[Blindtlk] FW: Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer

Thu Sep 23 19:15:29 UTC 2010

Hi Cindy, Gary, and All,

I always love reading Gary's posts, because they are so well-balanced, and profound.

I have to agree with Gary and Cindy. Although all seasoned federationists know that living full lives with blindness is quite doable, how many of us can say that we are never frustrated by trying to navigate when all of our landmarks are covered with ice and snow? How many of us are never frustrated by having printed mail or other material, or instructions for food preparation that won't scan so that it is intelligible? How many of us can say that we are never hurt and frustrated by the discrimination and condescending behavior of the sighted--no matter how well intentioned they are. Of course, we learn to deal with these things, and look at the big picture and negotiate these things and move forward with our lives, but that doesn't mean the frustrations aren't there. 

I realize that the "drama" seems ridiculous (for lack of a better word) to those of us who have been blind most or all of our lives, but for someone who is thrust into that reality, having had sight and then suddenly being without it, the pain must be very real. Just Imagine waking up one morning and not being able to hear, or being unable to walk and abruptly confined to a wheelchair. Wouldn't there be some anger, some pain, some time needed to adjust?

As far as the media portrayal is concerned, it's kind of a "catch 22." I think it is sad that there will be people (probably many people) who will see the negativity and devastation, and will stop there. They won't bother to see the way that he has overcome blindness. That is unfortunate and doesn't do us any service. But that doesn't mean that the devastation should be downplayed and ignored. It was a real part of his story, and is a natural part of adjusting to blindness. Hiding that will not make it any less true.

 Diane Graves
Civil Rights Specialist
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
317-232-2647

"It is service that measures success."
George Washington Carver

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-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Wunder
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 2:43 PM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer

I must agree with Cindy. What I want the public to hear is the good stuff on
the theory that if they hear the good stuff my life will be freed from some
obstacles they would otherwise put in my path. But blindness is more than
just the good stuff. It is about feeling frustrated and learning how to deal
with it. It's about deciding not to act out in a way which is socially
unacceptable and at the same time not holding back our feelings so much that
we become the stone or the rock or the island as in the Paul Simon song.

I have learned that seldom am I happy with the portrayals of blindness I see
in the news; they always get something wrong. But perhaps we know our
subject too well and perhaps we forget what it was like when blindness was
foreign or different and meant more than living with a nuisance and an
inconvenience. If we can't remember that well enough to converse with new
people, taking the time to listen before we preach and judge and show them
the errors in their thinking, then we lose an opportunity to make a friend
who may later become part of our NFB family. In failing to make that friend,
we deprive ourselves of an ally to help us change what it means to be blind,
and we deprive a blind brother or sister of the role models who can make
their lives fuller than they ever imagined.

We have a story to tell; it is a story of victory. In telling that story, we
dare not forget the battle we had to fight to achieve it.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Cindy Handel
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 1:14 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer

Well, I always thought I had a whole brain, but maybe not.

It's really doing a disservice to people who lose their sight later in life
to pretend that they shouldn't be upset or that they'll never breakdown and
cry, out of frustration.

This gentleman was blinded suddenly.  It would be foolish to think that he'd
wake up, accept the loss of one of his senses and not be afraid or angry. 
Then, he goes to a training facility to start to learn what he needs to
continue with his life.  But, this doesn't come quickly or easily, either. 
He gets disoriented in a parking lot and cries.  I'm sure he was crying
because he was frustrated, due to his inability to find where he wanted to
be, as well as feeling sorry for himself, because he was put in the position
of having to learn to live all over again.

People who attend the NFB orientation centers spend nine months there,
learning and living what they need to know, 24 hours a day.  It's not fast,
and it's not easy.  So, why should we expect this man to wake up with the
proper attitude toward blindness and then go through his life with a smile,
pretending that none of this matters?

No, it's not pleasant to tell the public that it's not all sunshine and
flowers.  But, it's the truth.  There's a lot of hard work behind becoming a
competent blind person.

Cindy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer

You need to get a clue.  She's rightk and, it's quite clear that she is. 
anybody with half a brain can see that.

D
Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!

A Very Proud and Happy Mac User!!!

E-Mail:
rforetjr at comcast dot net
Skype Name:
barefootedray

On Sep 23, 2010, at 11:51 AM, Steve P. Deeley wrote:

you need to lighten up.
Steve
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer

> A small step forward for the military, but a big step back for the
> image of blind people in my opinion. They talk about how devastating
> losing his sight was, how he wanted to die, that his life was black
> literally and figuratively, and how he broke down crying because his
> life was so horribly changed.
>
> Captain Smiley tries to push that his life is normal. He makes light
> of his wanting to have fun (surfing, mountain climbing, parachuting),
> but the Fox announcer seems so shocked and awed that a blind person
> could do such things.
>
> Good for Captain Smiley. I'm sure he'll go far and represent people
> with visual impairment well, but this video certaionly doesn't.
>
> My two cents,
>
> On 9/23/10, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
>> I think this represents a small step forward by the military. They at 
>> least
>> didn't give him a discharge and a thank you..
>>
>>
>> http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/21915181
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
> -- 
> ~Jewel
> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>
> _______________________________________________
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