[nabs-l] Blind relationships

[Kirt Manwaring]

Bridget,
  *assumes his preacher guise, gets behind a pulpet, bangs it a few
times, and starts talking*
  Amen!  You go, girl!
  And...just for the record, blind girls are just as hot as sighted
girls.  And I know that from...umm, hands-on experience!  :)
Anyways...yeah- nothing wrong with dating and marrying blind people.
Find the right person, as it sounds like you did, and go for it.  I'm
sorry if I sounded like I was arguing, or yelling earlier...I totally
didn't intend to.
  Take care,
Kirt

On 2/10/11, Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Kirt,
>
> I did not mean to direct my comments specifically to you.  I understand
> that you're argument is due to the fact that you simply do not have
> other blind people involved in the activities you take part in.  I was
> not lecturing you nor did I intend to address you alone.
>
> I just hope we all base our relationships on a persons character and not
> on their physical or aestetic qualities, or their interest.  There is a
> tendancy for us to have reverse prejudice against other blind people as
> well as sighted people.
>
> You seem like an upstanding guy who has focus and determination.  I
> respect that in anyone.
>
> I wish for everyone to find someone who they connect with and find a
> sense of contentment with-- romantic or plutonic.
>
> Best of luck to you, and all others.  You are right for not focusing on
> blindness, but what your dreams and desires are.
>
> I agree with those who view the "blindness field" as a safety net for
> some (though I do not believe everyone working in blindness related
> fields are there for this reason).  I, too, do not like spending all my
> time dealing with blindness topics, though I am extremely active in the
> Federation.  I do have a life outside "blindness" and I encourage us all
> to follow our own path and not be caught in the trap of having our world
> revolve around blindness itself.
>
> Having said that, I believe it is important we take the lead.  For
> centuries, people chose our paths for us, and society determined what it
> is to be blind.  It was not until we, the actual blind, took charge and
> carved our own road, that the world began to change.  We have discovered
> that blindness is a perception of reality and not a truth-- meaning,
> what we once thought was reality has turned out to be largely a
> perception, and a perception we can change.
>
> We need blind people working in blindness fields to, one, prove that we
> can teach the blind just as well, and two, so our world does not revert
> back to antiquated ideals about blindness.
>
> Anyway, my point is to not let blindness determine how and why you do
> things.  The hardest part of being blind, I have found, is dealing with
> negative perceptions and stereotypes.  I can set a goal and find a way
> to achieve it.  By accomplishing my goals, I am showing the world that I
> am not that different.
>
> It strengthens me to know that so many are accomplishing goals and
> moving into their communities to be active players in this game.  These
> dialogues allow us to share our experiences, and to learn and grow from
> them.  It is awesome to see so many people shedding the old identity of
> blindness and creating their own existance.
>
> Bridgit
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:38:33 -0700
> From: Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> 	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] nabs-l Digest, Vol 52, Issue 15
> Message-ID:
> 	<AANLkTimd-1Fd39fkiT+fhpg3ZkPHjgnCA7E-4tch+U_+ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Bridget,
>   First off, I'm fairly involved with the NFB, especially on a local
> level.  I went to Washington Seminar, I've been to a few conventions, I
> won a scholarship, I'm vice president of our state student devision.
> I'm not isolating myself from the blind community at all.  But it's a
> small part of my life.  I respect you for marrying a blind man and make
> no judgements whatsoever.  I've seen blind people marry who didn't have
> the skills they needed to get married, and I've seen others who make it
> work.  The only reason I say I probably won't marry a blind person is
> because most of my friends aren't blind.  And, from my experience, my
> friends have stuck by me and learned to see that blindness is just a
> part of me...a big enough part that I'm going to get training so it
> doesn't hold me back, but a characteristic nonetheless.  And, from my
> experience, most of my sighted friends are ok with that.
>   Warmest regards,
> Kirt
>
>
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