[Faith-talk] blindness as a gift

Sun Feb 9 04:27:24 UTC 2014

Hi all,

I agree with Kurt here.  We find other ways to judge people, look down
on them, etc.  Even if we do not base our first impressions on
physical appearance, we do judge people without realizing it in some
way.  Our mind instantly categorizes people by the way they talk, the
sound of their voices, or how they smell.  Whatever it is, we have our
own ideas about whether or not we should respect them based on these
things.  And then what about all the sighted people throughout our
lives who have told us what it means to be ugly and pretty?  We listen
to them even if we can't see what they are talking about.  Maybe this
isn't true for all blind  people, but I know it's true for me.  I try
not to judge people, and it's hard for me.

I agree that blindness does save us from seeing some pretty disturbing
things, and perhaps this allows to view things differently, but I'm
not convinced.

On 2/8/14, sheila <sleigland at bresnan.net> wrote:
> curt blindness certainly doesn't make the ugliness in this world go
> away. I was walking down the street one day and a man that had been
> obviously drinking was walking just a little too close for my comfort
> and I told my guide dog to just keep going no matter what. I agree that
> people should respect others but also love and care for yourself and
> those you love to try to stay safe. blind or sighted if you are
> seriously injured or worse you might not be of much use to those around
> you. be respectful and careful at the same time.
> On 2/8/2014 7:52 PM, Kirt wrote:
>> Jenny,
>> I respect what you're saying; I am also only sharing my opinion here and I
>> cannot trying to imply that everything I say is absolute fact. :-) I
>> guess, for me, I don't think blindness numbs my perception of either the
>> beautiful or ugly things in this world. I tried to be kind and respectful
>> to everyone I meet... but, using your example, i'll confess that I
>> consciously walked right on past more than my fair share of homeless
>> people, drunk people, stoned people, etc. i'm a little confused because,
>> if I'm understanding you correctly, you seem to be implying that us as
>> blind people aren't as capable of noticing if people seem to be drunk, or
>> homeless, or prostitutes as the average sighted person would be... just from
>> my own personal experience, I don't think that is the case at all. Being
>> blind I'm still perfectly able to notice whether somebody seems to be
>> drunk, panhandling prostituting herself, etc.... and I honestly don't see
>> how being blind would make me or you or anybody else unable to notice
>> these things.
>> Respectfully yours,
>> Kirt,
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Feb 8, 2014, at 7:38 PM, Snow White Dove <jlperdue3 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I guess the reason I say blindness is blessed, for me anyway, is there so
>>> many ugly things I don't want to see in this world.
>>> Rundown buildings. Homeless people that I can't help. So much that I
>>> can't see.
>>>
>>> The reason that drug addicts alcoholics prostitutes and others and
>>> homeless people as well don't get respected is because people see them on
>>> the outside and automatically walk away.
>>> I don't see that there either one of them so as long as I show them
>>> respect they don't give me any trouble.
>>> Itching me with respect. And respect is what most people all people want.
>>>
>>> Besides. How can we preach the love of God and the love of Jesus Christ
>>> and then, if we disrespect them. I think that's what the cited community
>>> forgets.
>>> I know there are so many beautiful things in this world that I would love
>>> to see. But I have never seen. But there's so much more ugly.
>>> That's my opinion though.
>>> Jenny
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Feb 8, 2014, at 7:42 PM, "justin williams"
>>>> <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I've just never been partial to the blindness is bliss; open minded is
>>>> good,
>>>> but I like to no the same things everyone else knows so I can be on the
>>>> level.  Give me the information, and let me decide whether I use it and
>>>> how
>>>> I do so.  You are right; everyone deserves the respect due to any human
>>>> crack head or no.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Faith-talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>>> Snow
>>>> White Dove
>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 08, 2014 8:16 PM
>>>> To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of faith and religion
>>>> Cc: Faith-talk, for the discussion of faith and religion
>>>> Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] blindness as a gift
>>>>
>>>> Hi there,
>>>> Yes I agree with you also. I do know and understand being blind all the
>>>> trappings that go along with it that are frankly a pain in the butt :-)
>>>>
>>>> However, people can speak to me whatever crackheads are bombs or
>>>> whatever at
>>>> the bus terminal and I don't look at them in a foul way. Because I can't
>>>> see
>>>> them.
>>>> I speak to them with respect and honor just as I would anyone else that
>>>> wasn't a bummer crackhead.
>>>>
>>>> I can even ignore if they're drunk or if they're hi, because
>>>> unfortunately,
>>>> radar years will tell us all :-) But for some reason. Not being able to
>>>> see
>>>> others on the outside. Makes us able to love people in the way that they
>>>> have never been loved before on the inside.
>>>>
>>>> I know, I have dated some of the most ugly people in the free world at
>>>> least
>>>> physically I mean LOL Anyhow, it's wonderful to be educators it's
>>>> wonderful
>>>> to be able to spread the word about braille  materials etc.
>>>> I wouldn't get my site if You paid me.
>>>> I was able to let some priest now about braille Orthodox materials that
>>>> nobody knew about.
>>>> It was wonderful to be able to share that with them then they spread the
>>>> word. In fact, the priest that I shared that with one of them knew a few
>>>> blind people that didn't have braille  materials.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> And sometimes. Literally. Blindness is bliss.
>>>> Jenny Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>>> On Feb 8, 2014, at 2:15 PM, debby phillips <semisweetdebby at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Aleha, I totally agree.  I have gotten to meet and talk to people
>>>>> that
>>>> I never would have if I were sighted.  It's been my privilege from time
>>>> to
>>>> time to get to encourage people who are struggling.  They will sometimes
>>>> listen to us when they won't listen to somebody who appears to have no
>>>> weakness or disability.  I love your dog's name, by the way.  I'm hoping
>>>> to
>>>> be in the July class at Seeing Eye for a dog, as mine retired.
>>>> Blessings,
>>>> Debby
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-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16