[Blindtlk] matters of belief: was: Re: Getting Lost

Ray Foret Jr via blindtlk blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Tue May 13 13:46:20 UTC 2014 

Well, Gary, I understand the point you are trying to make:  and, I would not venture to argue against it.  I was merely saying that for me, mere existance as a blind person is not enough for me.  I mean, look at me.  Almost 49-years-old, and what have I got to show for all that training and hilosophy I received?  What real difference have I made in the world or my life so far?  What good is all that NFB philosophy if I can't use it to help make things better either for my family or myself or anybody else?  Fair questions I think.  And yet, I cannot help but think that eventually, I time will come.  When that will be, I don't know.  Yes, my time will come to make a difference before I get called away from this mortal coil.  I cannot believe that God let me have the training I received at the Louisiana center for the blind and all that NFB philosophy and belief for nothing but to exist.  No.  The fact that I am still here means that I am not yet done and I still have to do that for which I was sent here.


Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the blind built-in!

Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!

On May 13, 2014, at 7:20 AM, Gary Wunder via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hello, Ray. My comment is philosophical and has nothing whatsoever to do
> with blindness.
> 
> You say that mere existence is not enough, and at one level I agree with
> you. On the other hand, I have known a good number of kind, generous, and
> thoughtful people who lament the fact that they have made no contribution to
> the world. What they usually mean by this is that they will not be
> remembered in the same way that Abraham Lincoln or George Washington will be
> remembered. If that is really the standard, most of us will never make it.
> We will be known for a time in the small ponds in which we swam, but how
> many of us make changes on the world stage that will get our names etched
> into stones that people see or books that people read? 
> 
> I grew up thinking that my life would only have meaning if I could do
> something heroic like John Wayne did in all of his movies. The heroic event
> has yet to come along, but I wonder if the magic of making a difference
> really is in getting up every day, doing the good that you can for other
> people, and bringing to the world what it is that God has given you to
> bring. One of those good and kind people who has spent considerable time
> wondering about the purpose of his life is my best friend. Is this
> meaningful, and, if I am someone's best friend, is this also meaningful?
> you know, I do not throw this out to be argumentative. I would just like
> others to think with me about what it means to have had a meaningful life
> and may be to extend the discussion beyond the perceptions that people have
> about blindness.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ray Foret
> Jr
> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2014 9:00 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: [Blindtlk] matters of belief: was: Re: Getting Lost
> 
> Well, being catholic myself, my faith informs me that God has a purpose for
> both blind and sighted folks.  I do not believe that mere existance is
> enough of a life purpose for us.  I once complained to a priest that I had
> felt that I had not yet fulfilled my purpose in life and had yet to do
> anything which really made a difference.  Father said in reply to me, "Well,
> you show up every weekend and that's an inspiration to us all.".
> 
> 	Y'all, I'm sorry, but, for me, that's just not enough and certainly
> not what I was looking for.  My belief is that my time will eventially come:
> and, when it does, God help anybody in my way.
> 
> 
> Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the blind
> built-in!
> 
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!
> 
> On May 2, 2014, at 8:43 AM, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> Well when I get members of religious organizations that come to my home on
> a daily bases, and no offense to our Brothers and Sisters that are reading
> this , and I don't shut my door on anyone who is offering me a kindly
> gesture or wants to talk about religion.
>> When they find out I am blind, they take me by the hand, and say you poor
> thing, you must pray to god and be a faithful person, and god will restore
> your sight, don't you know the story of how "Jesus can make the blind see
> again". I in turn thank them, and I say I am a faithful person.
>> But, I also say that means also that Jesus makes the blind see, by opening
> the eyes of the sighted to the faith as well.  Blind people are very
> faithful depending on their religious background I am Jewish, and my husband
> is Catholic.  
>> 
>> 
>> Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNational Federation of the Blind's Travel 
>> and Tourism DivisionA proud division of the National Federation of the 
>> Blindwww.nfbtravel.org631-236-5138cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
>> Also Owner of Echevarria 
>> 
> Travel631-456-5394reservations at echevarriatravel.comwww.echevarriatravel.comD
> isabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State The National Federation of
> the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or
> your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because
> low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You
> can have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>> Sign up for our e-newsletter by e-mailing us you first and last name, and
> e-mail address to reservations at echevarriatravel.com, let us know if you want
> just text or pictures in your e-mail.
>> Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. 
>> www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.  Gail Smith is the 
>> Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
>> 
>>> From: blind411 at verizon.net
>>> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> Date: Fri, 2 May 2014 09:26:54 -0400
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Getting Lost
>>> 
>>> Arielle,
>>> 	Whenever someone offers to pray for me because I am blind, I
> generally offer to pray for them because they are ignorant. I know that this
> might offend them; however, their ignorance is just as offensive!
>>> 
>>> Marion
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>> Arielle Silverman
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 9:02 PM
>>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Getting Lost
>>> 
>>> When I was in college, I was studying outside when a random guy came up
> and asked directions to another building. My cane was on the ground, and he
> didn't realize I was blind until I was midway giving directions. Then he
> suddenly started offering me money and healing prayers, and it took me a
> while to get rid of him. I realized later that I should have asked him to
> pray for a good grade on my test instead of healing, but I digress. Anyway
> I'm not sure if he found the building he was looking for. It's a shame
> people would dismiss good, clear directions just because they come from a
> blind person.
>>> 
>>> Arielle
>>> 
>>> On 5/1/14, Ray Foret Jr <rforet7706 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>> Quite funny.  Reminds me of a story that Carle Jacobson told of a 
>>>> waitress who told him that she was going to put the water in the 
>>>> smaller glass and the seven-up in the larger so he could tell the
>>>> difference:  but, ironically, it was she who could not tell in which 
>>>> glass the water was and in which the drink was.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the 
>>>> blind built-in!
>>>> 
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!
>>>> 
>>>> On May 1, 2014, at 3:23 PM, Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net>
> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Dear All,
>>>>> 	I perform a song called, "I'm Not Lost; I am Exploring". I 
>>>>> generally introduce the song by sharing a story told once by Dr. 
>>>>> Abraham Nemeth while he was waiting for a bus in a crowded city. Two
> guys approached Dr.
>>>>> Nemeth and asked for directions. They were given very precise 
>>>>> turn-by-turn directions to their destination. As they turned to 
>>>>> walk away, one guy said to the other, "We might want to ask someone
> else; that guy's blind!" Dr.
>>>>> Nemeth replied, "Yes! I am blind; but I'm not the one who is lost!"
>>>>> 
>>>>> Fraternally yours,
>>>>> Marion Gwizdala
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> directions
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>>>> Julie J
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 3:18 PM
>>>>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Guide Dogs
>>>>> 
>>>>> Yes, absolutely!  Sighted folks get lost too.  Coincidentally I 
>>>>> just gave directions to a sighted lady trying to find my office
> building.
>>>>> She was close enough, I'd think she could see it from where she 
>>>>> was, but I was able to get her here.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Getting lost is no big thing.  The important part is having the 
>>>>> skills and state of mind to get yourself unlost.  I've been lost my 
>>>>> fair share and it's no fun, but it isn't the end of the world wither.
>>>>> 
>>>>> And you can still get lost with a dog.  I've done that too.    For some
>>>>> odd reason sighted people think the dog knows where to go and you 
>>>>> have a poorly trained dog if you get lost.  Not true, the dog just 
>>>>> follows directions.  If I tell him to go the wrong way, he's going to
> do it.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Julie
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On May 1, 2014, at 1:52 PM, "Mark Tardif" 
>>>>>> <markspark at roadrunner.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Anybody can get lost, even if you have excellent mobility.  I can 
>>>>>> tell you about some of my getting lost experiences, and I think I 
>>>>>> have excellent mobility skills.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Mark Tardif
>>>>>> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
>>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Brandon Olivares
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 1:25 PM
>>>>>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>>>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Guide Dogs
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I'm wondering who on this list has guide dogs? I'm currently 
>>>>>> applying for one through Guide Dogs for the Blind, and am curious 
>>>>>> how difficult it is generally to get into one of these schools. 
>>>>>> How good does your mobility need to be? I have always been told I 
>>>>>> have good mobility, but today I got lost coming home from somewhere
> and it discouraged me a bit.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Also which do you think is the best school? I've heard a lot of 
>>>>>> good things about Guide Dogs for the Blind so decided to apply there.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>> Brandon
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -----
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>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
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