I just watched the Family Guy episode that has put Sarah Palin on the offensive over the past week. In this episode, teenage son Chris goes on a date with a high school classmate who has Down’s Syndrome. When Chris asks about her family, she informs him that her mom is “the former governor of Alaska.” Incidentally, the character is voiced by a woman with Down’s Syndrome.
I should note that I’m a generally a fan of the show. Its confrontational and sometimes over-the-top humor can push the envelope of good taste, but that’s one of the functions of comedy. This particular episode didn’t strike me as a cruel attack on people with Down’s Syndrome in general or on Palin’s son in particular. Instead, it seemed to be poking fun at Palin’s tendency to refer to her son’s disability in political settings when it suits her. The episode as a whole treats the character as a fairly typical teenage girl with a personality that is not solely defined by her disability. Andrea Friedman, the voice of the character, released a statement that pretty much says the same thing.
Palin’s reaction is typical of those who view disability through a prism of tragedy and suffering, making them unable to see any humor in the situation or in their own reactions to it. It’s a reaction ultimately fueled by pity and sentimentality. Given a choice between the worldviews of Palin and Family Guy, I’d rather hang out with the Griffins.
