[blparent] This American Life and positive images of

Tue May 15 20:32:36 UTC 2012

I wrote a letter to the radio program last time this subject came up, and 
also provided the address and e-mail for anybody else who was interested in 
the contact information.

I suppose when one is newly blinded, having had sight all of his life, that 
some ordinary tasks might seem scary for a short while.  I think Ryan 
Knighton must be trying to use exaggeration to be humorous, but his 
anecdotes do make blind people seem hopelessly inept and fearful.

Jo Elizabeth

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, 
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of 
the weak and the strong.  Because someday in life you will have been all of 
these."--George Washington Carver, 1864-1943, American scientist

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 2:11 PM
To: <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [blparent] This American Life and positive images of

> Okay, this is just stupid, sorry. It doesn't take a rocket scientist, or
> sighted person, to find their way around a hotel room. I see no reason
> why it would be a problem to contact anyone about the ridiculousness of
> this portrayal. Mr. Knighton sounds like an ignorant baffoon who didn't
> believe it necessary to actually learn things instead of bumbling his
> way through life as portrayed by the controversial cartoon Mr. Magoo.
> It's not even a matter of training or differing philosophies; to not be
> able to find your way around a hotel room is just plain stupidity. And
> what representation of blindness, and really humanity, is portrayed by
> this guy? I am totally blind and have never, never struggled with the
> "things" Mr. Knighton says he did. It has nothing to do with blindness
> and everything to do with a perception amplified by a bumbling idiot who
> probably has no place speaking for parents or blind people.
>
> Sincerely,
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Read my blog at:
> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>
> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 11:18:22 -0700
> From: Lisamaria Martinez <lmartinez217 at gmail.com>
> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [blparent] This American Life and positive images of
> blindness and blind parenting in the media
> Message-ID:
>
> <CAKa0n1ByC+QjF0jA9ZxmdKP1LtVURZicnGjWOHLcVR_iA7rg3A at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I'm forwarding this email from a friend of mine who posted to the NfBC
> listserv. I thought it relevant to blind parenting. I believe, too, we
> had a discussion about this a few months ago although I have to admit I
> didn't read the thread.
>
> LM
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>
> Hello.  Last Thursday, my partner and I went to see the 2012
> edition of This American Life in theaters, to be rebroadcast on Tuesday
> May 15, 2012 in a theater near you.  The show begins with a story from
> Ryan
> Knighton, a blind Canadian author, relating how he got lost in his
> hotel
> room and was unable to find the telephone and so was unable to call his
> wife.  After this 10 minute introduction, the show begins and Knighton
> appears live in the New York theater, where he relates another story
> about how he became afraid that he and his daughter were going to be
> eaten by a bear only to discover that his daughter was upset because she
> dropped her teddy bear.
> I am concerned that this portrayal of blind folks in the media
> grossly misrepresents our capabilities and reinforces stereotypical
> images about how well we are able to travel in the world, and, more
> importantly, care for and raise our children safely and responsibly.
> I am thinking of writing a letter to the folks at This American
> Life, but before I do, I'd like other NFB members  to see this show and
> provide feedback as to whether you think I'm off the mark by feeling
> concerned by this piece of popular media.  As an organization of the
> Blind, I feel it is important for us to be fair, balanced and reasonable
> in our descriptions of issues we have with images of blind people in the
> Media.  In other words, I do not want to come off as a person who has no
> tolerance for views of other blind folks that doesn't match my own, and
> I want to try and explain, in a reasonable manner, why it is that these
> descriptions of blindness in daily life are harmful and detramental to
> the success of blind folks around the nation.  I encourage you to go see
> the show on Tuesday the 15th of May and let me know if you agree that
> these portrayals of blindness are of concern. The experiences Ryan
> relates about his life may be entirely reasonable for him, but I think
> it is important for the folks at This American Life to understand that
> these experiences are not representative  of blind people everywhere.  I
> do not have children of my own, but I know many blind people who do, and
> they have raised them safely with dignity and success. Yes, humorous
> things happen to blind people and humorous things happen to people with
> children, but in my view, the stories he relates, and the manner in
> which he relates them do not express the idea that blind people can, and
> do, successfully raise children on their own every day.
> If you see this show, and disagree with my concerns, please let
> me know so I may understand how it is that I have totally misunderstood
> the messages these segments convey.  Feel free to write me and let me
> know your thoughts.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Brian Buhrow
>
>
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