As someone who is now vision impaired (yep .. my blindness is recent indeed)
This is INSULTING ..
Obviously .. not a joking matter ..
For I do have to protect myself .. and what's left of my eyes ..
(I use shields .. because I can still sense things .. but it also means I have migraines if too much light hits my eyes).
Chinese Company Names Sunglasses After Helen Keller: Brilliant or Bad Idea?
SodaHead Business
2012/04/21 23:41:37
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A new line of luxury sunglasses named after a blind icon? We sure didn’t see (pun intended) that one coming!
But this is no joke. A Chinese company has actually named their eyewear after the famously deafblind Helen Keller who, by the way, never actually wore sunglasses! You may be wondering: Is this a case of deliberate eyerony? A glaring oversight? Something lost in translation? Apparently, none of the above.
According to the Washington Post, “Helen Keller is apparently a staple of China’s school curriculum – an exemplary figure that overcame her disabilities to make a mark – and a socialist to boot.”
Furthermore, the company’s spokesperson Chen Wenjing said that they were fully aware that Helen Keller was blind, but chose the figure for what she represented: “her philanthropist spirit which spread optimism around the world.” Hmm . . . we’re not sure we buy that explanation.
As if this story wasn’t ridiculous enough, the company’s motto—“You see the world, the world sees you”—just seems to make the use of Keller’s name feel even more insensitive. Yet, some are calling the marketing strategy bold. After all, the Helen Keller sunglasses certainly have received significant media attention.
What do you think SodaHeads? Was the Chinese company’s decision to name their new line of sunglasses after Helen Keller brilliant or a bad idea?
But this is no joke. A Chinese company has actually named their eyewear after the famously deafblind Helen Keller who, by the way, never actually wore sunglasses! You may be wondering: Is this a case of deliberate eyerony? A glaring oversight? Something lost in translation? Apparently, none of the above.
According to the Washington Post, “Helen Keller is apparently a staple of China’s school curriculum – an exemplary figure that overcame her disabilities to make a mark – and a socialist to boot.”
Furthermore, the company’s spokesperson Chen Wenjing said that they were fully aware that Helen Keller was blind, but chose the figure for what she represented: “her philanthropist spirit which spread optimism around the world.” Hmm . . . we’re not sure we buy that explanation.
As if this story wasn’t ridiculous enough, the company’s motto—“You see the world, the world sees you”—just seems to make the use of Keller’s name feel even more insensitive. Yet, some are calling the marketing strategy bold. After all, the Helen Keller sunglasses certainly have received significant media attention.
What do you think SodaHeads? Was the Chinese company’s decision to name their new line of sunglasses after Helen Keller brilliant or a bad idea?
Read More: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/20/chinese-compan...
Top Opinion
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sglmom 2012/04/22 00:33:59
Let me guess, the American nanny state is not amused...
Trend? Americans have been laughing at handicapped people since forever. For a while it was less public but it never diminished. It is also not increasing, it is just becoming more public again because politics has made it OK and acceptable to publicly hate people.
I hope when you refer to handicapped you are referring to mental illness as well because I would argue that whatever hatred, resentment or animosity physically handicapped people face, those with mental illness have it even worse.
I know it is a huge problem. I know it needs to be address. What I keep changing my mind on is HOW it should be addressed.
If a 16 year old is cyber-bullying another 16 year old, what should be done about it? Should the school punish? Should the local police punish? Both?
Currently I think both. The school should be involved and the juvenile needs to go in front of a judge and have the law say to him or her that he or she is no longer allowed to use social media sites like Facebook or Google+ and if it happens again they will not be allowed to own or use a computer (like they do to pedophiles and hackers).