Overblown Controversy
I’ve been reading all the brouhaha generated by a poorly written casting call for Stargate: Universe and quite frankly I think people are making a mountain out of a mole-hill. Advocacy groups got themselves in an uproar, accusing producers of furthering negative stereotypes of people with disabilities. I’m glad these groups exist because they do good work in supporting various causes, but in this case I think they were a bit over the top. We’re talking about a casting call sheet that may or may not share accurate information about an episode or script. Without actually seeing the finished product these groups should hold their opinion. It does nothing for their cause to generate outrage over something they really know nothing about.
As for the fact that the casting call sheet described a quadriplegic who felt useless and lack of intimacy in her life, are these groups saying that doesn’t happen to people afflicted with this type of physical challenge; especially someone who’ve been afflicted with it her entire life? In reality, that does happen, so why should it be hidden away? It’s by exposing the not so happy side of a disability that a true discussion can happen about how fulfilling his or her life can actually be. Well, the producers apologized, which is appropriate, so I hope everyone just moves on.
