giving since I was in my teens, and I honestly believe it has helped. I hope at least some of you reading will agree and make a donation today.
EPILOGUE, Monday 5:52 PM: This year's show has once again broken all prior records, taking in $63,579,478 in private individual donations; the corporate donations are separately totaled. I would like to think that some of that has come from friends of mine, and if so, I thank you. It means that the day Jerry and his people can do something else with their Labor Day weekend is that much closer.
