[Blindtlk] blind-driver cars; insurance; entitlement

[Marion Gwizdala]

Rex,
    Everything is impossible until the first person does it! The moment one 
person does it, the thing becomes possible. When Mark Riccobono, a totally 
blind person, drove a car independently for the first time, the prospect of 
a blind driver became possible!

fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rex Leslie Howard, Jr." <rex at littlelaw.com>
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 1:01 PM
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.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindtlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.net