[Blindtlk] blind-driver cars; insurance; entitlement

[Gloria Whipple]

Great post!

I am just happy to be alive and be thankful for that.


Gloria Whipple
Corresponding Secretary
Inland Empire chapter
nfb of WA



-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Rex Leslie Howard, Jr.
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 10:01
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: [Blindtlk] blind-driver cars; insurance; entitlement

Brian, I am aware there are problems to overcome but I live my life on the
premise of overcoming problems. I am not a "no I can't" or "no it can't be
done" person. I am a "yes I can" and "yes it is possible" kind of person.
I realize there are legal problems to overcome as well as other technical
issues but this does not keep me from dreaming of a day when I can get into
a car and go where I want to go without a sighted driver.
 
I totally believe that one day this will be possible.
 
Do I believe that every blind person will have a blind-drivable car? No. Nor
do I believe that just because it exists that everyone is entitled to have
one.
 
I want an IPhone but I don't have one right now. Am I angry with NFB because
they have supported advancements in technology which help to make the IPhone
accessible to blind persons? Absolutely not.
 
Am I bitter towards NFB because they have funded advancements in technology
that I am not benefiting from right now? Absolutely not.
 
Why?
 
Because I don't believe that I am entitled to anything.
 
I don't even believe that blind persons are entitled to social security. I
believe it is necessary and I am glad that most blind people receive some
kind of disability income but do I think it is a right? No. I believe it is
a privilege insured by the taxpaying sector of our nation.
 
I do understand that the cost of supporting blind persons without some kind
of government assistance would be hard on the nation, family and friends of
those of us who are blind.
 
The rate of unemployment in our nation is hard on the nation in the fact
that those who are out of work need some kind of assistance; whether it be
from friends, family or economic assistance from the government.
 
I am glad these programs are in place but do I believe that we should have a
mindset of entitlement?
 
No.
 
I lived on social security most of my life and I can say with absolute
certainty that were it not for the help of my family, the miserly amount of
assistance would have made it more than difficult for me to make ends meet.
 
Now I am employed and I have worked for almost ten years.
 
right now I am comfortable. I do not have to live from week to week. I am
blessed to have a job and I hope I never have to go back to living on
government assistance.
 
If that happens however, I will not adopt a mindset of entitlement. I will
be appreciative for what I have. I will seek employment after being
re-educated in some field or study. At no time will I get a chip on my
shoulder and believe that this society owes me something.
 
I used to not be that way.
 
In fact I was quite hostile to Mr. Maurer and the NFB back in 2001-2003, an
attitude that I greatly regret at this time.
 
I didn't just have a chip on my shoulder, I was the whole bag of Fritos.
 
I have learned that life is not always fair and that she (life I mean) will
take every opportunity to kick us in the head.
 
It happens to the rich and the poor alike.
 
One thing that really gets me is when people talk about how we ought to cap
the amount of money people can make in this country so we can spread around
the wealth.
 
Life is full of opportunities to win and to lose.
 
Sometimes it is possible to do everything right, to make no mistakes and
still lose. That's not a fault, that's a fact of life.
 
I'm saying all of this because it seems to me that you have some extreme
bitterness and negativity working in you. It's not being a realist that is
the problem. it is the pessimistic attitude towards life that causes many of
our problems.
 
When we realize that it is a blessing to wake up each day and to live on
this side of the grass, we can say we are truly blessed regardless of the
situations and circumstances.
 
Things will come at us but we can overcome and prevail.
 
 
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