A Little Reflection, Please

A Little Reflection, Please

I’m sure this is not the first time you’ve heard this, but I need to express some concern about your Best of Buffalo contest. Given your editorial comments preceding the “People” category, I know that you are aware that there is something fundamentally not right about nominating our neighbors who are mentally ill for an award called “Weirdest Resident.”

The fact that these folks appear in public in ways that seem unusual to your readers does not indicate that they’re on display for the public’s amusement…These people are not weird: on some days this is their “normal.”

And tell us, honestly, will these “weird” nominees be invited to your May 4th awards ceremony? Will you give Jean a plaque to mount on the grill of her shopping cart? Perhaps the “Lady in White” would like one to swaddle in plastic bags and carry? Will you personally approach them on Elmwood Avenue and say: “You are truly one of Buffalo’s weirdest people. Please honor us with your presence at our awards party.” Of course you won’t, because you realize that that would be profoundly insulting.

While I can’t hold your newspaper responsible for the opinions of its many astute readers, I do hold it responsible for making editorial choices that participate in and perpetuate a culture of disrespect for people with mental illnesses. A progressive paper would realize that publishing this list is an affront to the dignity of others, who might be better “celebrated” by leaving them in peace.

Peter Ross Firestone
Buffalo

Artvoice reserves the right to edit letters for content and length. Shorter letters have a better chance at being published in their entirety. Please include your name, hometown, and contact number. E-mail letters to: editorial@artvoice.com or write to: Artvoice Letters, 810 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202

Reader Comments

John Q Blogger
30 Apr 2009, 11:14

The voice of human decency is in Peter Ross Firestone's letter.

I wonder how many WNY people sitting in the Babel audiences are getting the human rights messages from world respected authors? I wonder how many WNY's have turned away from not recognizing that the Bush Administration wrongfully tortured people. I was wondering if anybody would stand up to Artvoice for taking pot shots at mentally disabled people in our community. My faith has been restored when one person says no to blatant harm.

It takes more than voting in a Buffalo School Board election.

It takes character and integrity to print a public apology to WNY for the wrong that Artvoice did last week to the mentally disabled people in our community.

Human Rights letter writer of the year: Peter Ross Firestone

John Q Blogger
06 May 2009, 10:05

Here is a web link to Wikipdia's description of Jackson Frank.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_C._Frank

I read about this man in Jeff Simon's column in the Buffalo News. He was a local musician who as a child was injured in the Cleveland Hill School fire. At one point in his life Frank was living on the streets and was treated for paranoid schizophrenia. I point this out once more because one of the people on the Artvoice list happens to be extremely knowledgeable about art. Maybe she once was a brilliant member of the local arts community and then became very ill because of some earlier trauma in her life. Be kind to those who you do not understand.

A Little Reflection, Please

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