[Blindtlk] Who Bathes You?

Fri Mar 4 19:59:25 UTC 2011

Hi Again;
	Diane is right.  There is a limit to education.  That's why
sometimes the silly response is the best.  It makes light of the thing, but
it also clearly makes the point of how stupid the question was in the first
place.  
	We're not obligated to educate--I always rationalize that I wasn't
sent here to save the world and, if I wanted to spend my life educating, I'd
have been a teacher by profession.  
	There's a place for education and a place for advocacy.  I
specialize in the advocacy part and, if, for example I run into something
that's pure bigotry, I remind the culprit that there are laws against that.

	Whoever said some sighted people expect us to be docile is accurate.
Some do.  They expect us to quietly accept their charity and be grateful.
That's not the way it works.  I was taught to be second-class at a school
for the blind, yet, I was taught I was more fortunate that those who are
totally blind.  Not anymore!  We're all first-class and we must never let
the sighted world forget it!
Sincerely,
Mary

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Graves, Diane
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 1:46 PM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Who Bathes You?

Hi All,

I think these are some excellent points. I think that everything has its
place, including education of the sighted public, and I don't mean to imply
that we should just throw that out the window. But come on, guys, this is
the 21st century.  Think about it. If people were making these disparaging
comments and asking these condescending questions on the basis of our races,
our national origins, our genders, our religious affiliations, we wouldn't
be required to educate! It would simply be unacceptable. And... for a doctor
to get through medical school with that level of stupidity is simply
inexcusable.

I mean, education is all well and good, and people who have always had sight
and then suddenly have to learn to live without it, most definitely need
education. But when does the obligation to educate give way to the right to
be respected?
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 Ray Foret Jr
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 2:09 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Who Bathes You?

Yeah, Dr. Maurer would just love this one. 
Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!

Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
Skype name:
barefootedray

Facebook:
facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1

On Mar 4, 2011, at 12:54 PM, David Evans wrote:

> 
> Dear Ray,
> 
> How about a banquet speech instead.
> 
> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at att.net>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 1:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Who Bathes You?
> 
> 
>> Somehow, I see a monitor article coming out of this.  Thoughts Gary?  Or,
am I being presumptuous?
>> 
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>> 
>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>> Skype name:
>> barefootedray
>> 
>> Facebook:
>> facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1
>> 
>> On Mar 4, 2011, at 11:48 AM, Bernadetta Pracon wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi Everyone:
>>> While I agree with the opinion that we  should probably refrain from
using inflammatory phrases or words based on the fact that this list is
publicly archived, I see another side to this argument. Sure, most people
who don't normally encounter those of us who are   blind or visually
impaired are not going to know very much about how we live day to day. They
will most likely have some   preconceived assumptions about us. But just
because they do not know much about blindness does not mean we have to
acquiesse to their ignorance. Of course, we can't verbally beat them up for
assuming things about us, and we should educate where necessary, but we are
allowed to have our rants now and then. Especially when the comments and
assumptions made about us are overly ignorant and in a way, almost
insulting. In many cases, these people are well meaning, and they are not
conscious that their assumptions are rediculous to us, and with a little bit
of education they get on the right tra
 ck.
>>> However, a comment such as "who bathes you", said from one grown man to
another, not to mention a doctor, is sort of inexcusable. It's the kind of
question a child would ask, because they really didn't know any better.
Someone educated to be a doctor should most certainly know better.
Therefore, I think we can allow ourselves a little leeway regarding
etiquette under the circumstance.
>>> And look at it this way: If a sighted person does see a message on this
topic with the word "idiot" in it, they might just wake up to the fact that
blind people aren't angels who won't flinch under the weight of insult and
ignorance. I say this not to be a radical snob, but because I realize that
sometimes, sighted people expect us to be docile, well-behaved people due to
our disibility, and it's not welcome or expected of us to express  our
feelings of shock and  ridicule. If they see a little rant now and then as a
response to something ignorant that was said, it might just make us appear a
little more human. Of course, it's a given to us that we are every bit as
human as our sighted counterparts, but our response to this sort of thing
might just make that point come across a little more clearly.
>>> Now, I am not at all suggesting we throw away all inhibitions and start
writing posts that are dirogatory. We shouldn't go around calling people
names such as idiot and the like. That's not right, and it doesn't
accomplish anything. That being said, I have to admit against my better
judgement, that sometimes, they just plain ask for it.
>>> 
>>> On a lighter note:
>>> I think that Marion's response to the doctor was witty and clever.
Definitely better than if he had called him an idiot. lol
>>> 
>>> Just my two cents guys. Sorry for the somewhat lengthy post.
>>> 
>>> All Best,
>>> Bernadetta
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>>> 
>>> 
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