IT'S ANOTHER LABOR DAY WEEKEND...AND IT'S NOT THE SAME WITHOUT JERRY LEWIS

     On this Labor Day Weekend...we, as Americans - some Americans, not all - are provided with a day off from work...and a day of festivities - tomorrow, Monday, September 1st, 2014 - to honor the working people of the United States.  As defined by Wikipedia...Labor Day "is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers.  It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of their country."

     But throughout my entire childhood and nearly all of my adult life - for me...and for millions and millions of other people across the nation - Labor Day represented a day for The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon.  Unfortunately and shamefully...Jerry was wrongfully fired by MDA executives after his 2010 program.  The telethon - a 21 and a half-hour annual event was reduced to 6 hours in 2011 - without Jerry - to 3 hours in 2012...to 2 hours in 2013...and to a scheduled 2 hours for this year, 2014.

     MDA has lost millions and millions of dollars since Jerry was removed as the host of the telethon and as the National Chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Without Jerry...published reports of the organization's federal tax returns have shown that MDA hasn't been able to collect as much as 50 percent of the money pledged.

     Although it's been four years since Jerry Lewis was cruelly terminated as the host of HIS telethon...I am still amazed...and somewhat angry...by the MDA's insensitive and cold-hearted actions to give him the axe when Jerry was so instrumental in building the Muscular Dystrophy Association...raising billions of dollars to better the lives of "Jerry's Kids"...and for making The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon an American tradition and a national treasure for more than half a century.

     I have no respect for the people who now run the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  I still make my contribution every year because I wouldn't want to hurt the people of our country who suffer from any of the neuromuscular diseases that my dollars might help.  But how did the Board of Directors of the MDA take away control of an organization...from a man - a beloved hero - who made the MDA and the telethon what they were from the very beginning? The stupidity of the MDA brass...to boot out someone...whose accomplishments made its foundation as successful as it was for nearly 60 years...made no sense to me...and I never will understand their lunatic logic.

     Each year The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon was one of television's biggest productions.  It was a huge extravaganza that brought star power to America's television screens.  But more importantly...Jerry brought love...passion...laughter...and tears...to each of us who were watching...and - as was Jerry - we were all devoted to the telethon so that the tote board exceeded at least...one more dollar...over the previous year's total. 

     It hurts to not see Jerry Lewis on Labor Day.  Labor Day is not the same without Jerry and his telethon.  The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon was a Jerry Lewis brand...and it was something special for Jerry...for the MDA...and for all of us.  Now...without Jerry...it is nothing.

   

  Jerry Lewis is one of the world's greatest humanitarians of all time.  He is an icon...who with his heart...his hands...and his head...developed a telethon and an organization, which benefited nearly every human on the planet Earth in one way or another.  Jerry Lewis is symbolic of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Therefore...to dissect that symbol...the inept leaders of the MDA did not only make a poor decision...but simply put...they were wrong.  To put Jerry Lewis out to pasture - so to speak - when he still had so much to offer... and so much to do...was disgraceful.  After all...if it ain't broke...don't fix it.

     Jerry Lewis began his telethons to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1952.  Until 1965...Jerry hosted local telethons including those that aired on television stations in New York City for the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.  In 1966...The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon became syndicated and a national happening.  Over a period of almost six decades...Jerry Lewis was responsible for raising nearly 3 billion dollars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Jerry spent practically his entire adult life unselfishly helping his "kids."

     To not see Jerry Lewis sing his closing song at the end of each telethon... is sorely missed on Labor Day.  As it brought tears to Jerry's eyes...and tears to our eyes while he sang it...Jerry's performance of "You'll Never Walk Alone" put a smile on all the faces of "Jerry's Kids"...and on all the faces of us who watched...because we knew...Jerry did it again.  He hosted and produced a telethon that entertained us...informed us...educated us...and not only raised awareness of the seriousness and severity of neuromuscular diseases...but Jerry raised more and more money to prolong the lives and the quality of life for an enormous amount of people.  

     I discovered a video on YouTube...which I urge you to watch today...if like me...you too are having "Jerry Lewis withdrawal"...and have a desire and a need...to see Jerry sing his signature trademark.  It will take you down memory lane with Jerry singing from 1976 through his last telethon in 2010. So I hope you will click on the link below...(you may have to copy and paste the link in to your browser)...and that you will embrace the five minutes and thirteen seconds of Jerry Lewis and "You'll Never Walk Alone."  I promise you...it will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling on this Labor Day Weekend.

     Jerry Lewis WAS the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Jerry Lewis WAS the Labor Day telethon.  But Jerry Lewis IS STILL...the heart and soul that breathed life in to the MDA and HIS telethon...and IS STILL...the heart and soul that breathed life in to HIS "kids."

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

     "We'll talk again." 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=O3-j9zLfChg

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