Well, after watching all the drama unfold on the news, I thought I would give my two cents on this situation. I’m not sure if you have seen the latest episode of Family Guy, but here is the gist of it. The episode featured a girl that has down syndrome and Chris had fallen in love with her. After going out on a date with her she makes a small remark about who are her parents:
“My dad is an accountant and my mom is the ex-governor of Alaska”
Woah…Woah..Woah..Woah..Woah.. Her dad is an accountant? Anyways after this aired last Sunday some people were FURIOUS! about the small remark towards Sarah Palin, including Ms. Palin; she has a son who has down syndrome and people were disgusted at the idea that Family Guy’s creator — Seth MacFarlane – would make a joke about that sensitive subject. Sarah Palin and her daughter both had strong words like “heartless jerks” when they described the show and said that the show was not funny.
But! The actress who did the voice over for the down syndrome girl — Andrea Fay Friedman –, which by the way has down syndrome too, sent the following email to The New York Times (the newspaper also interviewed her):
I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line “I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska” was very funny. I think the word is “sarcasm.”
In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life.
After reading all of this, I had to say that Andrea just showed how the world should! but does not function. Andrea herself has down syndrome but that has not stopped her for reaching her dreams and living a normal life. Aren’t we always taught about equality and living together no matter what are the circumstances etc? Why is then Sarah Palin taking offense about this particular line from this show? Granted, the line was directed at her but if she doesn’t like the show why is she watching it? If you really look at the episode, it wasn’t making fun of people with down syndrome. The girl with down syndrome had power, a regular guy was in love with her. She was living a normal life. Yes, she was in a way a b*** but that was her role in the episode.
Also, this show is a satire comedy show. They make fun of people ALL the time!!! Yes maybe sometimes they go way too far, but is not like anybody has gone way too far with a joke before. I think people need to get a little bit of sense of humor and laugh at themselves once in a while. If you don’t like it.. Ignore it. When you make drama about it, it just makes it grow and grow. Is not going to stop because they know is going to piss you off. Let it go. Live your life. Don’t let others live your life.
What do you think? Did the joke went too far?
