Applauding Chris Fonseca

I applaud comedian Chris Fonseca, who uses a wheelchair, to demonstrate the power and influence of humor in today’s often difficult world (“No Humor Handicap,” Calendar, Jan. 3).

We must accept people by who they are and their talents, not by what they look like. We learned this in the civil rights movement in the ‘60s and we are now learning it through the Americans With Disabilities Act in the ‘90s. I fully understand and agree with him when he says, “I’m not out there on any kind of a mission to promote disabled people and demonstrate what they can or can’t do. I’m a comedian, and I’m just trying to be funny.”

I also understand him especially well when he says, “Once I’m off the stage, real life is a lot more difficult.” While we can laugh at human foibles, we will have to work hard to eliminate ugly stereotypes and inappropriate behavior toward those who have disabilities, in spite of adverse or insecure material conditions most of us encounter today.

With one out of five Americans disabled, it is about time to integrate the entertainment industry.

ANATOLI ILYASHOV

Research Director

Without Barriers or Borders

Los Angeles