[nabs-l] Cuts in line

Sun May 17 02:20:27 UTC 2009

There've been times when I've been running late for one reason or another
and have been extremely thankful for the worker at the bus terminal/train
station that brings me right to the front of the line so I can get on.
There've been times when I've accepted a seat offered to me on a crowded
subway where people are standing almost directly against one another.
I am especially thankful for the latter on those days when I'm tired or
carrying a lot of things, but only for that reason; not because I felt that
god or some invisible man in the sky told society that an eye condition
inhibited one's ability to stand and wait. In other words, I take it as a
kind gesture and never once have I gone out of my way to ask anyone for such
privilages.
The way i see it is this. We go on and on about fighting for inclusion and
equal treatment in the workforce/education. That said, I think it's a little
bit ignorant for us to then turn around and ask for some arbitrary privilege
we think we deserve. Entitlement complexes have never gone over well and
have only perpetuated negative sentiments about disabled people being
complacent. We can't possibly fight so hard to be treated like everyone else
and then turn around wanting to be given special treatment when it suits us.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of David Andrews
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 5:20 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Cuts in line

Jim:

This stuff becomes unclear and motives for offering something, and 
reasons for taking it are not the same, and different from person to person.

As a blind person, I can wait in line as well as anybody else.  There 
is nothing about being blind that precludes me from waiting with 
everybody else.  It is certainly an inconvenience to do so, but 
nothing in my disability prevents me from doing so.  There are 
people, such as those using crutches, or support canes who couldn't 
wait in line that long, and I think they should take and use the 
disability pass.  As a blind person I can't condone it though.

Th0ose offering it feel better, it is something they can do for 
disabled persons that doesn't cost them a lot in money or effort, and 
makes them feel better.  That is still no reason for me to take it, 
if I do so I am being paid off, in a sense for second class treatment 
in other areas.

In another message You essentially said we should take these things 
offered because they are already offered so it doesn't hurt 
anything.  I understand the reasoning, and have probably done it a 
few times myself.  However, I would say two things.  Traditionally, 
in the NFB it has been our approach to ask for and only take those 
accommodations that are necessary.  We don't believe in asking for 
everything possible, there is only so much good will in the world, 
and you don't want to use it up on unimportant things.  Some blind 
people think we should take anything and everything offered, and it 
is fair game to ask for anything.  I don't agree.

Secondly, if we don't turn down some things, then nothing ever 
changes.  So you start with the stuff you don't really need anyway, 
like handicapped parking.

As I started out saying, this stuff is pretty mixed up, and each 
individual will have different needs, and reasons.

Dave

At 02:53 PM 5/16/2009, you wrote:
>David,
>I grew up in Chicago, and I have gone to Six Flags Great America 
>many times. I will tell you to get the disability pass if you can. 
>The reason? Many of the lines for the more popular rides often top 
>two hours of wait time for what amounts to a one-miniute ride.
>
>But hey, if you want to spend two hours waiting in line because you 
>are too proud or too vain to accept a disability pass, go for it, 
>and have fun in line. Personally, I'd rather ride the rides.
>Jim
>
>__________________________________________________________----
>Arielle,
>I agree with what you said. In the cases of cutting lines,
>it is especially difficult to refuse if you  have sighted peers along
>with you who want to take advantage of that little perk. I will be
>going to a Six Flags this summer with the All State Lions Band, and I
>will probably be asked to accept either some sort of disability card,
>or a place in the very front of the line. I won't accept, because I
>don't feel I need either of those things, but I may feel pressure to do
>so. Has anyone had that sort of experience before?
>David
>
>
>Homer Simpson's brain: "Use reverse psychology."
>  Homer: "Oh, that sounds too complicated."
>  Homer's brain: "Okay, don't use reverse psychology."
>  Homer: "Okay, I will!"
>
>
>
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