The BBC have had 9 complaints have been sent in by people saying that CBBC presenter Cerrie Burnell she may "scare children." One father said that he wants to ban his daughter from watching the channel because he fears she may 'suffer nightmares'. I wonder how those parents feel about having a statue of a man with one arm in Trafalgar Square?
Cerrie Burnell told Sky News "It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children," she said. "It just goes to show how important it is to have positive disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general."
There is a 1251 member facebook group set up already. They say:
For anyone without toddlers, Cerrie is new on CBeebies, the BBC's channel for young children - she's gorgeous and she's a brilliant presenter.
One of the crucial ways disabled people are changing the world, is simply by being seen in public roles and being ourselves. CBeebies in recent years has been exemplary in including disabled people - it is important that we have disabled people on kids TV.
This is one of the ways we grow a society which is not afraid of disabled people because they are kept out of sight. We change the minds of our youth by just presenting a truer picture of society and who is in it.
Firstly, let's show Cerrie that those who support her outnumber those who have a personal problem with prejudice.
Secondly, let's show the BBC that although a few people have complained, that we think Cerrie is a brilliant presenter and those of us who support her presence on kids TV outnumber those who would rather disabled people were hidden away in dark places.
Let's show the BBC that they get it right by being an equal opportunities employer.
Cerrie is helping show our youngsters that we live in a beautiful and diverse world and that it is great!
Please contact the BBC here and show your support, : http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/contact/forms/tv_form.shtml
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7 comments:
Tut!
As a person with a hand deformity, I totally support Cerrie and am pleased that these complaints have sparked a public discussion.
If people with disabilities are kept hidden away, what does this say about the acceptance level of our society? The BBC have taken strides towards inclusivity, and having Cerrie on the air is another welcome change.
Often the only understanding of disability that TV projects is the occasional inclusion of a wheelchair-using actor. I think it is crucial to represent society by giving people who might look unusual at first glance a chance to prove their talent and worth.
Lest we forget, the appearance of people who were not White on our TV sets was a rare occurence until comparatively recently. TV helps shape society and needs to represent all areas of it, if our children are to grow up as accepting, rounded human beings.
The facebook group is now up to 7,247 members!
Jimjay has written about it, http://jimjay.blogspot.com/2009/02/dont-scare-children.html,
also weggis http://weggis66.blogspot.com/2009/02/dear-bbc.html
I'd forgotten about Nelson :)
I think the other thing is that it's good to see a disabled person on TV where it is not her disability that is justifying her presence.
Whilst I'm all in favour of dramas about "issues" like disability it does rather irk me when these are the only kinds of parts many disabled actors can get.
I don't have an issue with her disability, but I don't think she is all that good at presenting ... my little one finds the filler bits boring now, but used to enjoy them!
Good gravy...my toddler is afraid of men with beards. For a few years, my older daughter was "freaked out" by people with glasses. Toddlers and pre-schoolers are strange beings. That they love Teletubbies is proof of this.
Keep Cerrie on. She is a human. She is an actor. Full stop. If anyone of any age has a problem with her, they'll get over it. Cerrie isn't the one with the problem.
http://clairlewis.livejournal.com/1716.html has news from the founder of the facebook group, whicj has shot up to 52,478 members!
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