So, yesterday we talked about how the MDA Telethon used to be cool. People used to watch it, actually look forward to it so they could see the big stars. Volunteers, especially teenagers, across the country would work to raise funds for Jerry's Kids. Corporations would have prominently placed places for you donate your change etc and/or buy products that would result in proceeds going to the MDA.

Now you might see some of those tacky paper shamrocks in your local supermarket. You know what I mean. You pay a buck and you can have them write a name on the shamrock and it gets hung up somewhere in the store. I doubt most people even have any idea what they're for. Where are the special 7-11 Slurpee cups? Where are the collectible McDonald's glasses? Where are the 'Run your own MDA carnival' kits?

Well, I guess part of that is because it's not PC to raise for "Jerry's Kids" any more. In fact, I don't even know if they are "Jerry's Kids" any more. Jerry Lewis is persona non grata with the MDA. After many years of effort on the part of many disabled people, including some former MDA poster children, Jerry has left the building. They objected to what they call the "pity method" of fund raising and wanted the MDA and Lewis especially to change their ways and show handi-capable adults leading productive lives and how their donations could help them rather than show the children in very serious states would will likely never live to be able to be on their own or even in assisted living environments.

But let's face it people, that's what gets the money flowing. Does St Jude's show pictures of healthy, active kids out riding bikes or young adults getting married and say 'see, because you donated we were able to cure little Timmy and now he's out riding his bike with his friends. And we were able to cure Samantha and now she's grown and ready to start her own family'. No. They don't. And why don't they? Because people are more willing to part with their money when they see the people who need help right now. Right this minute. Today. Like it or not, that is the way the world is. And like it or not, you still want that money flowing, don't you? I've even read where they want the big sponsors to stop going on the telethon to give their checks since it's not like the money was raised that day, but over many months (really? Gee, who would ever have guessed that?) and what they are really doing is paying for advertising. You know what they are doing? They are saying we can choose to give our money to any charity we want and we choose this one. We think this is the one that is worthwhile and important and we hope you will to, so why don't you give what you can. That's what's going on. And who made that happen? Jerry Lewis.

But now that's all over and it will never be again. The MDA is going to see a marked difference in their totals, of that I'm certain. And it will continue to drop. They should have been nurturing someone as co-host to take over for Jerry these past few years, but none of the choices are really that good. I mean, Nancy O'Dell? I don't think so. We won't ever see anyone exhausted on there - well - there won't be any more near-24 hour stint to make them exhausted - and in tears as the tote board rolls, all choked up singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Good, bad or indifferent Jerry cared. He really did. Was he politically incorrect. Sure. He was from a different era and he was unapologetic for his views. Should he have been more PC and sensitive. Probably. Does it change how much he cared, how much he sacrificed, how hard he worked year after year even when he was horribly sick himself? No. Not one bit.

Thank you, Jerry. Thank you for 44 years plus of hard work. Forty-four years of Labor Day Telethons - plus all the years before when they were held on Thanksgiving and other days locally in New York. Thank you for never giving up no matter how ill you were or what people said. Thank you for bringing telethons, fund-raising and charities to a national level so we could learn about MD and other disorders and so millions of people could benefit from the funds you helped raise.

Let's end this post on a high note - Michael Jackson high - here he is with his brothers in 1974 singing Dancing Machine on the Telethon!