s$ $$ .d""b. .d""b. HOE E'ZINE #1059 [-- $$""b. $$ $$ $$ $$ -- ------------------------------------------- --] $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ss$$ "Don't Step On Stumpy" $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ by Puce $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ 04/7/00 [-- $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ -- ------------------------------------------- --] $$ $$ "TssT" "TssT" "But if you please, what are munchkins?" "The little people who live in this land; it's Munchkin land." Oh, but if it only were! At the beginning of the previous millennium, midgets really had a place in the world. Documentation from the Medieval and Renaissance periods show that there were many more midgets then than there are now. Back then, they were much more a part of mainstream society. Shakespearean plays often had midget performers, and the many Louis's of France had many midgets in their courts. Midget entertainers were important back then, and although they weren't a heavily regarded part of society, they did add a small contribution. Midgets languished in obscurity (with the exception of The Wizard of Oz) until the 1980's when shows like Different Strokes and Webster showed the modern world just how inspirational and heart-warming midgets can really be. Thanks to Gary Coleman and Emmanuel Lewis, once again, the power of midgets was brought home to American families. Thus we saw the beginnings of the variety of emotions that can only be conveyed through midgets. Gary Coleman was the tough, no nonsense kind of midget, while Emmanuel Lewis was more of the naive, easily manipulated, yet still innovative midget. Equally noteworthy, was the 1988 Ron Howard/George Lucas film entitled Willow, staring Warwick Daus, who charmed everyone, including Val Kilmer, his co-star. Warwick introduced us to another kind of midget; the heroic kind. Finally we came face to face with the facts that while midgets are small, they can go to great lengths to get what they want and save the world from evil. Furthermore, this movie showed us something new and inspiring that may not have ever crossed our minds before. Anyone who has seen it can think back to the moment when Willow and his wife are reunited and come running towards each other, so happy to be back together safe and sound. That was a beautiful moment of pure midget love and more of that needs to be seen. But now we have entered a new millennium and what I want to know is what is going to happen to the midgets? It's all fine and good to have movies like Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me, come out and start an exploitive obsession with "Mini-me". But really, movies like this only seem to degrade midgets and put them down. Mini-Me was used as more of a prop, than a person. More movies should be made with midget actors playing roles that regular people might play. For example, why must it always be the case that Arnold Schwartzenager gets to play action parts. And I don't see any reason why Warwick couldn't tackle a James Bond role. A recent movie was The Island of Dr. Moreau. Although this film wasn't too centered around midgets, it did have one in it and I was overwhelmed with emotion. However, I was, at the same time, a little confused by the treatment of that midget. This midget was seemingly respected, but he was also dressed exactly identical to Marlon Brando's character. Although I'm sure that if normal people each had a similar looking midget of their own to mirror them in every way (except height) they would be thrilled. But I'm not sure that midgets want to be carbon copies of regular people. They have their own style and voices and should be respected as individuals, not little clones. Midgets offer to the world, what no one else can; a miniature outlook on life. Mainstream society should reach down and open their arms to midgets because how else will we really know what it's like for them. And in this way, we can better relate and perhaps, in a small way, live vicariously through them. There have been countless times in my life when I have wanted to be smaller for some reasons, and midgets get that opportunity without even trying. I have to make a small confession here. I personally suffer from midget envy. Things just seem so much easier at 3 feet from the ground. I know that that's not the case and that really, I should feel very sorry for midgets, but I just can't help but feel a small twinge of jealousy whenever I see one. Take Webster for instance. Emmanuel Lewis will always hold a special place in my heart. Forever, whenever I think of dumb waiters, immediately I think of little Webster, always being small enough to fit inside of his, and making me constantly jealous of the life he lead. Like that one time when those boys were going to try to rob Webster's house, and he hid in the dumb waiter and then called 911. He had a way to hide and then save the day, and that's something that I never would have had the chance to do. I'm so envious that midgets will always have a place to hide, or be able to squeeze in to. They never have to grow up, or pay for subway tokens, and they could, if they wanted, play in playgrounds or the ballroom at Chuck E. Cheeze's through their entire lives. Like Jello, there's just always room for midgets. But despite my envy, looking at Webster's world made me want more from mine, but still appreciate what I had. Webster's small dreams are continually helping me to reach for my higher ones. I guess this is just another reason why I want midgets to be utilized more in entertainment fields, and respected more in society. I am both envious *and* inspired by them. Speaking of inspiration, the reason why I am writing this essay at all is because Gary Coleman inspired me. My boyfriend worked at an online company called UGO networks. They recently created a Gary Coleman Webathon trying to raise money for this all time favorite midget actor. Gary has been in need of money ever since the cancellation of Different Strokes, when his parents took all his money from him. He has worked odd jobs ever since, most recently as a security guard. Recently, Gary himself came to the company and shook every person's hand there, thanking them for their efforts. Gary, despite any violent tendencies, was polite and grateful. My boyfriend said that Gary even played video games with people, and let them win often. Which brings me to another point. Midgets are polite and grateful and have to deal with a lot of abuse that average-sized people don't ever come into contact with. Assault on their part should be looked past, in light of their size. I'm not saying that psychotic midgets should be given special treatment, but as far as small time assault is concerned, it's highly unlikely that midget assault does much damage on normal people anyway. Therefore, in Gary's case, I think he should be allowed moments where he can relieve some frustration. Especially since Different Strokes was canceled. Furthermore, I think it must be really hard to be a midget security guard. Unfortunately, today, I get the feeling that many midgets are trying to hide from the world. When any are spotted, many people seemed shocked and surprised. This should not be. People need to come to terms with the fact that midgets are a part of society. Therefore, they should do things to make the world a more accessible place for midgets. Things should not be put on terribly high shelves, if that can be avoided. Avenues should be shortened, so that they aren't as long and grueling, especially for little legs. But most importantly, normal children should be much more educated about midgets so that they too can grow up appreciating them and realizing their value. Society can do a lot better, as far as midgets are concerned. Their treatment today is simply mediocre. Midgets are small but mighty, and deserve their place. We should appreciate them forever, not just when it is convenient or trendy. Midgets should not have to bear exclusion or torment from average-sized people and they should be allowed to be angry and violent if need be. Who knows, midgets could be a step up on the ladder of evolution: one day it might be a small world after all. [-------------------------------------------------------------------------] [ (c) HOE E'ZINE -- http://www.hoe.nu HOE #1059, BY PUCE - 4/07/00 ]