A few minutes ago Scott MacIntyre received the good news on FOX's "American Idol" that he made it into the top 36 contestants. That means next week the American public begins voting on his performances. Rickey.org thinks he will get sympathy votes, but adds that MacIntyre is an excellent singer, hitting all the notes perfectly.Isn't that the point? Everyone who supports excellent singers should support MacIntyre. I fear the opposite of Rickey.org, that Americans won't vote for MacIntyre because blindness brings out a lot of fear in non-disabled people. The American Council of the Blind's publication, The Braille Forum , said in 2007 that "numerous surveys conducted over several decades have consistently shown that blindness is the most feared disability after HIV/AIDS (since that epidemic was first recognized in the 1980s) and cancer, both of which are often fatal. Since blindness in and of itself is not typically fatal, this speaks volumes about our public image and societal perceptions."
So will Americans accept a blind American Idol or will they let fear influence their votes?
I, of course, hope MacIntyre makes it far. And it will be wonderful if the highest rated show on TV learns to accommodate a blind person. Good luck, Scott!
The other person with a disability vying for "American Idol, " David Osmond, who has MS, was eliminated during Hollywood Week.
