[nabs-l] Blindness and other minorities

Wed Nov 16 01:57:26 UTC 2011

Hi=20Alexander,

Yes,=20you=20are=20right=20about=20that.=20=20However,=20for=20other=20mino=
rity=20
groups,=20it's=20on=20a=20much=20smaller=20scale,=20as=20more=20people=20ha=
ve=20been=20
taught=20to=20accept=20them=20as=20equals=20and=20to=20not=20discriminate=20=
against=20
them.=20=20Why?=20As=20I=20said=20in=20my=20original=20email,=20it=20is=20b=
ecause=20these=20
beliefs=20are=20generally=20thought=20to=20be=20baseless=20and=20ridiculous=
,=20and=20
therefore=20are=20not=20widely=20believed.=20=20But=20we=20still=20have=20t=
his=20
problem,=20and=20the=20misconceptions=20are=20very=20widely=20believed.=20=
=20Why?=20
Because=20to=20the=20public,=20their=20belief=20in=20these=20misconceptions=
=20is=20
not=20discrimination,=20but=20rather=20intellectual=20honesty.=20=20To=20th=
em,=20
they're=20not=20discriminating;=20far=20from=20it.=20=20They're=20going=20o=
ut=20of=20
their=20way=20to=20help=20us!=20Now=20how=20could=20that=20be=20discriminat=
ion?=20
That's=20their=20thought=20process,=20in=20my=20opinion,=20and=20we=20know=
=20that=20it=20
is=20discrimination.

Chris

"The=20real=20problem=20of=20blindness=20is=20not=20the=20loss=20of=20eyesi=
ght.=20=20The=20
real=20problem=20is=20the=20misunderstanding=20and=20lack=20of=20education=
=20that=20
exists.=20=20If=20a=20blind=20person=20has=20the=20proper=20training=20and=
=20
opportunity,=20blindness=20can=20be=20reduced=20to=20a=20mere=20physical=20=

nuisance."
--=20Kenneth=20Jernigan=20(President,=20National=20Federation=20of=20the=20=
Blind,=20
1968-1986

P.S.=20=20The=20I=20C.A.N.=20=20Foundation=20helps=20blind=20and=20visually=
=20impaired=20
youth=20in=20Maryland=20say=20"I=20can,"=20by=20empowering=20them=20through=
=20
providing=20assistive=20technology=20and=20scholarships=20to=20camps=20and=
=20
conventions=20which=20help=20them=20be=20equal=20with=20their=20sighted=20p=
eers.=20=20
For=20more=20information=20about=20the=20Foundation=20and=20to=20support=20=
our=20
work,=20visit=20us=20online=20at=20www.icanfoundation.info!

Sent=20from=20my=20BrailleNote=20Apex

=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
From:=20Alexander=20Castillo=20<alexandera.castillo at gmail.com
To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list=20
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date=20sent:=20Mon,=207=20Nov=202011=2023:20:44=20-0500
Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20Blindness=20and=20other=20minorities

Hi=20all,=20Chris=20=20wrote:

"It=20seems=20to=20me=20that
these=20misconceptions=20are=20passed=20down=20through=20the=20generations;=

from=20one=20generation=20to=20their=20children,=20then=20passed=20on=20to=
=20those
children's=20children,=20then=20to=20their=20children,=20and=20to=20their
children,=20and=20so=20on.=20=20=A0When=20these=20beliefs=20are=20taught=20=
for=20a=20long
time=20and=20are=20handed=20down=20through=20the=20generations,=20it=20beco=
mes
easier=20for=20people=20to=20believe=20them=20and=20they=20mostly=20do.=20=
=20=A0These
misconceptions,=20which=20are=20widely=20believed=20by=20a=20vast=20majorit=
y=20of
the=20public,=20are=20the=20beliefs=20from=20which=20the=20stereotyping=20a=
nd
discrimination=20stem.=20=20=A0Then,=20the=20misconceptions=20of=20the=20pu=
blic
directly=20effect=20us,=20as=20we=20then=20become=20the=20object=20of
discrimination=20and=20stereotypes.=20=20=A0To=20me,=20other=20minority=20g=
roups
don't=20have=20this=20problem.=20=20=A0"

These=20are=20exactly=20the=20causes=20of=20discrimination=20against=20gend=
er,
religion,=20ethnicity=20or=20race....=20=20And,=20they=20are=20still=20bein=
g=20fought
against=20by=20other=20minority=20groups=20as=20well.=20=20People=20do=20be=
lieve=20that
ethnicity=20or=20race=20has=20to=20do=20with=20intelligence,=20they=20do=20=

discriminate
against=20sex=20and=20gender=20based=20on=20beliefs=20which=20are=20false.

We=20are=20no=20diferent=20as=20a=20minority=20group=20than=20any=20other.=
=20=20This=20
might=20be=20a
dificult=20concept=20to=20grasp=20for=20those=20of=20us=20=20who's=20only=20=

identification
with=20discrimination=20has=20come=20from=20blindness.=20=20But=20what=20we=
=20deal=20
with=20on
a=20daily=20basis=20is=20what=20many=20minority=20groups=20in=20the=20past=
=20have=20dealt
with.=20=20The=20difference=20now=20is=20that=20for=20those=20other=20minor=
ity=20
groups,=20it
has=20become=20taboo=20=20to=20stereotype=20and=20discriminate=20even=20in=
=20positive
ways,=20for=20example,=20saying=20that=20all=20Asians=20are=20good=20in=20m=
ath,=20or=20
that
all=20Hispanics=20are=20good=20at=20baseball,=20or=20that=20one=20should=20=
treat=20
their
female=20co-workers=20gentler=20then=20male=20coworkers.

What=20we=20face=20is=20discrimination=20which=20to=20the=20sighted=20publi=
c=20=20isn't
visible=20as=20discrimination.=20=20It=20is=20seen=20as=20charity,=20as=20g=
race,=20as=20
good
will,=20as=20good=20intent,=20and=20quite=20often=20as=20a=20necessary=20pa=
rt=20of=20
"dealing
with=20the=20blind."

Thanks=20for=20reading,
Alex

On=2011/7/11,=20Jedi=20<loneblindjedi at samobile.net>=20wrote:
=20Perhaps,=20but=20there=20are=20"cross-platform"=20techniques=20that=20ot=
her
=20minorities=20are=20using=20that=20might=20help=20us=20out=20just=20as=20=
well.

=20Respectfully=20Submitted

=20Original=20message:
=20Julie,

=20No,=20the=20discrimination=20faced=20by=20people=20of=20different=20race=
s=20and
=20ethnicities,=20or=20gender,=20religion,=20sexual=20orientation,=20etc.,=
=20is=20a
=20different=20type=20of=20discrimination=20that=20what=20people=20with=20
disabilities
=20face.=20=20It=20also=20stems=20from=20different=20sources-=20usually=20t=
his=20type=20
of
=20discrimination=20grows=20out=20of=20hate=20as=20well=20as=20ignorance=20=
and=20fear=20
of
=20differences.=20=20Disability=20is=20feared=20too,=20but=20the=20general=
=20idea,=20as=20
you
=20state,=20is=20that=20many=20believe=20disabled=20people=20require=20cons=
tant=20
assistance,
=20and=20disabled=20people=20are=20owed=20a=20debt=20by=20society=20because=
=20we=20lack=20
equality.
=20It's=20not=20processed=20this=20way,=20but=20it=20stems=20from=20the=20p=
erception=20
that
=20disability=20equates=20to=20not=20being=20capable,=20less=20fortunate,=20=

inferior.

=20We=20can't=20place=20discriminatory=20behavior=20side=20by=20side=20when=
=20it=20
comes=20to
=20disability=20and=20other=20issues=20like=20race=20or=20sexual=20orientat=
ion,=20but=20
we=20do
=20share=20the=20fact=20that=20ignorance=20and=20antiquated=20perceptions=20=

perpetuate
=20ideas=20about=20people=20who=20are=20different.=20=20We=20can't=20try=20=
to=20make=20the=20
issues
=20exactly=20the=20same=20and=20hold=20the=20same=20measurements,=20but=20w=
e=20can=20
understand
=20how=20ignorance=20cultivates=20an=20environment=20lacking=20education=20=
and
=20infromation=20providing=20people=20with=20the=20concept=20of=20true=20eq=
uality.

=20Sincerely,
=20Bridgit=20Kuenning-Pollpeter
=20Read=20my=20blog=20at:
=20http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

=20"History=20is=20not=20what=20happened;=20history=20is=20what=20was=20wri=
tten=20
down."
=20The=20Expected=20One-=20Kathleen=20McGowan

=20Message:=204
=20Date:=20Sun,=206=20Nov=202011=2023:40:03=20-0600
=20From:=20Julie=20McGinnity=20<kaybaycar at gmail.com
=20To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20Blindness=20vs.=20=20Other=20Minority=20Grou=
ps
=20Message-ID:

=20
<CAHox4D+p6XefJkLCiWDb+f0VnjH5W2ZQeVu+NXaku=3DHYJmY7Jg at mail.gmail.c
om
=20Content-Type:=20text/plain;=20charset=3DISO-8859-1

=20Hi=20all.

=20I=20know=20this=20was=20mentioned=20a=20bit=20in=20previous=20messages,=
=20but=20I=20
think=20the
=20big=20difference=20is=20the=20fact=20that=20sighted=20people=20believe=20=
that=20we=20
are
=20always=20in=20need=20of=20help.=20=20They=20take=20it=20as=20a=20matter=
=20of=20course=20that=20
we=20are
=20helpless=20and=20can't=20do=20whatever=20it=20is=20by=20ourselves.=20=20=
Now=20I=20am=20
speaking
=20generally;=20I=20do=20not=20mean=20all=20sighted=20people.

=20I=20don't=20believe=20that=20other=20minority=20groups=20deal=20with=20t=
his=20
problem.=20=20White
=20people=20don't=20try=20to=20help=20African=20Americans=20with=20simple=20=
tasks=20
without
=20asking=20them=20if=20they=20need=20it=20as=20sighted=20people=20often=20=
do=20to=20the=20
blind.
=20When=20blind=20people=20refuse=20help=20or=20get=20annoyed=20when=20they=
=20are=20
treated
=20differently,=20then=20the=20sighted=20people=20are=20offended=20when=20t=
he=20blind=20
speak
=20and=20advocate=20for=20themselves.

=20I=20actually=20think=20that=20educating=20complete=20strangers=20is=20ea=
sier=20
than
=20educating=20people=20I=20know.=20=20I=20have=20been=20called=20angry=20a=
nd=20prideful=20
because
=20I=20refuse=20to=20allow=20people=20to=20grab=20my=20arm=20and=20propell=
=20me=20along,=20
and=20I=20get
=20very=20frustrated=20with=20people=20who=20will=20not=20talk=20to=20me=20=
in=20favor=20of=20
speaking
=20to=20my=20sighted=20friends.=20=20It=20was=20said=20to=20me=20by=20a=20f=
riend=20that=20I=20
should=20just
=20deal=20with=20it=20and=20accept=20the=20help=20because=20it=20is=20easie=
r=20that=20way.=20=20
I=20don't
=20even=20know=20if=20this=20person=20even=20understood=20how=20offensive=20=
that=20
comment=20was
=20to=20me.

=20When=20I=20am=20in=20the=20middle=20of=20a=20situation=20where=20in=20I=
=20have=20to=20
educate
=20someone,=20I=20try=20to=20handle=20it=20with=20firm=20politeness.=20=20I=
t=20helps=20to=20
keep=20a
=20smile=20in=20place=20and=20explain=20it=20as=20though=20these=20things=20=
happen=20all=20
the
=20time,=20which=20they=20do.=20=20You=20can=20complain=20and=20rant=20to=20=
your=20friends=20
later.
=20=20:)

=20The=20other=20problem=20is=20that=20there=20really=20is=20a=20time=20and=
=20a=20place=20for
=20advocacy=20and=20education.=20=20I=20am=20a=20performer,=20so=20I=20must=
=20walk=20on=20
stage.=20=20I
=20prefer=20to=20do=20this=20independently.=20=20I=20am=20a=20singer,=20and=
=20I=20work=20with=20
an
=20accompanist.=20=20We=20have=20been=20working=20together=20for=20about=20=
five=20
years.=20=20She
=20knows=20that=20I=20will=20walk=20on=20stage=20on=20my=20own.=20=20This=20=
weekend=20at=20a=20
singing
=20competition=20I=20had=20to=20work=20with=20another=20accompanist.=20=20T=
his=20one=20
thought=20it
=20necessary=20to=20grab=20my=20arm=20and=20stop=20me=20at=20my=20place=20i=
n=20front=20of=20the=20
piano
=20and=20try=20to=20turn=20me=20around=20to=20face=20the=20audience.=20=20I=
=20was=20stuck.=20=20I=20
could
=20not=20give=20her=20a=20speach=20then=20and=20there=20of=20course,=20but=
=20I=20was=20afraid=20
that=20it
=20would=20look=20bad=20that=20she=20was=20litterally=20trying=20to=20turn=
=20me=20around=20
like=20I
=20didn't=20know=20which=20way=20to=20face=20on=20my=20own.

=20Unfortunately,=20even=20when=20I=20tried=20to=20explain=20it=20to=20her=
=20later,=20she=20
did=20not
=20understand.=20=20I=20have=20also=20taught=20my=20guide=20dog=20to=20stop=
=20when=20people=20
grab=20my
=20arm.=20=20This=20is=20actually=20quite=20fun.=20=20The=20person=20trying=
=20to=20pull=20me=20
along
=20will=20get=20annoyed=20and=20inquire=20as=20to=20why=20I=20am=20not=20mo=
ving.=20=20When=20I=20
explain
=20calmly=20that=20my=20dog=20stops=20when=20people=20try=20to=20guide=20me=
=20because=20it=20
is=20her
=20job=20to=20guide=20me,=20and=20she=20does=20not=20need=20to=20compete=20=
with=20others,=20
they
=20understand=20and=20don't=20get=20too=20offended.

=20This=20is=20a=20very=20interesting=20thread,=20and=20I've=20been=20enjoy=
ing=20
reading=20about
=20all=20your=20thoughts=20and=20experiences.

=20_______________________________________________
=20nabs-l=20mailing=20list
=20nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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=20To=20unsubscribe,=20change=20your=20list=20options=20or=20get=20your=20a=
ccount=20
info=20for
=20nabs-l:
=20
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%40samobile.net

=20--
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ork.=20=20
Visit
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=20_______________________________________________
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info=20for
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stillo%40gmail.com

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