[blindlaw] some questions

[Beth]

David,
	My boyfriend's parents have been dead in Somalia sadly for 
some years, but his uncle has the best attitude I've seen 
about blindness: why would the rest of your body work if 
your eyes didn't?  So what if your eyes don't work?  The 
resft of your boddy does.  At least that's the attitudde he 
has about his own nephew and me.  His wife, the uncle's 
wife, and daughters are very kind to me and enjoy hanging 
out with me and my roommate, who is sighted nd a very strong 
supporter of my being independent, though she can be a bit 
of a pushy and demanding subject of jy attention.  But 
whatever.
Thanks, and like I said in a previous e-mail, the imam in the 
local mosque and another sister are strong supporters of me.
Beth

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Hyde, David W. (ESC)" <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List' <blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 11:11:49 -0500
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] some questions

I agree with the others who have responded. On a purely cultural 
level, blindness is viewed differently in his culture than it is 
in ours. Further, if his family comes from an Islamic background, 
and still holds to some of the tenants of the Koran and the 
Sharia, blindness is a condition to be pitied, and blind people 
are those who are specifically identified as recipients of 
charity. If these beliefs are deeply ingrained, there may be no 
hope of changing them. You might try, if this be the case, 
talking some someone at a local mosque. If they have a person 
whose opinion they value, and that person agrees with you, get 
him, or her, to intercede.

Blindness in their country is almost always, an unmitigated 
tragedy. There are very few opportunities. Attitudes change very 
slowly. You may, ultimately, have to wed without their buy in. 
But try everything else first. If you don't, you will wish you 
had. If you do everything you can, then you can believe that you 
did your best. The parents may, eventually come around.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Beth
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011 8:36 AM
To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindlaw] some questions

Hi, guys.
	I have some questions about a cultural conflict going on 
with some people who are trying to prevent me and my current 
boyfriend from marrying.  They state that because we are 
both totally blind, we would 1. Not make good parents or are 
not fit to be parents.
2. Would be unable to perform everyday tasks when indeed we've 
both graduated from the Colorado Center for the Blind x number of 
months ago.
3. That my boyfriend would be bored and lonely.  These men are 
Somali, so they state he should also marry his own kind, surely a 
sign of discrimination.  They are not willing to change.  How 
should we deal with them?  Thanks.
Beth

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