Friday, October 3, 2008

Careful what you wish for


An AP report says the Washington Redskins football team has been ordered by a federal judge to make sure that deaf and hard-of-hearing fans receive "equal access to aural content" in the teams's stadium. That includes music lyrics, advertisements and announcements on the public address system. Judge Alexander Williams noted that since three fans filed suit, the team has captioned such things as play-by-play of the game and emergency information. One would think that would be sufficient, but Williams determined that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the team must provide "full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations available at FedEx Field." In a statement, the Redskins said, "No one had ever before asked the Redskins to caption music. But now that the court has addressed it, we are exploring alternatives to provide the words to the songs played during cheerleader dance routines." Thank heavens. I would hate to think that deaf people were being deprived of such inalienable rights. This is a case that trivializes the true issues facing the deaf. Why not focus on important concerns for making life better for deaf Americans, rather than demanding that they get to read the lyrics to "Crazy Train" or the text from a "Gatorade" commercial? This would be comparable to black Americans, during the 1960s, targeting the racial inequities of the "Little Rascals" films rather than working to secure voting rights. Pick your spots, deaf people. I've been subjected to the dance-routine music and ads at stadiums. You're not missing anything.

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7 Comments:

Blogger Greg said...

It would be funny to actually see the lyrics to Fergie's "My Humps" while cheerleaders do their thing.

First the blind then the deaf. What's next, people without the sense of smell?

October 3, 2008 at 12:00 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

We all must give up our kielbasa because the hard-of-smelling people can't enjoy the fragrance of the sauerkraut.

October 3, 2008 at 12:10 PM  
Blogger PRIguy said...

The company I work for has four season tickets to the Redskins and I've been to four Redskins games so far. I'm a Steelers fan through and through, but I'm not going to pass up the chance to see a free NFL game - except for the Cowboys.

This topic is absolutely ridiculous. There are screens all over the place at FedEx field. It's how I keep up with what's going on down on the field. I don't care if #82 is a "legal substitution" or anything like that. And that's about all I hear over the PA system. Also, FedEx is one of the loudest stadiums in the league, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it's almost deafening when the crowd is cheering at its peak. So what are they missing?

I'll tell you who ought to be pissed off...the blind people, only this would be more legitimate that that nonsensical movie we just discussed. Look at the picture Brant posted of the cheerleader. I've met a few of the girls and the one in the picture is NOT the most attractive on the squad. So the blind people are the ones being cheated out of a sensory experience. And what an experience it is!

October 3, 2008 at 12:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Football for the Deaf? Sounds like Garrett Morris on SNL.

FIRST AND FIVE ON THE 20 !!!!!!!!!!!!

October 3, 2008 at 2:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder why the American Coalition for Blind People hasn't filed a suit claiming they are being discriminated against because they are unable to watch those beautiful cheerleaders (including the one in your photo) on the sidelines. I would assume the only way to rectify the situation would be to offer cheerleader lap dances to those who request the pleasure.

October 3, 2008 at 2:55 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

There are going to be a lot of guys coming to the games wearing dark glasses and carrying canes.

October 3, 2008 at 3:31 PM  
Blogger PRIguy said...

I'm going to the Steelers/Redskins game at FedEx in November. Dark glasses and a white cane will be the perfect accompaniment to my Polamalu jersey.

October 3, 2008 at 4:21 PM  

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