[nagdu] A Question of Philosophy

Mon Oct 27 19:20:48 UTC 2008

First, I'll start off by saying that Ann's message was great. 
Second, the hero dog sells, which is why it is used in literature and
fund-raising. It's a marketting tool, not an anti-NFB tactic. 
Ann, I hope the author takes what you say and can use it in his or her
book. 
You write the truth. Unfortunately, the truth doesn't have the zing that
the wonder dog does. 
Emotions are what people use when they buy and fund-raising is just
another form of buying a product. The  difference is that the consumer
is buying a dream, not something he or she can hold in their hands. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Marion & Martin
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 9:18 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] A Question of Philosophy

Ann,
    Your post to this list certainly reinforces my belief that you have
a strong foundation in the NFB philosophy of independence and
self-determination. You have put a lot of thought into this message. I
only hope that the writer will listen to you. My concern, however, is
that this writer will feel as if you threaten her perception and,
looking hard enough, will find someone who thinks you are nothing more
than a "radical Federationist" and promulgate more of the sensational
mythology many of those who would use such sensationalism to further
their own agenda.
    Though all of us have had incidents in which we have avoided serious
injury or, perhaps, death and, in some instances our guides have alerted
us to the danger, we always have the choice and discretion to act upon
the cues or not. I love my dog and know she is an excellent guide. I
must, however, put all of this into perspective so as to not give the
false impression that my dog is the head of the team! Such
sensationalism as we often hear in the media and from fund raising tools
all too often focus upon the "wonderful dog", furthering the
misconception that the blind person is helpless and dependent and, if it
were not for the dog, our lives would be empty! Keep up the great work!

Fraternally,
Marion

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Edie" <annedie at nycap.rr.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 3:06 PM
Subject: [nagdu] A Question of Philosophy

> Hi, Everyone,,
>
> I have recently been contacted by a writer who is writing a book about

> "animals which save lives".  She is interested in talking with me
about 
> Panda and her work as a guide.  I responded to the writer that I am
always 
> happy to talk about Panda and her guide work, but that I had some
qualms 
> about focusing on the "life-saving", dramatic aspect of our
partnership.
>
> I know that many guide dog users will say that their dogs "save their 
> lives" many times each day.  But to me this statement can very easily
be 
> misunderstood by the general public.  It could give the impression
that 
> blind people are incapable of traveling safely outside their homes
without 
> the miraculous life-saving instincts and skills of a specially-bred
and 
> specially-trained service animal.  Although I very much appreciate my 
> guide's abilities to guide me around obstacles, to evaluate footing
for 
> hazardous conditions, to plan a route through construction sites and
other 
> complicated situations, and to judge traffic and take evasive action
or 
> exercise intelligent disobedience where necessary, I guess I am more 
> inclined to frame our safe travel as the result of contributions by
both 
> the human and the animal members of the partnership.
>
> Also, I usually think of Panda's guide work as making travel smoother,

> more efficient, and more relaxing and enjoyable for me, rather than as
a 
> matter of life and death.  I feel that I am capable of traveling
safely 
> using my white cane, as well as using my guide animal.  In either
case, I 
> still must use my senses of hearing, touch, and smell, and my 
> intelligence, experience, and judgment to evaluate the environment
around 
> me every moment as I travel.  Of course, I appreciate the assistance
that 
> Panda provides me, or why would I take on the added responsibilities
and 
> chores that caring for an animal partner and maintaining a working 
> partnership entail?
>
> Another reason that I am reluctant to talk about the work of a guide 
> animal as "life-saving" work is that I do not regard the world as an 
> inherently dangerous and scary place, or at least, not significantly
more 
> dangerous to me as a blind person than to anyone else in the general 
> population.  I can remember sitting in my 7th grade health class and 
> hearing the teacher say, "Turn to the person sitting next to you and
take 
> a good look at him or her.  Statistics show that one of the two of you

> will be seriously injured or killed in a traffic accident."  And this
was 
> in a class where everyone was fully-sighted, except for me.
>
> I know that one way of looking at the world is that we are taking our 
> lives into our hands every time we venture out onto the streets.  In
that 
> light, the service our guides provide may be considered truly
life-saving. 
> But then, don't we take risks of harm to life and health every time we

> breathe the air, drink the water, or eat food purchased at the local 
> market?  The alternative, of not doing anything unless it can be shown
to 
> be risk-free, is neither very attractive, nor very practical.
>
> And here is the final thought that causes me pause when I am asked to 
> describe the "life-saving" work of my guide:  Haven't we all heard of 
> blind people who have been injured or killed while walking with their 
> guide animals?  Obviously, there is no guarantee of safety, with or 
> without a well-trained guide animal.  There is only the increased 
> probability of successful travel that can be achieved by using all the

> skills and techniques that we ourselves judge will work best for each
of 
> us as individuals.
>
> I would welcome your thoughts on this subject to help me formulate how
to 
> frame the discussion with the writer who has contacted me, as well as
for 
> future reference.
>
> Best,
> Ann
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