[nabs-l] [nfbWaTlk] class essay

[Kirt Manwaring]

Jedi,
  When we talk about "blind faith" or "turning a blind eye", we're not
talking about physical blindness at all.  I won't belabor the point
any further, I have real life issues to deal with.
  Best,
Kirt

On 6/19/11, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
> I agree that expressions like "blind faith" and "turn a blind eye" do need a
> little more attention as I also believe that they are part of the reason why
> the blind face such discrimination and lingering prejudice.
>
> Back in ancient Greece, there used to be this thing called "Ate." Ate was
> the word given to a state where metaphorical and physical blindness meet.
> Whenever Ate was mentioned in a play or story, it was often unclear whether
> or not physical or metaphorical blindness was the topic of discussion.
> People overcome by Ate were said to be crazy and overcome by their emotions.
> Often, physical blindness worked itself into the story somewhere, usually as
> a punishment for actions committed under the influence of metaphorical
> blindness or as a cause of metaphorical blindness. Over the centuries, the
> crazy aspects of Ate faded and it morphed more into a sense of ignorance or
> not knowing. that notion still exists. If it didn't, why do the sighted tell
> us about things we know are there like stairs and things? Why do they insist
> that they know more about the world than we do just because they use a more
> common sensorium than we do?
>
> While it is true that we may not be able to change language altogether, I
> think it is important to look at our language and see where it needs
> changing. Note that in this very sentence, I said see instead of discover; I
> can only conclude that I, like everyone else, have come to associate seeing
> with discovery.   In any case, it's always a good idea to think about how
> our social and linguistic conditioning affects us. There is nothing wrong
> with using the word blind to describe someone with a visual condition that
> substancially alters their way of life, but there is a problem with linking
> that physical blindness with a host of other problems such as ignorance, or
> as Joanne pointed out, subhumanity.
>
> Respectfully,
> Jedi
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On 19/06/2011, at 2:18 AM, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Holy crap this is awesome!
>> (how's that for a formal letter opening?)
>>  I actually disagree with this.  A lot.  Maybe these expressions came
>> about, at least in part, because of the stereotypes of us being
>> stupid/inattentive/inferior.  But, the fact is, most of the time when
>> people use them they aren't talking about physical blindness at all!
>> Are we being racist when we talk about black friday every year, or the
>> "black death", or some issues being black and white, or blacklisting
>> someone?  I know I'm not.  When we say someone has an unorthadox way
>> of doing something, are we saying they aren't part of the Eastern
>> Orthadox branch of Christianity?  If I tell you all I just got a fat
>> paycheck from my job, am I making fun of people who are overweight?
>> The same principle applies here, I think.
>>  If someone has "blind faith", it just means they can't see what's
>> really going on because they're mentally blinded by the person/idea
>> they are following.  When we say "in the country of the blind, the
>> one-eyed man is king!" (not that I've heard that in casual
>> conversation), we're saying that when everyone is too stubborn/set in
>> their ways to look at reality, even someone with a little bit of
>> insight is superior.  it's a metaphor.  The way it's used in every day
>> parlains isn't making fun of physically blind people at all, it's
>> making fun of people with blind minds!  What's that motto at the end
>> of each of Chris's messages?   "A loss of sight, never a loss of
>> vision."  Same concept-these sayings and idioms make fun of people
>> with no vision...heck, I use them sometimes because the imagery fits.
>> And, when I say "dude!  What are you?  blind or something?", after a
>> friend runs over a curb or misses an exit from the freeway, I'm not
>> implying blind people aren't attentive.  I'm just implying we can't
>> see.  Don't we have real problems to worry about?  Like actual
>> descrimination maybe?
>>  Best,
>> Kirt
>>
>> On 6/18/11, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> At 03:24 PM 6/18
>>>
>>> Hi, Humberto,
>>>
>
>
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