[blparent] This American Life and positive images of

[debbie grace]

Please take me off your mailing list.
Thank You
Debbie Grace 

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:12 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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