[Ct-nfb] Question on Hierarchy of Sight

Thu Sep 25 16:21:19 UTC 2014

Beth:

It strikes me that this might be an inappropriate time to begin accusations about whether or not the car was a quiet one. I do not think that we are ready to move on to the fault-finding type of analysis yet.

Right now, while my friend is fighting for his life, and while his wife updates our Wisconsin affiliate via email, we are focused on our prayers that he make a full recovery.

I believe that his wife's words are as credible as any news article and hope that no one will discredit them as hearsay.

I decided that it might be appropriate right now to discuss the idea of why so many people, when describing the accident, mention the fact that he and his wife are totally blind. It's a tragedy because it happened to a good human being, not because it happened to a totally blind human being with a totally blind spouse.

I continue to hope that he will make a full recovery.

Yours,

Justin Salisbury

Sent from the iPhone of:

Justin M. Salisbury
Graduate Student
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu>
Twitter: @SalisburyJustin

On Sep 24, 2014, at 7:57 PM, "Elizabeth Rival via Ct-nfb" <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org<mailto:ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>> wrote:

Justin, the question of was it a quiet car that hit him has not been mentioned. Was there an article in the paper or is this all here say? Beth

From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Richard McGaffin via Ct-nfb
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 4:00 PM
To: Esther Levegnale; NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Question on Hierarchy of Sight

Good afternoon Justin,

First let me say that I'm having a bit of difficulty reading this e-mail. So please forgive me if my response isn't correct. However I too was hit by a car back a while ago. I fortunately was fine, although now I'm wondering if that could be why my right knee is acting up, or it could be just old age. Regardless getting hit by a car is no fun whether your sighted artificially sighted or totally sightless. I will say in my case it wasn't that big a deal. I was walking down the street, a car was backing up I heard the car in the driveway & I stopped to let the car back up, it didn't move I stood there for at least a half a minute and since it wasn't moving I decided to. What happened next I'm really not sure. But I was it, knocked off my feet, however I had the presence of mind to roll out of the way and get back to my feet, with out any damage to my glasses or my white cane. the woman did get out and ask if I was alright, and I seemed to be I told her I just got the wind out of me. I then continued on my way. A couple weeks later. My sister Mary & I were walking down Savin Ave. and once again the car seemed to be speeding out of her driveway again. Now my sister is sighted, and if she wasn't text messaging a friend, and walking slower than normal we both would've got nailed. So it can happen to anyone sighted or blind. I don't know if this helps or not, I'll reread the e-mail tomorrow when I can see the monitor a bit better.

Rich

On Wednesday, September 24, 2014 1:51 PM, Esther Levegnale via Ct-nfb <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org<mailto:ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>> wrote:

Hi, Justin,

It seems that no matter what we do, people focus on our blindness instead of the real issue.  I've been hearing in the news lately (and these apparently are sighted people) that there have been hit-and-run incidents here in CT--and how about the poor, unfortunate woman from CT who was struck by a bicycle in Central Park , had massive head injuries and passed away just this past week.  Sight or lack of sight thereof has nothing to do whether a person is struck by a vehicle.  As I said, and it's pretty sad, that blindness comes into play first.  I'm sure this person you know didn't get hit because, or in spite of, his blindness.  That's my take anyway.  Take care and hope you're doing well.

Esther

Sent From Esther's Amazing and Very Awesome iPhone!

On Sep 24, 2014, at 1:19 PM, Justin Salisbury via Ct-nfb <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org<mailto:ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
Hi everyone,

I just read a message on another affiliate's email list about a member who was hit by a car yesterday. He's a really nice guy, but the post introducing the issue to everyone seemed to focus not on how great a guy he was but on the fact that he and his wife are both totally blind. It gave me the impression that it was worse for him to be hit by a car because of his total blindness than it would be for a high partial or sighted person to be hit. The reason I think it's terrible is because he's that kind of guy that you'd expect to play Santa Claus for the children at a pancake breakfast, not because of his total blindness.

Please excuse me if the subject line is ineffective, but I cannot help but wonder if this has something to do with the hierarchy of sight, or maybe some other social ideas about blindness. Why do you think someone would focus on his total blindness in a message like that?

I'm choosing to have the discussion here instead of there because I want the discussion to be separated from personal feelings about this guy, who, again, is a great guy.

Looking forward to responses,

Justin

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