[nagdu] A Question of Philosophy

[Julie J.]

Ann,

I think you have pretty well summed up my thoughts, although I don't think I 
could have conveyed them so well! *smile*

My sincerest wishes that you are able to have some meaningful dialogue with 
the writer and that she incorporates your information into her book.

Best wishes,
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ann Edie" <annedie at nycap.rr.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 2:06 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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