[Blindtlk] My 2 Cents

Sun Mar 24 13:11:32 UTC 2013

I like that moniker at the end of your messages.  

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheryl
echevarria
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 6:52 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] My 2 Cents

There is no shame in being blind. Like there is no shame in being called a
jew, that is what I am. It is a characterist of who I am.
I am a woman who is married, mother, kind, loving, not skinny, not fat, New
Yorker, Travel Agent, Diabetic, white, jew, blind, these are some
descriptions of myself. Yes it took me a while to say blind, we are all
scared of that word from time to time, but it is who I am and who we are
unless you aren't.
I'd rather be blind then sitting on that dialysis machine 4 days a week for
3 hours a day dying. 
Life is to short, we all have the right not to do anything with our lives.
My sister doesn't work, she is a mom she is not blind, but does that mean
she doesn't do anything, being a mom myself even if I never wanted to work
outside the house again or be an NFB member. I would still need my skills to
take care of my family.
It also shows my daughter that yes life kicked me in butt, but I made it
through and so can others. There are people with disabilities worse than
being blind, but they manage and are happy and get through.
It is those that sit and do nothing and let others do for them that are the
ones I worry for. We all know people like that disabled or not. Mommy and
daddy do everything for them, but one day these people will not be here and
then what, go into a nursing home.
Or just not enjoy life anymore.  You want to do something, you find a way of
doing it, and move on.
I have had members of my own family that have survived the Holocaust, or
hear from family members how there parents and my great grandparents had to
leave their homeland and come to america because the Russians destroyed
there homes and had no place to go in the early 1900s. This you are saying
has nothing to do with blindness, but it has to do with prejudice. 
Remember today is the 1st night of Passover. There are people who have come
before us, that we need to remember and move on.
Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!SNG Certified - Accessible Travel
Advocate!Cheryl Echevarria,
Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatrave
l.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com2012 Norwegian Cruise Line
University Advisory Board Member.
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST -
#1018299-10Echevarria Travel and proud member of the National Federation of
the Blind will be holding a year round fundraiser for the
http://www.NFBNY.org after Hurricane Sandy and other resources. Any vacation
package booked between November 6 2012-November 6, 2013 and vacation must be
traveled no later than 12/30/2014 a percentage of my earnings will go to the
affiliate.  Also is you book a Sandals for couples or Beaches for families
and friends resorts vacation, $100.00 per booking will go to the affiliate
as well.  You do not need to be a member of the NFB.org, just book through
us.

> Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:32:40 -0600
> From: yogabare13 at gmail.com
> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] My 2 Cents
> 
>     How about just call me by my given name? A unique concept that is
> something that people must label people that I find appalling myself.
> We should be progressing like I wouldn't see it possible to call
> someone a racial derogatory word that someone shouldn't call me
> something beyond my control. I don't call someone that so deserve
> respect like a normal human being not an animal. Not that much to ask
> for in a civilized society that is why we have hate crime legislation
> and specially protected people like women, racial minorities or sexual
> deviants like me too!
> 
> On 3/25/13, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
> > Hi, Peter,
> >
> >          Are you one of those people contributing to people's
> > reluctance to call us what we are, blind? What's in a name, anyway?
> > What is the term you like to be called, just so I don't call you BLIND?
> > Loving, Carfigure out what to call us?  At 06:41 PM 3/24/2013, you
wrote:
> >>Mike,
> >>
> >>
> >>     What is for dinner? I just disagree with the labels of disabled
> >>people or in fact the world disabled in the first place. What is
> >>fundamentally broken by a blind person? I don't like handicapped,
> >>disabled, consumer, client or any of it. I'd rather have participant
> >>or customer would be okay as well just not consumer. It implies a
> >>causality that and it reduces you to a number.
> >>
> >>
> >>     First and foremost that we're all individuals right? I've had a
> >>local taxi company in Auburn of my former college city call me "Blind
> >>Pete". Can you imagine how enraged that they wouldn't change me for
> >>two years just tcontiniously calling me "Blind Pete" even saved in
> >>their contacts as that name too. Its like people attempt to turn you
> >>into a object that dcan be treated less than a normal homo sapien.
> >>Anyone else with similar experiences? This drives me insaine that way
> >>don't usually ever gets to me but lately not as easy to do.
> >>
> >>
> >>Thanks,
> >>Peter
> >>
> >>On 3/24/13, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
> >> > Peter:
> >> >
> >> > You're obsessing about the word "consumer" too much. In using that
> >> > word,
> >> > both rehab and most blind persons merely mean a designation of
someone
> >> > receiving services and, if we are honest, it's also a way to avoid
the
> >> > word
> >> > "client" which some of us hate. Frankly, I don't care what you call
me
> >> > as
> >> > long as you call me for dinner. (grin) Our state department of
services
> >> > for
> >> > the blind calls those whom it serves "customers".
> >> >
> >> > Mike Freeman
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Peter
> >> > Wolfe
> >> > Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2013 8:43 PM
> >> > To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> >> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] My 2 Cents
> >> >
> >> >    Why are blind people considered consumers in much of
> >> > rehabilitation? They aren't producers, therefore, they are deemed
> >> > inferior even by fellow blind professions who work at such
facilities.
> >> > Sorry the whole conversation is besides the point just a reason to
> >> > demean someone of another opinion. I'm an atheist-agnostic, so view
> >> > things in another paradigm than that of yourself in that way. I'm
> >> > looking at everything extremely logical to a fault that is to say
> >> > deductive logic not inductive logic as much.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > sincerely,
> >> > Peter
> >> >
> >> > On 3/23/13, Mark Tardif <markspark at roadrunner.com> wrote:
> >> >> Diane,
> >> >>
> >> >> Absolutely, one hundred percent spot on!!!
> >> >>
> >> >> Mark Tardif
> >> >> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> From: Diane Graves
> >> >> Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2013 11:14 PM
> >> >> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
> >> >> Subject: [Blindtlk] My 2 Cents
> >> >>
> >> >> Good Evening,
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> For days I have been overwhelmed by the sizable discussion thread on
> >> >> "Adjustment to blindness training NFB Centers Or Not," and I admit
to
> >> >> having
> >> >> deleted a good number of the messages without reading, so I
apologize
> >> >> in
> >> >> advance if I missed some things. I changed the subject line on
> >> >> purpose,
> >> >> just
> >> >> in case there were others doing the same. However, tonight I am up
> >> >> late
> >> >> baking and have read a number of the posts, and feel compelled to
> >> >> share
> >> >> my
> >> >> sentiments on a few things, or the facts as I see them.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> First of all, I'll say, very respectfully, that there is one
> >> >> participant
> >> > in
> >> >> the discussion who has me very confused. On one hand I hear him
saying
> >> > that
> >> >> we in the federation need to "wake up and smell the coffee" and
accept
> >> >> the
> >> >> fact that blindness does make us inferior. On the other hand, this
> >> >> same
> >> >> individual is saying that we need to come together to fight
> >> >> discrimination
> >> >> against the blind. If you, yourself, believe that you are inferior,
> >> >> then
> >> >> why
> >> >> should society stop discriminating? In fact, how can they stop
> >> >> discriminating? Why should employers hire us, and lessen that 70%
> >> >> unemployment rate, if we aren't equal to our sighted counterparts?
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Secondly, I'll just say that the notion that NFB believes that one
> >> >> size
> >> >> fits
> >> >> all is ludicrous. There are no two blind people that are a like any
> >> >> more
> >> >> than there are two sighted people who are exactly alike. There are
> >> >> sighted
> >> >> people who are excellent construction workers, who do not have the
> >> >> people
> >> >> skills business prowess and any number of other skills necessary to
be
> >> >> the
> >> >> CEO of a corporation.  That CEO  might not have the athletic prowess
> >> >> to
> >> >> fight his way out of a cardboard box.  That doesn't make either one
of
> >> > them
> >> >> inferior. They're just different.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> The statement that all blind people need to accept the fact that
they
> >> > can't
> >> >> perform any number of given tasks, is, indeed, arrogant. We are just
> >> >> as
> >> >> varied in our abilities as the sighted.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> I have a dual disability in that I am not only totally blind, but
also
> >> > have
> >> >> a significant hearing impairment. Therefore, there are a number of
> >> >> blind
> >> >> people who can run circles around me in the mobility arena, simply
> >> >> because
> >> >> they have the benefit of that good hearing. The fact that I have
> >> >> trouble
> >> > at
> >> >> times, doesn't mean that they face the same drawbacks and that their
> >> > skills
> >> >> are not excellent and far above mine.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> On the other hand, I am an avid Braille reader, and much prefer
> >> >> Braille
> >> >> to
> >> >> any other media, whereas there are other blind people who prefer to
> >> >> listen
> >> >> to tapes and recorded books. My hearing is good enough that I could
> >> >> certainly use audiobooks if I chose too. I just get more out of a
book
> >> > when
> >> >> actively reading it myself. Some of those people with the superb
> >> >> mobility
> >> >> skills may not have the same prowess in Braille that I do. We are
all
> >> >> different.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Mike Freeman and Gary Wunder are both skilled in the area of
computer
> >> >> programming, and, I suspect, could give sighted programmers a run
for
> >> > their
> >> >> money. I, on the other hand am strictly a computer user. Start
talking
> >> >> about
> >> >> programming and you've lost me immediately. The fact that I can't do
> >> >> it,
> >> >> doesn't mean that they're not experts in it.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Don't know if this is making sense or not, but again, on one hand I
> >> >> hear
> >> >> this person  telling us that we are a cookie cutter organization,
> >> >> while
> >> >> at
> >> >> the same time cutting his own cookies by telling us that we are all
> >> >> severely
> >> >> limited.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> In our organization we have liberals and we have conservatives. We
> >> >> have
> >> >> Christians and we have atheists. We have people who are athletes and
> >> >> those
> >> >> who are out of shape and proud of it. Lol We have any variation that
> >> >> you
> >> >> could think of. What unites us is our desire and our intent to fight
> >> >> the
> >> >> discriminatory barriers which face the blind.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Now I'm not going to tell you that I've never known a federationist
> >> >> who
> >> >> believed that there was only one way of doing things and one
standard
> >> >> as
> >> > it
> >> >> relates to blindness skills. But that isn't the mantra of the
> >> >> organization
> >> >> at all.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> If you want to "stop dreaming" then that is your choice. But you
can't
> >> > take
> >> >> my dreams.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Diane Graves
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> 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/markspark%40roadrunner
> >> > .com
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> -----
> >> >> No virus found in this message.
> >> >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> >> >> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6195 - Release Date:
> >> >> 03/21/13
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> 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
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> >> >> blindtlk:
> >> >>
> >> >
> >>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/yogabare13%40gmail.com
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Cordially,
> >> > Peter Q Wolfe, BA
> >> > cum laude Auburn University
> >> > e-mail: yogabare13 at gmail.com
> >> > "If you don't stand up for something your willing to fall for
anything"
> >> > Peter Q Wolfe
> >> > "Stand up for your rights"
> >> > Bob Marley
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > 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:
> >> >
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> >> >
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > 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/yogabare13%40gmail.com
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>--
> >>Cordially,
> >>Peter Q Wolfe, BA
> >>cum laude Auburn University
> >>e-mail: yogabare13 at gmail.com
> >>"If you don't stand up for something your willing to fall for anything"
> >>Peter Q Wolfe
> >>"Stand up for your rights"
> >>Bob Marley
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>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/carlymih%40comcast.n
et
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindtlk mailing list
> > blindtlk at nfbnet.org
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> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > blindtlk:
> >
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> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Cordially,
> Peter Q Wolfe, BA
> cum laude Auburn University
> e-mail: yogabare13 at gmail.com
> "If you don't stand up for something your willing to fall for anything"
> Peter Q Wolfe
> "Stand up for your rights"
> Bob Marley
> 
> _______________________________________________
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l.com

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