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

Fri Sep 24 12:44:16 UTC 2010

my dad was in vietnam and was very depressed, he passed away 21 years ago 
this december at the age of 46, three years older then what I am today.

Being around him and his friends growing up my uncles and I still do a lot 
for the VVA here on Long Island.

Many people didn't come back at all or depressed as well as with many many 
disabilities, so been around it my whole life even before losing my own 
vision.

Any War, it is the same!

The biggest compliment you can pay me is to recommend my services!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://Echevarriatravel.com
1-866-580-5574
Reservations at echevarriatravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10
Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel Inc.

join my yahoogroup
echevarriatravel-subscribe at yahoogroups.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at icrc.IN.gov>
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 8:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer

> Jewel,
>
> You are absolutely right. The depression is very real, very necessary6 to 
> work through. For some reason though, the reporters just want to stay 
> there. For some reason, perhaps because they are a part of the sighted 
> public themselves, they don't want the public to know that there truly is 
> life after blindness, and a light at the end of that tunnel.
>
> I understand exactly what you were saying. The reporters never tell the 
> whole story.
>
> 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 Jewel S.
> Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 9:11 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer
>
> Hi, I wantd to explain myself, and ask, also, that we be a bit more
> civilized and not tell people what to do such as "You need to lighten
> up." That's the same as shooting down my opinion. You can simply say
> you don't agree and then explain your opinion. Don't shoot down my
> opinion.
>
> I was not putting down Captain Smiley, nor saying that he didn't go
> through a depressive time. I am sure he did, and I did as well. I lost
> my vision very suddenly due to a chemical burn to the face. One day I
> had correctable vision to 20/25 and the next day I woke up in the
> hospital with eyes swollen shut and burns all over my face. I was
> shocked when the doctor opened my eye toward the end of the first week
> and I saw the blue light of the TV. If I had been able to, I would
> have wept for joy that I could see colour, even if I couldn't see the
> doctor's face right in front of me. But I couldn't even do that...cry,
> I mean. My tear ducts were severely damaged by the burn as well and I
> still have severe pain when I cry.
>
> I say this to demonstrate that I know about the depression of sudden
> onset of blindness. I'm not denying that it happens. But this reporter
> emphasized on it as a main discussion point. She tells us what Captain
> Smiley's assignment is, but I would have loved to hear more about his
> work with the transition program, how he is helping wounded warriors
> and is better able to understand them because he aas in their
> position. But no, she focused on the time right after his injury, and
> how horrible the accident was. Her voice was dripping with pity. I
> think given a chance, Captain Smiley and his wife could have told a
> much better story, but the reporter only wanted to hear about how
> devastating the injuries were and how hard it has been for him, not
> the wonderful work he is doing with the wounded warriors program (they
> barely mention his work) nor his plans for the future.
>
> That is what irritated me, her emphasis on that time period after the
> injuries, as if it is something to emphasize. Depression after severe
> injury is normal, and I don't think it had a place in this interview
> as much as the interviewer obviously thought it did.
>
> That's what I meant. So, please back and give me a break. I don't need
> to "lighten up" any more than everyone who jumped all over my opinion,
> tearing it to pieces and saying "No, you're wrong, so go back under
> your rock until you agree with us."
>
> On 9/23/10, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I have been reading this feed, also you have to remember we have a great
> > veterans division with the NFB as well.  The President of the NFBV is 
> > Dwight
> > Sayer.
> >
> > This division if they have not posted yet has many who knows what it is 
> > like
> > as well.
> >
> > The biggest compliment you can pay me is to recommend my services!
> >
> > Cheryl Echevarria
> > http://Echevarriatravel.com
> > 1-866-580-5574
> > Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> >
> > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
> > CST-1018299-10
> > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel 
> > Inc.
> >
> > join my yahoogroup
> > echevarriatravel-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
> > To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 1:50 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer
> >
> >
> >> You don't think this guy was devastated when he became blind?  This was 
> >> a
> >> very positive news story, in my opinion.  This young captain would make 
> >> an
> >> excellent example for blind individuals who are negative and feeling 
> >> sorry
> >> for their current circumstances.
> >>
> >> Steve
> >> ----- 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
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>> _______________________________________________
> >> >>> 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
> >> >>>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> ~Jewel
> >> >> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
> >> >> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> blindtlk mailing list
> >> >> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> >> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
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> >> >> for
> >> >> blindtlk:
> >> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/stevep.deeley%40insightbb.com
> >> >
> >> >
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> >> > 02:34:00
> >> > _______________________________________________
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> >>
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> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
> > _______________________________________________
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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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