[nabs-l] offensive questions

Wed May 29 01:43:33 UTC 2013

Melissa,=20while=20I=20had=20to=20laugh=20at=20your=20funny=20email,=20I=20=
disagree=20
with=20you.=20If=20we=20want=20sighties=20to=20stop=20patronizing=20us,=20w=
e=20have=20to=20
be=20polite=20and=20respectful=20to=20them.=20If=20we=20don't=20educate=20t=
hem=20and=20
instead=20be=20rude=20to=20them=20and=20patronize=20them,=20no=20progress=20=
will=20be=20
made.=20I=20know=20it's=20hard.=20I=20know=20it's=20not=20been=20easy=20to=
=20be=20
respectful=20and=20patient.=20Sometimes,=20when=20I'm=20reading=20or=20writ=
ing=20
and=20someone=20asks=20me=20ten=20billion=20questions=20about=20my=20braill=
enote=20
like=20it's=20some=20kind=20of=20machine=20from=20outer=20space,=20I=20just=
=20wanna=20
say,=20"I'm=20busy=20here.=20Leave=20me=20alone."=20But=20because=20I=20wan=
t=20them=20to=20
know=20that=20I=20can=20do=20anything=20they=20can=20do=20and=20to=20prove=
=20that=20my=20
blindness=20doesn't=20make=20me=20an=20antisocial=20psychopath,=20I=20stop=
=20and=20
briefly=20explain=20my=20braillenote=20to=20them.=20The=20same=20goes=20for=
=20my=20
iPhone=20with=20voiceover=20or=20anything=20else=20I=20use=20or=20do.=20Pat=
ience=20can=20
get=20us=20places.=20After=20all,=20a=20lot=20of=20times=20sighties=20have=
=20to=20explain=20
things=20to=20us=20(or=20at=20least=20to=20me)=20about=20things=20like=20co=
lors=20and=20
fashion.=20All=20I'm=20saying=20is,=20treat=20others=20how=20you=20wanna=20=
be=20
treated.

=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
From:=20"melissa=20Green"=20<lissa1531 at gmail.com
To:=20"National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list"=20
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date=20sent:=20Tue,=2028=20May=202013=2016:32:18=20-0600
Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20offensive=20questions

If=20I=20ruled=20the=20world.
All=20of=20the=20sighted=20people=20would=20be=20blind=20for=20a=20few=20ye=
ars.
The=20blind=20would=20be=20in=20control=20and=20we=20would=20do=20all=20the=
=20patronizing=20
things
that=20they=20do=20to=20us=20to=20them.
*dreamful=20sigh*.

Sincerely,
Melissa=20and=20Pj
"Forever=20is=20composed=20of=20nows."=20-Emily=20Dickinson
facebook=20Melissa=20R=20Green
Linkedin=20www.linkedin.com/in/melissagreen5674
skype:=20lissa5674

-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
From:=20"Arielle=20Silverman"=20<arielle71 at gmail.com
To:=20"Misty=20Dawn=20Bradley"=20<MistyDBradley at gmail.com>;=20"National=20
Association=20of
Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list"=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Sent:=20Monday,=20May=2027,=202013=207:45=20PM
Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20offensive=20questions

Misty,
What=20happened=20to=20you=20yesterday=20sounds=20very=20aggravating.=20If=
=20I=20may=20
ask,
was=20this=20offending=20person=20an=20employee=20at=20an=20establishment=20=
where=20
you
were=20hanging=20out,=20or=20just=20someone=20who=20was=20part=20of=20your=
=20social=20
group?
If=20she=20was=20an=20employee,=20then=20perhaps=20you=20might=20want=20to=
=20call=20the
manager=20and=20complain=20about=20what=20happened?=20It's=20one=20thing=20=
to=20ask
questions,=20but=20what's=20maddening=20about=20this=20situation=20is=20tha=
t=20it=20
sounds
like=20you=20told=20her=20how=20you=20do=20things,=20and=20how=20you=20pref=
er=20to=20be=20
treated,
and=20she=20simply=20didn't=20listen.=20I=20often=20feel=20like=20strangers=
=20I=20
encounter
on=20the=20street=20don't=20fully=20listen=20to=20what=20I=20am=20saying.=20=
Sometimes=20
if=20I
do=20need=20some=20information=20and=20ask=20a=20question,=20they=20don't=20=
really=20
listen
to=20my=20question=20and=20just=20say=20what=20they=20think=20I=20want=20to=
=20hear.=20For
example,=20on=20Saturday=20I=20was=20walking=20through=20a=20parking=20lot=
=20to=20get=20
to=20a
restaurant.=20There=20was=20a=20sidewalk=20path,=20but=20I=20remembered=20t=
hat=20it=20
had
been=20under=20construction=20and=20was=20walking=20in=20=20the=20parking=20=
lot=20to=20
avoid
the=20construction.=20Someone=20came=20up=20and=20offered=20to=20help=20me=
=20get=20back=20
on
the=20sidewalk.=20I=20asked=20him=20if=20the=20sidewalk=20barricades=20had=
=20been=20
removed,
but=20instead=20of=20answering=20me=20he=20kept=20saying=20he=20wanted=20to=
=20help=20me=20
get
back=20on=20the=20sidewalk=20and=20going=20on=20about=20how=20dangerous=20i=
t=20was=20for=20
me=20to
be=20walking=20in=20the=20parking=20lot.=20Anyway,=20I=20finally=20had=20to=
=20stop=20him=20
and
say=20"Could=20you=20please=20answer=20the=20question=20I'm=20asking=20you?=
=20Are=20
there
barricades=20on=20the=20sidewalk?"=20and=20finally=20he=20told=20me=20the=20=

barricades=20had
been=20removed.=20It=20would=20have=20gone=20much=20faster=20for=20both=20o=
f=20us=20if=20he=20
had
just=20answered=20my=20original=20question=20the=20first=20time=20and=20the=
n=20I=20
could
have=20moved=20to=20the=20sidewalk=20without=20assistance.
I=20also=20think=20the=20patronizing=20actions=20of=20others=20are=20most=20=

frustrating=20of
all.=20Too=20often=20I=20have=20people=20patting=20me=20on=20the=20arm=20or=
=20telling=20me=20
I'm
doing=20a=20good=20job=20as=20I=20walk=20by=20them,=20as=20if=20I=20need=20=
a=20cheerleader.=20I
sometimes=20am=20tempted=20to=20grab=20some=20of=20these=20people,=20inform=
=20them=20
that=20I
will=20be=20receiving=20my=20Ph.D.=20in=20the=20next=20year,=20and=20then=20=
ask=20them=20if=20
they
would=20speak=20to=20an=20adult=20of=20my=20educational=20stature=20this=20=
way?
As=20a=20psychologist=20I=20am=20really=20intrigued=20by=20the=20ways=20tha=
t=20sighted
people=20think=20about=20how=20they=20would=20behave=20if=20they=20became=20=
blind.=20It=20
has
been=20well-documented=20that=20people=20neglect=20how=20much=20they=20can,=
=20and=20
would,
adapt=20to=20new=20situations=20over=20time.=20The=20fact=20is=20that=20if=
=20any=20of=20
these
doubting=20sighted=20folks=20became=20blind,=20they=20would=20have=20to=20a=
dapt=20in=20
order
to=20keep=20living=20their=20lives.=20Some=20of=20them=20might=20lapse=20in=
to=20
depression,
or=20be=20rich=20enough=20to=20hire=20full-time=20help=20with=20everything,=
=20but=20
most=20of
these=20people=20would=20be=20resilient=20enough=20(and=20practical=20enoug=
h)=20to=20
learn
the=20exact=20same=20skills=20we=20take=20for=20granted.=20However,=20sight=
ed=20
people
looking=20into=20the=20future=20don't=20realize=20that=20this=20would=20hap=
pen.=20In=20
one
of=20my=20blindness=20simulation=20experiments=20I=20actually=20asked=20sig=
hted=20
people
how=20well=20they=20thought=20they=20could=20perform=20various=20activities=
=20if=20
they
became=20blind,=20and=20most=20said=20they=20thought=20they=20would=20be=20=
extremely
incapable.=20Notably,=20this=20was=20worse=20for=20those=20who=20had=20just=
=20been
blindfolded=20and=20asked=20to=20walk=20around=20with=20a=20cane=20without=
=20any=20
training.
The=20participants'=20ratings=20of=20how=20capable=20they=20would=20be=20as=
=20blind=20
people
were=20closely=20related=20to=20their=20ratings=20of=20how=20capable=20actu=
al=20blind
people=20would=20be=20at=20the=20exact=20same=20tasks,=20suggesting=20that=
=20sighted
people=20think=20about=20how=20they=20would=20do=20it=20and=20then=20use=20=
that=20
prediction
to=20make=20a=20judgment=20about=20how=20others=20would=20do=20the=20same=20=
thing=20
blind.
I=20think=20when=20we=20work=20on=20educating=20people,=20we=20want=20to=20=
get=20across=20
to
them=20that=20blindness=20techniques=20are=20things=20that=20pretty=20much=
=20anyone=20
can
learn.=20Those=20of=20us=20who=20have=20learned=20blindness=20techniques=20=
aren't
special=20and=20we=20don't=20have=20superpowers.=20We=20just=20learned=20th=
ese=20
skills
because=20we=20were=20motivated=20to=20do=20normal=20things=20and=20we=20ha=
d=20no=20other
choice=20but=20to=20use=20the=20alternative=20skills.=20It's=20simply=20not=
=20
practical
for=20most=20of=20us=20to=20have=20sighted=20help=20doing=20everything,=20a=
nd=20when=20we=20
do
take=20sighted=20assistance=20there=20is=20often=20a=20cost=20of=20some=20s=
ort=20
(monetary
cost,=20being=20a=20burden=20on=20others=20or=20giving=20up=20some=20of=20o=
ur=20freedom).=20
So
to=20minimize=20these=20costs=20we=20figure=20out=20nonvisual=20ways=20to=20=
get=20
things
done.=20That's=20it.

Arielle

On=205/27/13,=20Misty=20Dawn=20Bradley=20<mistydbradley at gmail.com>=20wrote:=

=20Arielle,
=20I=20get=20those=20same=20comments=20about=20being=20"amazing"=20or=20"in=
spiring"=20
also.=20I
=20usually=20just=20respond=20by=20saying=20that=20I=20am=20a=20normal=20pe=
rson=20who=20is=20
just=20doing
=20what=20they=20need=20to=20do=20in=20life.=20I=20try=20to=20explain=20als=
o=20how=20I=20do=20it=20
if=20there
=20is
=20time,=20but=20usually=20I=20do=20not=20know=20what=20to=20say=20either,=
=20so=20I=20just=20
tell=20them
=20that
=20I=20just=20do=20what=20I=20need=20to=20do=20like=20other=20people=20do.=
=20A=20lot=20of=20
sighted=20people
=20tell=20me=20that=20they=20could=20never=20travel=20independently=20or=20=
do=20
anything=20on=20their
=20own=20if=20they=20were=20blind=20and=20that=20they=20would=20have=20some=
one=20doing=20
everything
=20for
=20them=20all=20of=20the=20time.=20I=20just=20tell=20them=20that=20there=20=
are=20things=20in=20
life=20that
=20need=20to=20get=20done,=20such=20as=20grocery=20shopping,=20working,=20a=
nd=20many=20
other=20daily
=20things,=20and=20it=20is=20much=20easier=20and=20makes=20me=20feel=20more=
=20free=20and=20
independent
=20to
=20do=20these=20things=20when=20I=20want=20to=20do=20them=20instead=20of=20=
always=20relying=20
on
=20everyone
=20to=20take=20me=20or=20do=20it=20for=20me=20on=20their=20own=20time.=20I=
=20have=20a=20lot=20more=20
freedom
=20and
=20flexibility=20that=20way.=20Sometimes,=20when=20I=20put=20it=20that=20wa=
y,=20they=20
can
=20understand
=20somewhat=20what=20I=20mean,=20and=20they=20will=20tell=20me=20so.
=20Misty

=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
=20From:=20"Arielle=20Silverman"=20<arielle71 at gmail.com
=20To:=20<jsoro620 at gmail.com>;=20"National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20
Students=20mailing
=20list"=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20Sent:=20Monday,=20May=2027,=202013=208:42=20PM
=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20offensive=20questions

=20Agreed.=20Unfortunately=20there=20are=20times=20when=20people=20ask=20qu=
estions=20
out=20of
=20doubt=20or=20sarcasm=20rather=20than=20out=20of=20true=20curiosity.=20Th=
ey=20already
=20believe=20we=20can't=20do=20something=20and=20answering=20their=20questi=
on=20about=20
how
=20we=20do=20it=20doesn't=20persuade=20them=20to=20give=20us=20a=20job,=20o=
r=20a=20second=20
date,=20or
=20whatever.=20Sometimes=20it's=20hard=20to=20tell=20if=20a=20question=20is=
=20asked=20out=20
of
=20curiosity=20or=20if=20the=20questioner=20has=20already=20made=20up=20his=
/her=20mind.
=20However,=20I=20do=20think=20we=20should=20give=20folks=20the=20benefit=20=
of=20the=20
doubt=20and
=20at=20least=20attempt=20to=20educate=20them=20the=20best=20we=20can.=20We=
=20don't=20want
=20well-intentioned=20folks=20to=20feel=20they=20have=20to=20bottle=20their=
=20
questions
=20inside=20and=20never=20learn=20what=20they=20want=20to=20learn=20about=20=
blindness.=20
I=20also
=20agree=20that=20if=20a=20question=20crosses=20personal=20boundaries,=20su=
ch=20as=20a
=20question=20about=20how=20we=20handle=20toilet=20matters,=20then=20it=20s=
hould=20be
=20addressed=20more=20assertively.=20I=20have=20luckily=20not=20been=20aske=
d=20any
=20questions=20that=20I=20found=20to=20be=20rude=20or=20invasive,=20but=20I=
=20know=20others=20
have
=20at=20times.
=20I=20don't=20mind=20answering=20(appropriate)=20questions=20at=20all,=20b=
ut=20I=20am=20
always
=20stumped=20when=20some=20stranger=20tells=20me=20I=20am
=20amazing/brave/inspiring/courageous.=20I=20can=20never=20figure=20out=20h=
ow=20
to
=20respond=20in=20such=20a=20way=20that=20acknowledges=20their=20goodwill=20=
but=20also
=20attempts=20to=20educate=20them=20about=20the=20fact=20I=20am=20not=20ver=
y=20amazing=20or=20
brave
=20just=20because=20I=20can=20walk=20somewhere=20by=20myself.=20I=20could=20=
just=20say=20
"thank
=20you"=20and=20move=20on,=20but=20I=20don't=20like=20doing=20that=20becaus=
e=20I=20feel=20
like=20by
=20thanking=20them=20I=20am=20validating=20what=20they=20think=20about=20bl=
ind=20people=20
being
=20amazing=20for=20doing=20the=20simplest=20things.=20Sometimes=20I=20find=
=20myself=20
just
=20ignoring=20the=20comment=20because=20I=20don't=20know=20what=20to=20say.=
=20Other=20
times=20I
=20will=20attempt=20to=20briefly=20explain=20the=20relevant=20techniques=20=
that=20I=20
use,=20if
=20time=20allows=20and=20if=20they=20seem=20interested.=20How=20do=20you=20=
handle=20this?

=20Arielle

=20On=205/27/13,=20Joe=20<jsoro620 at gmail.com>=20wrote:
=20Damn,=20this=20stupid=20JAWS=20thing=20isn't=20letting=20me=20respond=20=
to=20sender.=20
LOL
=20Just

=20to
=20chime=20in=20that=20I=20thought=20this=20was=20an=20excellent=20and=20we=
ll-written=20
post.=20I'm
=20sure=20you're=20a=20superb=20journalist.--Joe

=20-----Original=20Message-----
=20From:=20nabs-l=20[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]=20On=20Behalf=20Of=20=
The=20
weird
=20writer
=20Sent:=20Saturday,=20May=2025,=202013=201:40=20AM
=20To:=20nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20Subject:=20[nabs-l]=20offensive=20questions

=20The=20restaurant=20bustles=20with=20activity=20as=20my=20date=20and=20I=
=20sit=20
opposite=20each
=20other,=20talking=20about=20ourselves=20and=20what=20we=20do.=20To=20my=20=
immediate=20
right,=20a
=20woman=20is=20talking=20to=20her=20mom=20on=20her=20cell=20phone=20about=
=20the=20baseball=20
game
=20she
=20missed.=20Different=20smells=20bounce=20off=20my=20nose=20as=20men=20and=
=20women=20
pass=20us
=20making
=20their=20way=20to=20their=20tables.=20Dishes=20clatter=20in=20the=20kitch=
en=20behind=20
me,=20and
=20my
=20date=E2=80=99s=20cologne,=20masked=20over=20with=20deodorant,=20sprays=20=
my=20sense=20of=20
smell=20as
=20I
=20gaze=20towards=20his=20ebony=20accented=20voice.=20We=E2=80=99re=20chatt=
ing=20
jovially,=20our
=20laughter
=20dicing=20holes=20in=20conversations=20around=20us,=20making=20people=20s=
top,=20
and,=20I'm
=20sure,
=20stare=20at=20this=20interracial=20gay=20couple.

=20When=20the=20dishes=20come,=20we=20get=20into=20the=20topic=20of=20caree=
rs.=20He's=20a=20
teacher.
=20With=20a=20mouth=20full,=20and=20hesitation=20dotting=20his=20syllables=
=20like=20
rain,=20he
=20asks
=20me=20a=20very=20important=20question.

=20=E2=80=9CIf=20you=E2=80=99re=20blind,=20how=20can=20you=20be=20a=20journ=
alist?=E2=80=9D

=20Instantly=20the=20talons=20rise,=20and=20my=20fingers=20toy=20with=20the=
=20idea=20of=20
creeping
=20towards=20his=20throat.=20A=20dozen=20retorts=20bang=20into=20my=20head=
=20as=20if=20it=20
were=20a
=20chamber=20full=20of=20bullets,=20ready=20to=20blast=20this=20rude=20inse=
nsitive=20
sighted
=20person
=20away.=20After=20a=20split=20second=20however,=20I=20suddenly=20realize=20=
that=20he's=20
never
=20seen
=20adaptive=20technology,=20and=20he's=20never=20seen=20a=20Braille=20displ=
ay,=20and=20
he's
=20certainly=20never=20seen=20a=20victor=20reader=20stream=20or=20a=20compu=
ter=20with=20a=20
screen
=20reader=20before.=20He's=20not=20in=20my=20world=20and=20he=20never=20was=
.=20Taking=20a=20
deep
=20breath,
=20I=20explain=20how=20I'm=20a=20journalist=20when=20I'm=20blind,=20all=20w=
ith=20a=20huge=20
smile=20on
=20my
=20face.=20The=20reason=20I=20choose=20to=20answer=20all=20his=20questions,=
=20and=20many=20
others,
=20instead=20of=20following=20my=20gut=20instinct=20to=20be=20sarcastic=20i=
s,=20he=20may=20
not=20be
=20in

=20my
=20world,=20but=20I=20know=20he=20can=20be=20if=20I=20just=20teach=20him.

=20Whenever=20I=20hang=20around=20blind=20people=20and=20we=20make=20jokes=
=20about=20
speech
=20synthesizers=20that=20sighted=20people=20wouldn't=20understand=20a=20sen=
tence=20
is
=20uttered
=20without=20fail.=20Sooner=20or=20later,=20we=20get=20to=20talking=20about=
=20sighted=20
people
=20and
=20their=20lack=20of=20blindness=20knowledge.=20The=20words=20fly=20at=20me=
=20like=20
sharp
=20bullets
=20that=20are=20not=20meant=20for=20me.=20They=E2=80=99re=20angry=20at=20th=
e=20sighted=20people=20
who=20ask
=20us
=20how=20we=20type=20on=20a=20computer.=20It's=20an=20angry=20question=20th=
at's=20become=20
a=20common
=20one
=20in=20the=20blindness=20community.

=20=E2=80=9CThey=20should=20know=20better.=20Why=20are=20they=20so=20stupid=
?=E2=80=9D

=20When=20that's=20uttered,=20I=20immediately=20see=20things=20through=20th=
e=20
sighted=20point
=20of
=20view.=20The=20truth=20is,=20they=20won=E2=80=99t=20be=20an=20expert=20ab=
out=20blindness=20
ways=20or
=20technology.=20They=20shouldn=E2=80=99t=20know=20better=20because=20no=20=
one=20knows=20
everything,
=20especially=20about=20a=20different=20way=20of=20living.=20They=20shouldn=
=E2=80=99t=20
know=20better.
=20Instead,=20we=20have=20to=20get=20angry=20less,=20and=20educate=20more.

=20Education=20is=20the=20key=20of=20knowledge=20that=20will=20turn=20itsel=
f,=20
unlocking=20the
=20right
=20doors=20if=20the=20right=20direction=20is=20given.=20Among=20the=20disab=
led=20
community=20who
=20tend
=20to=20get=20angry=20when=20they're=20asked=20to=20educate,=20this=20appli=
es=20to=20
people=20with
=20HIV
=20and=20aids=20as=20well.

=20I've=20seen=20countless=20instances=20where=20someone=20with=20HIV=20or=
=20AIDS=20
gets
=20offended
=20when=20a=20potential=20partner=20asks=20him=20if=20he=20will=20contract=
=20if=20they=20
exchange
=20saliva.=20The=20contracted=20person=20became=20offended,=20and=20stormed=
=20off,=20
hurt.
=20Upon
=20further=20investigation,=20I=20learned=20that=20his=20date=20didn't=20ev=
en=20know=20
what=20HIV
=20did.=20He=20didn't=20even=20know=20that=20it=20didn't=20have=20a=20cure.=

=20A=20lot=20of=20people=20say=20ignorance=20is=20bliss,=20but=20it's=20als=
o=20a=20divider.=20
Even
=20today,
=20the=20biggest=20hurtle=20that=20we=20all=20have=20to=20overcome=20is=20i=
nclusion=20and
=20acceptance,
=20even=20among=20the=20gay=20community,=20disabled=20community,=20and=20HI=
V=20
community.=20In
=20today's=20day=20and=20age,=20just=20simple=20curiosity=20could=20ruin=20=
a=20good=20
friendship
=20or
=20relationship=20because=20of=20=E2=80=9Coffensive=20questions.=E2=80=9D=20=
That=20divide=20
grows=20because
=20we
=20are=20easily=20offended=20at=20the=20questions=20we=20asked=20ourselves=
=20at=20one=20
point.

=20When=20I=20was=20learning=20the=20bus=20route=20for=20my=20daily=20commu=
tes,=20I=20
wondered=20if
=20it
=20would=20even=20work,=20me=20having=20to=20travel=20on=20the=20bus=20for=
=20field=20
reporting.
=20I've=20asked=20the=20same=20question=20as=20my=20restaurant=20date.=20=E2=
=80=9CHow=20am=20I=20
going=20to
=20be

=20a
=20journalist?=E2=80=9D=20with=20patience,=20and=20persistence,=20I=20figur=
ed=20out=20the=20
answers
=20with
=20trial=20and=20error=20and=20learning=20from=20my=20own=20past=20mistakes=
.=20If=20I=20
would=20have
=20let
=20my=20own=20question=20offend=20me=20then=20I=20wouldn't=20have=20figured=
=20out=20the=20
answer.

=20I=20don't=20have=20HIV=20but=20I=20had=20to=20ask=20the=20above=20questi=
on=20in=20order=20to=20
find
=20out
=20that=20you=20can't=20get=20HIV=20from=20a=20small=20exchange=20of=20sali=
va.=20I=20know=20
now=20how
=20to
=20better=20do=20my=20job=20as=20a=20blind=20journalist=20because=20I=20had=
=20to=20find=20an=20
answer.
=20I
=20couldn't=20let=20those=20two=20questions=20go=20unanswered.=20If=20I=20d=
id,=20then=20
how
=20blissful
=20would=20I=20be,=20ignorant=20about=20knowledge=20that=20would=20help=20s=
omeone=20
else=20as
=20well

=20as
=20me=20in=20the=20future.

=20I=20don't=20think=20anyone=20should=20remain=20in=20the=20dark=20if=20I=
=20have=20an=20
answer=20to=20a
=20question.=20Answers,=20with=20all=20their=20simplicity=20sprinkle=20awar=
eness=20
along
=20with
=20their=20validity.=20Not=20far=20behind=20awareness=20comes=20understandi=
ng,=20
and=20soon,
=20acceptance.=20An=20answer=20to=20a=20seemingly=20offensive=20question=20=
doesn't=20
just
=20satisfy
=20curiosity=20but=20it=20opens=20up=20a=20door=20to=20understand.=20There=
=20are=20a=20lot=20
of=20other
=20positive=20things=20behind=20that=20door=20even=20if=20they=E2=80=99re=20=
not=20visible
=20immediately.
=20Some=20effects=20are=20immediate,=20such=20as=20inclusion,=20and=20other=
s=20are=20
far=20off,
=20such
=20as=20advocacy=20born=20from=20awareness.

=20When=20I=20look=20around=20and=20see=20a=20world=20that's=20divided=20as=
=20it=20is,=20I=20
don=E2=80=99t=20want
=20to
=20divide=20it=20even=20more=20just=20because=20someone=20asks=20me=20how=20=
I=20use=20a=20
computer.
=20If
=20education=20breeds=20positive=20results=20then=20people=20who=20live=20i=
n=20
different
=20conditions=20should=20educate=20others=20how=20they=20do=20it.=20it's=20=
the=20only=20
way=20to
=20end
=20these=20=E2=80=9Coffensive=20questions.=E2=80=9D

=20The=20goal=20of=20inclusion=20is=20to=20do=20just=20that,=20include.=20M=
y=20sighted=20
date=20lives
=20in
=20an=20ethnic=20world=20I'll=20never=20completely=20understand=20because=20=
I've=20
never
=20lived
=20through=20the=20discriminatory=20history=20but=20I=20can=20ask=20questio=
ns,=20and=20
with
=20each
=20answer,=20I'm=20no=20longer=20on=20the=20outside=20anymore.=20We=E2=80=99=
re=20together.
=20With=20every=20answer=20I=20give=20about=20my=20adaptive=20life,=20we=E2=
=80=99re=20coming=20
together
=20in

=20a
=20way=20that=20offended=20people=20won=E2=80=99t=20be=20able=20to=20do=20f=
or=20a=20very=20long=20
time.
=20He=20understands=20me=20now=20and=20that's=20the=20most=20valuable=20edu=
cation=20I=20
could
=20ever
=20give.

=20If=20people=20really=20want=20to=20have=20us=20unite=20to=20stand=20for=
=20a=20positive=20
voice
=20then

=20we
=20can't=20widen=20the=20distance=20because=20we=E2=80=99re=20offended=20at=
=20questions.
=20Instead,=20we=20should=20open=20our=20world=20to=20people=20and=20share=
=20as=20much=20as=20
we=20can,
=20if
=20asked.=20If=20we=20keep=20doing=20that=20I=20know=20that=20the=20door=20=
will=20open=20wide=20
enough
=20to
=20let=20all=20of=20us=20through=20to=20a=20better=20world,=20a=20world=20w=
here=20we=20all=20
know=20each
=20other,=20stand=20for=20one=20another,=20and=20unite=20for=20equality=20a=
nd=20embrace=20
the
=20best
=20teacher=20of=20all,=20differences.=20That=20would=20make=20a=20beautiful=
ly=20
educated
=20world,
=20one=20where=20I=E2=80=99d=20be=20happy=20to=20say=20that=20this=20positi=
ve=20change=20was=20
the=20result
=20of
=20answering=20offensive=20questions.

=20/*See=20below=20for=20resume,=20writing=20links,=20social=20media=20link=
s,=20and=20
other
=20writing
=20archives=20*/

=20*Click=20here=20to=20view=20my=20resume*
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=20*Click=20here=20to=20see=20my=20writing=20archive
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=20*Click=20here=20to=20view=20my=20website/
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=20*/writer=20for=20Chicago=20Theater=20Beat/=20*
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