Why win? Out of pity, no. Out of “good for him” cheer, no. (Though “good for him” did run through my brain as I clicked to play the audition video.) Let him win because of personality, which is needed if you are going to have your own show. Let him win because of talent. If he were a dead-pan man with cerebral palsy, pitching the same thing… I’d have to say “pass” regardless of the guilty part of me who would like to say “give him a chance just because…”.
Does his disability have to do with any of it? Absolutely. Is he using it as a platform from which to jump? It seems so but anyone who goes anywhere with anything has to use something about themselves as a platform so what is the difference? Does this have the feeling of exploitation? No, not to me. He knows what he is doing and I have to say, I think he is doing a damn good job of it. His disability is part of who he is, not all of who he is. Who he appears to be is a bright and funny guy who may help people push the boundaries of what they think they know about disabilities. Is it comfortable for everyone when they are faced with someone who is “different”? Not for many, I would even venture to say “not for most”.
As a person with a disability, I can say that sometimes I am brave enough to boldly mention that I am bipolar… at other times, feeling that I may end up feeling the wrath of other people’s judgments, discomfort or ultimate rejection; I shrink in form. My disability, while annoying at times (to me especially, not to mention those who love me though they rarely complain), is what it is. The two areas I am lucky in, is that people do not look at me and know… as they do with Zach Anner. The second, the fact that my medication works as well as it does with keeping my mind mostly clear – many people no longer pick up that something is wrong unless I tell them. (I think.)
For him, people know automatically upon looking at him and I am sure reactions and interactions with him are not always what they should be. People probably often fail to see the person as a whole and only see the illness. The illness is just a part of him, just as it is only a part of me. There is more to anyone with a disability than what meets the eye… they are people too... aside from their disabilities. Anner, he’s a funny guy… with what appears to be wit and an idea that would not only be interesting but eye-opening. It may not be the same kind of disability that I was born with but there is a portion of it which I can understand and truthfully, would like others to understand as well. Should we learn about other people's struggles, yes. Not only for the empathy factor but who know what idea you may have that may help their struggle to be lessened? Who knows what they may be able to offer you as well? Everyone deserves and needs love, after all.
The disabled, whether physical, mental/emotional or both, should neither succumb to a life than is less than what they want or that which is less than a reflection of who they are as a complete picture just because of their disability. Do disabilities give us limitations? Yes. There are solutions, substitutions and sometimes even great opportunity for those limitations more often than not. We should feel proud of what is accomplished despite the difficulties which nature, accidents or life experience have given us. We should also be willing to use our disabilities as part of the story we have to tell, no matter what the medium. Should we use our problems, large or small, as a complete portrait of ourselves? No.
Zach Anner wants to travel, let’s help him do so… and with his personality, I plan to be along for the ride.
Go to the following link and search for Zach Anner – if you feel he’s funny or creative enough, please vote for him. While some things may be uncomfortable for some, please do not let your own discomfort be the deciding factor. To avoid looking does not make anything any better. To ignore someone because you have trouble looking at their imperfections is to ignore them for being human – same as you.
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html
