goodbye mda

i grew up watching jerry lewis push himself hour after hour to beg in every way possible for a dollar or few for kids who had muscular dystrophy... it was often humiliating and exploitative and that grated on me a lot, but it got more money each year for a good cause and that was the way to do it back then when institutions were the norm for people different from the norm... he would work tirelessly for free not just for those 24 hours of live television, but for weeks before and after and all year round beating the drum for the people with muscular diseases... he made the muscular dystrophy association what it is, a multi-million dollar business supposedly dedicated to helping people... caring about people was what the mda was known for largely due to the blood, sweat, and tears given by jerry and all those who joined because of jerry...

i admit i drifted away from the show and i definitely saw the flaws in his antiquated narrow-minded perspectives, but that was what his generation taught their children and until the 1960's double standards and misguided prejudices were the norm (many still are)... oddly, many on the internet today belittle his opinions and talents, yet still spent their time posting comments about him... small minds condemning other smalls minds, the way of humanity... and a strange thing this internet world has brought, people who spend time telling other people to disregard someone else as a waste of time (wait, did i just define meaningless complaint?... shhhh, we can't be giving away the secrets and wisdoms and inside jokes, now, can we?... what?... lol lam)...

but back to jerry, or mr. lewis as those who didn't know him and thought him to be an elitist would call him, he gave until it hurt, that was without doubt true goodness and intent... this year i tuned in to see it was nothing like it was before... no telethon... a two hour concert with some disjointed messages in between... and no jerry lewis... i looked it up on the internet (where else, right?) and sadly, with shock and dismay about corporate america yet again, found out why...

the muscular dystrophy association died...

it was always on the backwards side, pandering for pity, exploiting the disabled for money to help them, but that was the method and mindset of the generations that spawned such charities... dignity and equality is only a very recent concept for those who have diseases or physical limitations, which is sad, but nonetheless true... people needed educating, yes, but without the pity approach, a lot less money would have been raised... still, in the ultimate act of self-destruction, it ripped it's own heart out of it's chest... greed and corruption?... just plain stupidity?... what else could explain the dismissal of a jerry lewis, the father, grandfather, and founder of the household name and vast money stream that made mda what is was... the guy who did it (mda president who earned more $400K off Jerry's kids the year he dumped Jerry... Jerry notably did not take money for his time but gave several million out of his pocket over the years) resigned the next year, which was likely no coincidence... and the organization itself is now failing... worst of all, as quoted in Time Magazine, mda officials continue to lie about Jerry Lewis in public statements and exploit him and others on their new show... he did not retire... he was shown the door, rudely, disrespectfully, shamfully... (shamefully too)... Time Magazine quoted the current interim mda president who said it loud and clear:

"a 21.5 hour show does not fit into a 140 character world."

and Time concluded:

"neither, apparently, did Jerry Lewis"

and i'll add neither, obviously, does ethics, loyalty, charity, or respect.

goodbye mda, there are plenty of other ethical and reputable organizations with a whole lot more integrity than yours... charity navigator gives mda one star (out of four) for it's financial health, failing... may you endure and shameful termination of business...