"in 2002, sesame workshop released a statement saying that they would be introducing an hiv-positive muppet to sesame street. what most people in the u.s. missed was that kami, the muppet in question, would not be appearing on the domestic version of sesame street, but the south african version, which is called takalani sesame. the producers of takalani sesame agreed that an hiv-positive muppet would be beneficial because south africa has the highest percentage of aids-infected people in the world, many of which are children. people became outraged that pbs would allow a children’s show to feature an hiv-positive character, and news sources and pundits went to town on the story. kami never appeared on the american sesame street, though she has proven to be a very successful character on takalani sesame."is that too real for people?
-source: mental floss
4 comments:
It seems to me that rather than people wanting to be informed or inform others of problems going on around us that they would rather shelter themselves or others from it. But why? Who knows for sure. My thoughts would be that people get so wrapped up in themselves and in their own world that they would rather believe that things like that aren't real because it doesn't affect them. Rather than wanting to do something to help. Whatever that may be.
which is more dangerous, being exposed to what is really happening...or living in the suburbs with the censor button in your hand, and thinking that's real life?
that americans even pretended that they understood the south african culture was most disgusting.
on a continent where people still get regularly beaten and killed for being an albino, a homosexual, or hiv-positive...
this was precious progress in the fight for human dignity.
i only hope we learn from our mistakes.
So, PBS should censor information to the American public? People need to get over themselves and wake up.
Since I have 3 American friends who live with HIV (and no, they are not black or african) I am very sensitive to the issue.
Maybe Sesame Street was trying to educate an ignorant public, or not since it didn't show in America, cause like noone in the USA would have this disease or be passing it on to their children.
Ignorance is bliss.
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