American Idol

[Guest guest]

I am forwarding this for a member of another list - Jenn

From: BowedOak1@...

Reply-to: autism-stlkids

a_list , GFCFKids

CC: autism-stlkids , Nanapanda1@..., sehla@...

For those of you have been Claydicted with American Idol I am asking that as

the last week draws near that you continue your support for Clay Aiken. I've

known Clay and his family for several years and if anyone deserves the top

spot of being the American Idol it is Clay. He is a 24 year old Christian

man who chose a career path of working with special needs children. His

direction shifted recently and I don't need to explain. He worked at the

YMCA on wick Rd. in Raleigh for a number of years and I've had the

opportunity to talk to some of the parents of children that Clay worked with.

Hearing first hand how they as parents feel about him as a counselor for

their children confirms my belief that the person selected to be the American

Idol should be a good role model.

His desire is to start a foundation for children with disabilities. Winning

this title gives him a greater opportunity to do that. Next Tuesday Clay

will need your support if he is to be crowned the next American Idol. All

you need to do is get comfortable and dial the toll free number for two

hours, logging as many votes as you can. Just wear out that redial button on

your phone. And between now and next Tuesday talk to as many people as you

can asking if they are watching. Encourage them to do so since it is the

last night and to vote continuously for hours from 9 -11 pm. by dialing the

toll free phone number that will be shown on the TV screen during the show on

Tuesday night at 8 pm on your local FOX station. You may get alot of busy

signals and that is ok, although frustrating -- but as the famous words

spoken by Jimmy Valvano " don't give up...don't ever give up " . Keep that in

mind as you dial and redial. Your votes and efforts will put Clay in the

winner's circle next Wednesday night.

[Guest guest]

You know, I have watched the show religiously from the first

season. Now that I have kids of my own, and now knowing what I know

about my own son, I was really sickened by the exchange (with the 2

boys - the one Simon called the " bushbaby " and the heavier one with

the red and white shirt I assume you are referring to). I realized

that several of those people probably were on the spectrum,

including the one that was the computer programmer earlier in the

show. I felt really bad for them and thought about writing a letter

to Idol about it. Simon really is just a school yard bully. They

push through the really awful singers just for the ratings of the

audition episodes. But my mama would have boxed me between the ears

for making fun of someone with a disability and Fox shoul dbe no

different.

Not like they will listen, because they are making money hand over

fist on that show. In the Buffalo area, Time Warner has taken over

our cable and is in a contract dispute with Fox over fees for

carrying the stations. The deadline is approacing and they keep

threatening to pull Fox off air. Whenever it is on the news or

being discussed the background video is all Idol related, and they

barely even discuss the lack of football coverage. In our town that

really shows you the power of the show!

But I digress. I am just not sure how much Fox would even listen,

since it seems like the rest of the American underbelly really enjoy

picking on people!

>

> Did anyone see American Idol? or the News, about how mean the

judges

> were to the two boys that were on the show?

> one of the two boys has Autism. that show makes negative

comments

> with some of the people that try to sing, and the judges can be

pretty

> mean. I think you would have to be a strong person to try out

> (singing) on that show. The judges did go to far when they made

> negative comments on their personal appearence. that was

just " mean " .

> They are still interviewing the two boys on the news on WKTV (2)

>