[Blindtlk] Letter to the Editor Concerning "Dining in the Dark"
Steve P. Deeley
stevep.deeley at insightbb.com
Fri Mar 12 11:48:00 UTC 2010
I guess it becomes personal when someone disagrees with you.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Letter to the Editor Concerning "Dining in the Dark"
> Well, mere banter is not an issue. It's when it gets personal there's a
> problem.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>
> E-Mail:
> rforetjr at comcast dot net
>
> On Mar 11, 2010, at 7:49 PM, Jewel S. wrote:
>
>> As long as it stays civil, yes?
>> ~Jewel
>>
>> On 3/11/10, Steve P. Deeley <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com> wrote:
>>> You know what--banter helps understand each others views and opinions.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:37 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Letter to the Editor Concerning "Dining in the
>>> Dark"
>>>
>>>
>>>> Now, now. Let's not start a banter, guys, please?
>>>>
>>>> ~Jewel
>>>>
>>>> On 3/11/10, Ray Foret jr <rforetjr at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>> Oh yeah, and what will you say when you can't get anybody to hire you?
>>>>> Answer me that.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>>>>
>>>>> E-Mail:
>>>>> rforetjr at comcast dot net
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mar 11, 2010, at 4:26 PM, Steve P. Deeley wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> You are right, however, I have more important things to worry about.
>>>>>> Steve
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Foret jr"
>>>>>> <rforetjr at comcast.net>
>>>>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 4:44 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Letter to the Editor Concerning "Dining in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> Dark"
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ANd why not? It's the truth. What we say is the truth whether
>>>>>>> anybody
>>>>>>> likes it or not. We're not some boring bunch of people who are all
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> same in every way. Sometimes, I think our so-called society is
>>>>>>> trying
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> make us all in to a bunch of homogenized bunch of people who are all
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> same with no difference between any of us; just in case any
>>>>>>> differences
>>>>>>> might be offensive to somebody. Well, that's just too bad because
>>>>>>> that's
>>>>>>> not the way God made us.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Anyhow, I should have the article here shortly.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When I do, I'll put it up here.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> E-Mail:
>>>>>>> rforetjr at comcast dot net
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mar 11, 2010, at 2:20 PM, Steve P. Deeley wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I believe the writer of that letter sounds very angry. That, also,
>>>>>>>> turns sighted individuals off. Let's not go down the race road for
>>>>>>>> our
>>>>>>>> examples.
>>>>>>>> Steve
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Wunder"
>>>>>>>> <gwunder at earthlink.net>
>>>>>>>> To: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>; "Blind Talk Mailing
>>>>>>>> List"
>>>>>>>> <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 1:57 PM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Letter to the Editor Concerning "Dining in
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> Dark"
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> You should be able to get it mailed to your e-mail address on file
>>>>>>>>> by
>>>>>>>>> pressing pound 9.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Gary
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marion Gwizdala"
>>>>>>>>> <blind411 at verizon.net>
>>>>>>>>> To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 10:54 AM
>>>>>>>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Letter to the Editor Concerning "Dining in the
>>>>>>>>> Dark"
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Dear All,
>>>>>>>>>> I tried to get a copy of the original article about which I wrote
>>>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>>>> letter to the editor; however, it was not available without
>>>>>>>>>> paying a
>>>>>>>>>> fee.
>>>>>>>>>> The article can be accessed by going to NFB-Newsline and
>>>>>>>>>> selecting
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> St.Petersburg Times Metro section. If anyone can get access to
>>>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>>>> article, please send it to the list. Pasted below is my letter to
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> editor.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Fraternally yours,
>>>>>>>>>> Marion Gwizdala
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> March 11, 2010
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I am writing to comment on the article "Awareness Was the
>>>>>>>>>> Main
>>>>>>>>>> Course" by Laura Reiley that appeared in the March 10 Metro
>>>>>>>>>> section
>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> St. Petersburg times. As a blind person, I often meet people who
>>>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>>>> amazed by the fact that I can perform even the simplest of tasks.
>>>>>>>>>> Generally this attitude is based on their own experience
>>>>>>>>>> attempting
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> perform the same task without eyesight and failing at it
>>>>>>>>>> miserably.
>>>>>>>>>> It
>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>> for this reason that most blind people are opposed to using the
>>>>>>>>>> type
>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>> simulation exercises featured in this article. Blindfolding a
>>>>>>>>>> sighted
>>>>>>>>>> person and asking them to perform even a simple task does not, as
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> article purports, give a person any awareness of what the life of
>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>> blind
>>>>>>>>>> person is like. In fact, such exercises only serve to reinforce
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> misconceptions and promulgate the myths about blindness that
>>>>>>>>>> create
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> social, legal, and economic barriers that prevent us from
>>>>>>>>>> achieving
>>>>>>>>>> true
>>>>>>>>>> equality with our sighted peers. Those of us who are blind have
>>>>>>>>>> developed
>>>>>>>>>> an array of non-visual techniques to perform activities of daily
>>>>>>>>>> living,
>>>>>>>>>> such as eating, just as effectively as sighted people do using
>>>>>>>>>> eyesight.
>>>>>>>>>> Blindfolding a sighted person and asking them to perform a task
>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>> like
>>>>>>>>>> putting someone in the cockpit of a jetliner and telling them to
>>>>>>>>>> fly!
>>>>>>>>>> Lacking the proper skills, the results of both would be
>>>>>>>>>> disastrous!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The real problem of blindness is not the lack of
>>>>>>>>>> eyesight;
>>>>>>>>>> rather it is the manner in which we are treated as the result of
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> misconceptions people have about blindness. If one really wants
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> find
>>>>>>>>>> out what life is like for a blind person, there is no need to don
>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>> blindfold! All one needs to do is carry a white cane, the
>>>>>>>>>> international
>>>>>>>>>> symbol of blindness, and go about their everyday life. Then they
>>>>>>>>>> would
>>>>>>>>>> feel the crushing insults of public misperception that blind
>>>>>>>>>> people,
>>>>>>>>>> except for those few who are believed to be amazing and
>>>>>>>>>> extraordinary,
>>>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>>>> innately ignorant and helpless. They would experience the
>>>>>>>>>> waitress
>>>>>>>>>> who
>>>>>>>>>> asks a five year old what the blind adult wants to drink. They
>>>>>>>>>> would
>>>>>>>>>> encounter the librarian who admonishes them for going out alone,
>>>>>>>>>> thus
>>>>>>>>>> exposing them to the hazards of opening a door. They would be
>>>>>>>>>> confronted
>>>>>>>>>> by the Employer who inquires about who will bring them to work.
>>>>>>>>>> They
>>>>>>>>>> would
>>>>>>>>>> learn that even well educated doctors are so ignorant as to ask
>>>>>>>>>> them
>>>>>>>>>> who
>>>>>>>>>> bathes them! Though you might want to minimize these incidents
>>>>>>>>>> away,
>>>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>>>>> are examples of the type of ignorance I - and other blind
>>>>>>>>>> people -
>>>>>>>>>> encounter on a regular, almost daily, basis!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I am not asserting that eyesight is not beneficial nor
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> work of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is not valuable. What
>>>>>>>>>> concerns
>>>>>>>>>> me is that organizations that assert they want to "serve the
>>>>>>>>>> blind"
>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>>> us
>>>>>>>>>> such a disservice by reinforcing the public misconceptions and
>>>>>>>>>> fears
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> create the problems we face. I am all for raising money to cure
>>>>>>>>>> retinal
>>>>>>>>>> degenerative diseases, especially since the condition that has
>>>>>>>>>> caused
>>>>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>>>>> blindness, that of my 14-year-old nephew , and several other
>>>>>>>>>> members
>>>>>>>>>> of my
>>>>>>>>>> family is retinitis Pigmentosa. I am, however, opposed to
>>>>>>>>>> creating
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> type of fear and pity that results from blindfolding people for
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> purpose of raising money! Such a practice is as offensive to me
>>>>>>>>>> as a
>>>>>>>>>> black-faced minstrel would be to an African American! These
>>>>>>>>>> misconceptions
>>>>>>>>>> are the reason fewer than 10% of blind children are learning to
>>>>>>>>>> read
>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>> write Braille, producing functionally illiterate blind adults.
>>>>>>>>>> These
>>>>>>>>>> fears
>>>>>>>>>> and misconceptions are the reason that the unemployment rate
>>>>>>>>>> among
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> blind is more than 70%!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The veracity of my concerns are supported by the numerous
>>>>>>>>>> inaccurate statements made by the author who has bought into the
>>>>>>>>>> false
>>>>>>>>>> perceptions of the blind. Does she really believe that "other
>>>>>>>>>> senses
>>>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>>>> heightened" by taking away one's sight or "; texture became
>>>>>>>>>> paramount"
>>>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>>>> the result of simulated blindness? Does she really believe that
>>>>>>>>>> blindfolding participants "gave all assembled a greater window
>>>>>>>>>> into
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> world of the sightless"? Does she really believe that blind
>>>>>>>>>> people
>>>>>>>>>> go
>>>>>>>>>> through life "bumbling" their ways around or did she just
>>>>>>>>>> irresponsibly
>>>>>>>>>> promulgate the pitiful stereotype in an effort to sell your
>>>>>>>>>> newspapers
>>>>>>>>>> like the Foundation Fighting Blindness did to sell themselves and
>>>>>>>>>> selfishly generate revenue with no concern about the social
>>>>>>>>>> consequences
>>>>>>>>>> of their actions?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The belief that blind people are endowed with heightened
>>>>>>>>>> senses
>>>>>>>>>> and special powers is a myth. Blind people simply learn to use
>>>>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>>>>> senses and alternative techniques to perform the tasks sighted
>>>>>>>>>> people
>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>>> with eyesight. Like any skill, these techniques are generally not
>>>>>>>>>> acquired
>>>>>>>>>> in a half-hour nor mysteriously and supernaturally endowed.
>>>>>>>>>> However,
>>>>>>>>>> these
>>>>>>>>>> skills enable blind people to function independently,
>>>>>>>>>> efficiently,
>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>> effectively. In fact, the average blind person can perform the
>>>>>>>>>> same
>>>>>>>>>> tasks
>>>>>>>>>> as their sighted peers as well, if not better, by employing these
>>>>>>>>>> alternative techniques. Our blindness is not the problem. The
>>>>>>>>>> real
>>>>>>>>>> problem
>>>>>>>>>> of blindness is the misunderstanding and lack of information that
>>>>>>>>>> exists.
>>>>>>>>>> If a blind person is given proper training and opportunity,
>>>>>>>>>> blindness
>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>> only a physical nuisance.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> In the future, when your paper is doing a story about
>>>>>>>>>> blindness, it would be helpful to get accurate information and
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> perspective of a blind person who is qualified to speak to these
>>>>>>>>>> issues by
>>>>>>>>>> being chosen by the blind to speak on their behalf. The National
>>>>>>>>>> Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest organization of
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> blind in the United States. We are not an organization that
>>>>>>>>>> speaks
>>>>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>>>> behalf of the blind; we are the blind speaking for ourselves. For
>>>>>>>>>> accurate
>>>>>>>>>> information about blindness or the blind, please feel free to get
>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>> touch
>>>>>>>>>> with me or visit one of our websites at
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> HTTP://WWW.NFB.ORG
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Or
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> HTTP://WWW.NFB-NAGDU.ORG
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Respectfully yours,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> 813-598-7161
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> President at NFB-NAGDU.ORG
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>> blindtlk:
>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/gwunder%40earthlink.net
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>>>>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>> blindtlk:
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/stevep.deeley%40insightbb.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>>>>>>> Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2736 - Release Date:
>>>>>>>> 03/11/10
>>>>>>>> 07:33:00
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> blindtlk:
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>>>>> Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2736 - Release Date:
>>>>>> 03/11/10
>>>>>> 07:33:00
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>> blindtlk:
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/rforetjr%40comcast.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> blindtlk:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> blindtlk:
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>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>> 07:33:00
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>>>
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>>
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>
>
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