Here's to the BBC...

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has a new star for its CBeebies network which features programming for six-year-old and younger children. Her name is Cerrie Burnell. She "is warm and natural and we think that, in time, all moms and dads and children will love her as much as we do," the network says.

Burnell's 'flaw,' according to a narrow-minded few, is that she was born with one hand. Her other arm ends just below the elbow.

I guess it should come as no surprise that there have been complaints from parents over her disability. Some say it could cause their child nightmares. Others don't know what to tell their children. One father lamented that it forced him to have a conversation with his child about disabilities. (Isn't it about time, dad? Some questions in everyday life need answers for children to learn.)

The network says they have received 25 'official' complaints and that criticism is the big talk among newspapers, columnists and bloggers like me. Perhaps it is good that a 'non-issue' like this emerges every once in a while so we can express our values. It's always sad though, to see the negative expressions of things that shouldn't be negative. What are those people teaching their children by their 'outrage?'

And doesn't it seem all too much that the minority on many issues always seems to dominate the news and shape direction too often for the majority?

Good for the BBC for its placement and support of Burnell.