[blindlaw] some questions

Hyde, David W. (ESC) david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us
Tue Aug 9 12:41:24 UTC 2011


You are right, the thread has gone some away from law. We try to help folks when we can. And I appreciate those who, although tolerate those of us who only pass a bar occasionally.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of AZNOR99 at aol.com
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 8:31 PM
To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] some questions

Hi David,
 
Thank you very much.  I appreciate your reflections.
 
I've emailed Beth off-list and will certainly be happy to assist her in any  way I can.  However, I do not believe that this discussion is appropriate for this list.  While Beth's challenges are valid, this list is reserved for discussion of the practice of law by the blind and/or laws that affect the  blind.
 
Thanks,
Ronza
 
 
 
In a message dated 8/8/2011 9:19:19 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us writes:

I   apologize for the offence, and my misperception. I should know better 
than to  trust my memory of the Holy Koran, rather than doing research first. 
No  offence was intended, I assure you. For those of us who are not learned in the  faith of Islam, I am grateful for your correction.

Since you are  learned in the faith, could you help this lady in her need to convince her  prospective in-laws about the ability of blind people? 
Perhaps what I thought  would be an impediment could be a help.



-----Original  Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org  [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
Behalf Of AZNOR99 at aol.com
Sent:  Saturday, August 06, 2011 7:14 AM
To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re:  [blindlaw] some questions

David, with all due respect, you're wrong  about how Islam perceives the 
blind and blindness.  It isn't the religion  or its values that pity the 
blind, and rather various cultural and political  beliefs that perpetuate that 
stereotype.  You said "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."  As a learned Muslim, I'd like to see 
direct citations in the  Qur'an or Hadeeth that support this position.  In  
fact, Hadeeth  point to the blind as often the most learned and wise.   
Anyone  
who is economically disadvantaged, orphans, and widows are the categories  
expressly listed to be considered as charity recipients, when they need   
it. 
The notion that the Islamic religion expressly believes what you  attribute 
to it is akin to the notion that any blind American walking  down  the 
street should be given a dollar because blind should be pitied  and taken  care 
of.  Most of us on this list would believe that  statement is  proposterous, 
and the same is true anywhere else in the  world.  Please,  check your 
facts before making such  statements.  Incidentally, I am  personally offended 
by this  depiction.

Beth, this is a challenging problem.  If you and your  partner  wish to 
marry, there is no legal reason that I'm aware of that  would prevent you  from 
doing so simply because you are blind - this is  the case both hear and in 
somalia.  If he is Muslim and you wish to  obtain an Islamic marriage,  
you'll simply both need to be adults, have  the requisite number of witnesses,  
and have completed any type of  pre-marrital counseling and marriage 
contract negotiations the sheikh and  specific mosque require.  The fact that you 
are not Somali is not a  factor that can prevent the legal marriage contract 
from being executed or  enforced.  

However, the reception you get from the community is  quite a different 
thing.  Statistically, there are many more Somali women  in the world and in 
the U.S. than Somali men (largely due to the consequences  of a civil war and 
current refugee migration systems that give priority to  women and 
children).  It may be that these folks who disapprove of your  marriage are  simply 
trying to "look out for their own," if you will,  because if your fiance 
marries you, he won't marry a Somali woman.   

I'm a bit of a subject matter expert on the Somali diaspora, so feel  free 
to email me off-list if you want to discuss this further.

Good  luck, and congratulations!

Regards,
Ronza




In a message dated 8/5/2011 12:14:41 P.M. Eastern Daylight  Time, 
david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us writes:

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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