President Maurer has asked that we circulate the message below widely, and
take action on it.
Attention all listers,
Here is a situation that you can help with if you will. An outfit called
Cheap Tickets has placed ads on CNN, and perhaps other TV networks,
depicting a blind beggar sitting on a bench with a glass jar. A
business-suit-clad woman walks up and drops a bill into the jar and then
takes all the other money in the jar as change for her hand-out. The beggar
sits looking confused at what he is hearing. The comment is something like,
“Everybody’s cheap.” A number of people are objecting to the underlying
assumptions of the ad that beggars are usually blind and don't know what is
going on around them. We are encouraging Cheap Tickets to withdraw this
message. A number of folks have already written to the CEO of the company,
and we urge everyone who finds the ad distasteful to do the same. Here is
the contact information:
Michael Bartholomew, CEO
Cheap Tickets, Inc.
1440 Kapiolani Blvd.
Suite 800
Honolulu, HI 96814
phone 808-945-7439
fax 808-946-5993.
There is an e-mail address, which will not get to the CEO directly, but
which might cause some employees to yell if it really gets overused. I
strongly suggest that everyone who can do so should write a letter and send
or fax it. Nathaniel Wales, who got us this contact information is sending
his letter registered mail with return receipt requested because that will
ensure that Mr. Bartholomew or his secretary has to take notice of what is
coming. If e-mail is the only way you will get to this project, the address
is <custserv@cheaptickets.com>.
Please spread the word about this effort, and tell your friends not to
patronize this company until it stops trying to do business by stereotyping
blind people.
Barbara Pierce
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