Let's Make a Deal Wayne Brady - Stop Making Fun of People with Down Syndrome

This is a cross-post from Cowgirl Up!  While the r-word was not used, this was an equally disgusting mockery of individuals who have Down syndrome.

Who is going to stand up and take a stand and declare that it is morally repugnant to mock and make fun of people who have Down syndrome?  Does the National Down Syndrome Society whose mission statement is "To be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome" have a plan? 

What does CBS think of its game show host Wayne Brady's comments mocking Trig Palin?

As reported on NewsBusters.org, during Sunday night's airing on Comedy Central (notorious for horrible jokes about individuals with Down syndrome) of the Roseanne Barr Roast, Brady mocked fellow roaster Jeffrey Ross by saying, "Now the thing is Jeff, these are all jokes, and I really like you.  I really, really like you.  But a lot of people hate you, especially Sarah Palin because you remind her of what Trig is going to look like when he's 40."  

As you can hear in the video, there was a mixture of laughs and boos from the crowd to which Brady responded, "Oh, now you boo me?  F--k y'all.  I don't want to hear that.  These people say all of this s--t about me, and you boo me because of Trig."

Here is a clip of the video-- there are curse words, so please do not watch around young children.  While some argue that showing the video and talking about it just helps give it notoriety, I argue that we must shed light where there is darkness.

Yes, Mr. Brady.  I am grateful to the individuals who had the good sense to know that your comments were deplorable and hateful.

By participating in such a "roast" on Comedy Central, you accepted that you would be made fun.  However, Trig Palin and his family never were given that choice.  You mocked an innocent child because he was born with an extra chromosome.  

What makes me even more sick is that this show was taped well before it was aired and Comedy Central left this piece in.  And why?  To spread hatred?  To spread intolerance?  While Sarah Palin is a public figure who has put herself in the public eye, is it ever acceptable to mock a person's child.  A person's child who has a developmental disability?  

How are individuals who have Down syndrome ever going to be given at least the minimum level of human respect if comments like these are shown on television and promoted?  

I beg of the NDSS to take a stand and start addressing these insults and mockeries in a swift and powerful PR campaign like GLAAD does.  

I urge CBS to consider sanctioning and putting Mr. Brady on an administrative leave.

I plead with the rest of the world to please consider looking beyond our children's extra chromosome and looking at them as an individual who has limitless potential when given the opportunity.  

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Take a stand.

Believe in something bigger than yourself.