Oprah Insensitive to Celiac Disease......

Oprah Magazine ^ | September 2003 | Satelite Sisters

[FormerlyAnotherLurker]

I was just about to write "thank you" but where is it?

"It is posted under "Photos" because it is a jpg file. Once you go there and click on it, you can view it in full size."

It's nice to actually have facts rather than a link to a site that doesn't mention the subject or generalities such as, "on another yahoo group."


So, where is "Photos", on FreeReuplic, or ?

[skr]

Thanks for the ping. I hadn't heard of celiac disease until now. If these Satellite Sisters are the same that have a radio talk show, I'm not surprised at their not researching the question at hand.

[davidosborne]

REF: Sept. issue O-Magazine, pg. 87....

We apologise for our insensitivity. We had never heard of celiac's disease or its dangers. In our ignorance, we misused the phrase "gluten-free", not knowing its real meaning and connection to the genetic disease, Celiac's. We feel awful that our careless and ill-informed use of words has caused you and your family pain. Your letter and many others have served to educate. We can only assume that lots of people are in the dark about celiac's and the issues you and your family face. We do intend to educate ourselves with all the information we received so that we can add our voices to the chorus of the informed about this subject ( rather then the point of view of the ignorant and stupid which we represented so adequately).
I am a mother myself and there is no way I would knowingly shun a kid with a genetic disease. In our O piece, which is meant to be humorous, we tried to poke fun at a mother who is overly vigilant about her child's diet, in a "no white sugar" kind of way. Obviously, we were way off base on the real implications of the phrase "gluten-free". Again, my deepest apologies. And my best wishes for your son's continued good health.

Lian Dolan
the youngest sister

ATTN: FReepers... maybe I took this a little too personal because we deal with this issue everyday, having to educate people when we eat at restaurants and get strange looks when we explain how we need 1 meal prepared "separately" etc..etc....

the purpose of this thread was to educate.. and I think we were successful.. my apologies to anyone who was bothered by the ping to this thread.. I will remove those of you who requested to be removed...

FReegards,

David

[davidosborne]

REF: Sept. issue O-Magazine, pg. 87....

We apologise for our insensitivity. We had never heard of celiac's disease or its dangers. In our ignorance, we misused the phrase "gluten-free", not knowing its real meaning and connection to the genetic disease, Celiac's. We feel awful that our careless and ill-informed use of words has caused you and your family pain. Your letter and many others have served to educate. We can only assume that lots of people are in the dark about celiac's and the issues you and your family face. We do intend to educate ourselves with all the information we received so that we can add our voices to the chorus of the informed about this subject ( rather then the point of view of the ignorant and stupid which we represented so adequately).
I am a mother myself and there is no way I would knowingly shun a kid with a genetic disease. In our O piece, which is meant to be humorous, we tried to poke fun at a mother who is overly vigilant about her child's diet, in a "no white sugar" kind of way. Obviously, we were way off base on the real implications of the phrase "gluten-free". Again, my deepest apologies. And my best wishes for your son's continued good health.

Lian Dolan
the youngest sister

ATTN: FReepers... maybe I took this a little too personal because we deal with this issue everyday, having to educate people when we eat at restaurants and get strange looks when we explain how we need 1 meal prepared "separately" etc..etc....

the purpose of this thread was to educate.. and I think we were successful.. my apologies to anyone who was bothered by the ping to this thread.. I will remove those of you who requested to be removed...

FReegards,

David

[ppaul]

Big deal.

[davidosborne]

It may not be a big deal to you.... but raising a celiac kid is difficult enough without having those who are ignorant tell you that you are "socially unacceptable" ..... education is key to ending the ignorance of "Gluten-Free"

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, David. How's are things going in Florida?

[MindBender26]

David, sorry to burst your bubble, but this is the typical media/movie star "bedbug" letter. It is from some low-level staffer. It means nothing.

Oprah, and every other "personality," cares not a darn about Celiac Disease. The Oprah Winfrey Show has one purpose; make money for Oprah Winfrey. If they can use your family's disease to generate viewers for a program, so they can sell more advertising, and make more money, they will like that. Other than that, they can care less about the problem.

There are 22,000 identifyable "causes" in America, from preventing abuse of the Ardvark to the preservation of Zoos. Your issue is no more important to the public than any of the others are, and frankly, your issue is a lot less important than some other issues.

Again, I'm sorry that a family member is affected by this disease, but when this country is threatned by Radical Islamics that wish to kill every America, not just the wheat-eaters, and a Democratic-Socialist machine that wants to control everything, "TV-hostess insensivity to a food sensitivity" as not one of the major problems facing the Republic.

[Incorrigible]

I have to agree with the others when referring to Oprah, "whatever".

I bet the "sisters" would really have a problem with my wife and our Autistic son who for a year was on a gluten-free diet.

Some Autistic kids have responded well to a gluten free diet.  Though he endured potato milk he got to like corn chips.  Unfortunately, nearly every prepared food in the world has gluten (wheat, barley, etc) in it as some type of filler.  We ordered special coatings, cookie mixes and such from Ener-G Foods in Seattle and my wife prepared and cooked everything by hand.  The cookies were tolerable.  We haven't gone to a restaurant in three years.

He's not on that diet anymore and we had to break him of it since he had gotten used to the taste of things.

I empathize with you and your family.  Maintaining a gluten free diet is a major pain.  I'm not sure how this translated into something this "sister" didn't like about the other mom but some families deal with issues in different ways.  I know a lot of "oh woe is me" parents of Autistic children.  I don't enjoy their company as much as other folks I know either.  It doesn't help the kids if you're depressed about their condition.  It ain't easy, but no one said it would be.

Here's a thread on childhood disability that really drew sparks:

The original:

Boy's letter on abortion rights wins him trip to D.C. [Free Republic]

The Response:

When Even the Churches Abandon the Helpless [FreeRepublic activism works] [Free Republic]

[XBob]

thankyou for remembering and thankyou for the ping. Though I am pretty sure this is not my problem, it is pretty close, and may be some variation of it. I must explore further.

[restornu]

Are you sure it was Sept. I can't find the article!

SEPTEMBER 2003: FINDING YOUR PASSION
Go for it—get what you really want out of life. What's it going to take to find your juice? This month's mission: Identify, energize, and live your passion.

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/omag_landing.jhtml



Passion September 2003
THIS MONTH'S MISSION
FEATURED ARTICLES
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/200309/omag_200309_features.jhtml

[restornu]

In the September issue of O Magazine in the Satelite Sisters section there was a very insensitive article.. that was brought to my attention by Celiac Kids E-group..


Passion September 2003
THIS MONTH'S MISSION
FEATURED ARTICLES
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/200309/omag_200309_features.jhtml

Nothing on this article in the September 2003 O magazine!

Satelite Sisters
http://www.oprah.com/search/search_noresults.jhtml?message=NODOCS&_requestid=155893

Celiac Kids E-group..
http://www.oprah.com/search/search_noresults.jhtml?message=NODOCS&_requestid=156496

[restornu]

This Thread is already on Google!

GOOGLE IS A INSTANCE ROOMER MILL!

General Interest | latest threads
... that was brought to my attention by Celiac Kids E-group..For more information
about celiac disease go to CELIAC.COM Copy of message I recieved..... ...
www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/browse - 80k - Sep 2, 2003 - Cached - Similar pages

[restornu]

Where is this article or is this another "Urban Legend?"

I just send this to them to check this story out!

I just find it so unlike Opera Style!

http://snopes.com/snopes.asp

I am sorry for anyone who is inflicted with this it is a most difficult way to live!

Myself I am dysleic and at time ADD and much of life has been a challenge!

[FormerlyAnotherLurker]

My thought is it is just a hoax. The only evidence I've seen is it was "sent to me in an e-mail" variety. The majority never saw anything. When Google site searches show nothing I would really need hard evidence to believe it. So, for now, just the typical stupid Internet hoax nonsense.

Didn't even bother with the "Oprah insensitive" nonsense since nowhere does she say anything. Blame her editor (ONLY if true) but even though I can't stand her, it's not her fault (again IF true).

[davidosborne]

I checked it out personally at the store...... the remark is on PAGE 87, of the Sept. Issue of O magazine... I did NOT purchase the magazine...

FReegards,

David

[restornu]

What is the full title of the article?

Passion September 2003
THIS MONTH'S MISSION
FEATURED ARTICLES
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/200309/omag_200309_features.jhtml

[davidosborne]

Its the Satelite Sisters page... PAGE 87

[restornu]

Where did you original source for this article come from?

For some reason you posted the address to Oprah.com

That is not her O Magazine address

and the Oprah Mag you listed is not the source!

So where did this article come from?

Don't you think you should give legit links?

[restornu]

Thank you I agree there is something wrong here and not just spelling Satelite Sister is spelled wrong.

I read this man profile I wonder about his real purpose?

Oprah Mag does not list Satelite Sister as a monthly feature!

I do not watch Oprah, but I do know she is a champion of the underdog so this article is incongruen to her MO!