Posted on 08/31/2003 12:04:05 PM PDT by davidosborne
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..
For more information about celiac disease go to CELIAC.COM
Copy of message I recieved.....
The September issue of O Magazine ridicules gluten-free kids in its one page, monthly feature called "Satellite Sisters." The feature is about how to avoid socially undesirable people who are trying to befriend you. It is titled "Sorry, But I Think I'm Sick That Day," and the first line of the subtitle is "The neighbor with gluten-free children itching to join your mother's group." The other examples are "your dull office mate" and a career climber who is dying to get into your industry.
Frankly, I was outraged and insulted by this piece. I doubt very seriously they would have made fun of children with Down's Syndrome, or diabetes, or even dyslexia. The social aspects of celiac disease and/or a gluten-free diet are hard enough without people like Oprah making fun of these children. I plan to write to the magazine and I think others should also. Just my two cents.
Barbara Drumheller, TX
andybarb@houston.rr.com
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
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
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]
FReegards,
David
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?
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!
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