[nabs-l] No cook cooking and hopefully a new topic

Wed Jul 27 00:26:07 UTC 2011

Hi, Bridgit,

If only folk could apply suggestions you so eloquently, articulated 
in your letter and find a sentiment, of unity, and group action to 
boot, If we get together, stay humble and introspective, we can make 
unbelievable, social strides.
for today,
Car  At 02:01 PM 7/26/2011, Bridgit Pollpeter wrote:
>I'm sure many of us are tired of this discussion, and I truly don't want
>to harp on about it, or take up time that could be spent dealing with
>other topics, but as an older NABS member (I will turn 30 in August, ug
>*smile*) I want to throw a suggestion out.
>
>As a very passionate person myself, I know how easy it is to get hot and
>bothered and want to put my opinion out into the world (hence this post)
>but I've gained a small bit of perspective and understand that not only
>are we all allowed our own opinions and beliefs, but we also should
>respect differences.  There is a way to present differing views and even
>argue different perspectives and ideas without being condescending or
>negative or plain disrespectful.  I think we all need to take a minute
>before responding to any post and figure out how to present ourselves in
>a manner that leads to open, healthy discussion and does not spiral down
>into a nasty disagreement.  Grant it, some will always take offense no
>matter what, but I think the goal needs to be open communication, which
>can be different, but not opening the shark tank.
>
>Some of us like cooking- some don't; some of us like seminars similar to
>what Hadley offered- some not so much.  Whether you like it or not, it
>does not make the seminar itself bad.  We get very wary about things
>advertised or geared towards the blind- and yes, we have a history of
>people and institutions thinking we're not capable, and this sadly still
>exist, but we have to learn to not immediately crucify things before
>taking a minute to gather info and ponder on it.  To be honest, based on
>my observations, many of us did not take the seminar or research it
>before commenting on it.  To be so grossly negative seems unfair.
>
>So, I guess I challenge each of us to truly think for ourselves and
>pause before jumping to assumptions.  And whether you believe a thing
>good or bad, consider your reasoning.  Why do you think something is
>good or bad?  Do you truly feel that way, or is it a conditioned
>response based on outside influences?  These are important exercises
>regardless of the situation.
>
>And to take this to a new discussion, I wonder what responses are about
>the trial in Omaha.  Since I'm from the big O, I've been helping with
>some of the PR locally, and since I graduate this August, it has me
>wondering about employment for myself.
>
>In light of this case and the growing situation with the sub-minimum
>wage issue, I wonder what our future will be like.
>
>My mom does not believe me when I say discrimination still exist for
>people with disabilities.  After discussing the Frank Hohn trial with
>her, she thought the rail company was in the right because companies
>have written job descriptions, and if employees aren't meeting these
>pre-determined duties, then any employee can be legally fired.  I said
>that this is exactly what the case is about- Mr. Hohn was doing his job
>duties and has been for years.  Even though he proved he was doing the
>job and has a record to back him up, BNSF railway fired him and refused
>a meeting with the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Mr. Hohn.  My
>mom still fails to see the problem most likely because she questions the
>ability of a blind person to be a machinist.
>
>These attitudes persist and are more prevalent than people think.  It is
>easy to not notice discrimination and attitudes when you're not
>disabled, but it doesn't mean this doesn't happen.
>
>So as the future generations, how do we cope with this?  What can we do
>to combat this issue?  Some say we should give up- it's to big to fight,
>we'll never convince the world.  Some say we make to much of a big deal
>about these issues; people don't know better and we should be more
>considerate and lenient.  Some think we shouldn't choose careers just to
>prove a point; we should do jobs that the world knows a blind person can
>do.
>
>We should never give up when injustice is rampant.  We're human beings
>who deserve every right afforded to other citizens.  Equality is not
>just a racial or sexual orientation issue.  Just because you don't
>understand something, this is not a reason to dismiss it or label it not
>equal.  We have every right to fight for what we know is right.
>
>When children misbehave because they don't know better, do we let it
>slide?  No- we correct the behavior and teach them what is right.  So
>when people discriminate against us for blindness because they don't
>know any better, why should we let it go?  We should be respectful and
>educate in a positive way, but educate we must.  How does the world
>change, or people learn, when I just leave it alone because "they didn't
>know better?"  We need to speak up for ourselves and educate about
>blindness.  Ignorance is not an excuse to allow misinformed and
>misguided perceptions to exist.
>
>We should be able to pursue any path we want.  We always hear how the
>sky's the limit and we can do anything we put our minds to- unless your
>disabled.  This seems to be the purveying attitude in society.  Why
>can't I follow my dreams?  Why am I expected to accept lower standards
>and expectations when I don't feel this way?  Blindness- or any
>disability- is not a reason to limit ourselves, and no one else should
>limit us either.  We have dreams and goals and we should be able to
>pursue them just like our nondisabled peers.
>
>We still have a long way to go, but we all need to raise our voices- as
>a collective and as individuals-- so the world knows we are equal and we
>demand to be treated as equals.  Denying us rights and firing us for our
>disability and paying us sub-parr wages with no information other than
>proof of our disability- is no longer acceptable.  Don't be fooled or
>chided into believing we are wrong for demanding equality.  For once we
>deserve fair opportunities and we are not willing to watch from the
>sidelines.
>
>It's easy to hear about these issues and feel overwhelmed and think
>negatively, but let this be a moment that brings us together; let's
>encourage one another to keep moving forward.  With all our
>disagreements and various views on how to do something- in this we all
>agree- we deserve the same rights and opportunities as anyone else.
>
>Sincerely,
>Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
>Maverick Solutions PR, staff member
>Read my blog for Live Well Nebraska.com at
>http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>
>
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