[nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
Tamara Smith-Kinney
tamara.8024 at comcast.net
Tue Apr 20 18:00:16 UTC 2010
Yeah, and the lack of education is not limited to those from other countries
and cultures. /smile/ Nor is the lack of responsibility for pet dogs who
then go out and cause trouble. Sigh.
It also depends a lot on which part of a country and from which
socioeconomic stratus an individual comes from. So, for instance, our
former next-door neighbors (they're still neighbors, just not so close),
while being from Mexico, appear to be well-educated and to maintain a fairly
middle-class lifestyle, although they aren't dreadfully well off and both
parents work like fiends to provide some of the educational and social
extras for the kids.
So their attitudes towards my blindness and towards our dogs has been quite
pleasant and respectful. They taught me to say, "No puedo mirar (I can't
see)" and "perra de guila" (guide dog) so that I can say that to other
Spanish speakers. Perro trabajan -- which I think you spelled correctly --
would also work. I just never thought of it. My Spanish is buried deep in
the cobwebs of my brain, so I've managed to convince the toddler I'm an
idiot in that language. /smile/ She is as forgiving of my slaughtering
their language as the rest of the family, although she will no doubt learn
to laugh at the joke when I laugh at myself. /smile/
As for religion... I don't know how devote the family is; they go to church
many Sundays, but that's about all. Still, in Latin American or South
American Catholics, I've seen differences in how the people express the
world view from their religious upbringing from Catholics from, say, Ireland
or other European countries, which are different from American Catholics
whose forebears came from those countries... Then again, DD is from pretty
much the same religious and denominational background I am, but from the
East Coast, not from backwoods Pacific Northwest... So we sometimes crack
up at how different very basic assumptions are and how they affect how our
families approached certain values.
For the record, the religion-based attitudes and actions that I find myself
being most disrupted by whether with my dog or with my cane appear to be
from that same general branch of the American Protestant Christian faith.
These folks will enter my space intrusively and bar my path to tell me how
important it is that I need to go to church and pray and to let so and so
pray over me for healing and... Also, I must watch TV preacher X on
whatever day at whatever time. There was one guy I used to pass on my way
to our old dog park who would follow up to see if I had watched. God
doesn't want me to be blind, you know... Trying to side step is difficult
because they sidestep with me... Good grief! I try to be paitent and
remind myself that their heart is in the right place, but when someone is
Doing the Lord's Work, they can grow tiresome very quickly and carry on
being tiresome for a good long time. I always try having a rational
discussion and try educating them on the point that if God didn't want me to
be blind, then probably He wouldn't have arranged my genes the way He did...
And that I am okay with being blind, I'm adapting, it's no big thing,
really, etc. Then I start wondering if I should just mess with them, since
having grown up and knowing many people from that same religious view, I
know how. Light up a cigarette, blow smoke in their face and start cussing?
I haven't done it yet, since I really don't like being quite that rude even
when it starts to seem like a fun thing to do. /grin/ Meanwhile, Mitzi
just sighs and lies down because she's figured out we're in for the long
haul, so she might as well take a break. /smile/
My friend and former neighbor from my old apartments is very much Pacific
Northwest catholic, although she is no longer devout. Still, some of the
ways that upbringing has come out in her reaction to my blindness, my dog,
etc., has driven me to fits. Then again, I drive her to fits sometimes, so
we're still friends. /smile/ She definitely has a hard time -- and maybe
hasn't managed it yet -- getting past the assumption that I need help, which
seems to mean I need people to do things for me. Also, women are not
allowed to be angry over, say, being assaulted and stuff, and blind people
less so! She does the same thing to herself, although her best friend for
life has more attitude than I could ever wish for and keeps telling her to
grow a spine. /smile/ Oddly, my friend is getting downright uppity lately
and telling people what for when it's appropriate. I'm so proud of her, I
could just spit. /grin/
Anyway, understanding is important, and religion -- or even lack of
religious upbringing -- is so much a part of who we are that we can't get
around being influenced by it. Or, I suppose, being influenced by other
people's religious upbringings because most religions have a lot to say
about the blind and downtrodden. Sigh.
Tami Smith-Kinney
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 8:54 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
oh yes lack of education, especially, example: I had to go to the pharmacy
yesterday and I live in a very Hispanic neighborhood, when I went to sit and
wait for my meds, a woman yelled and screamed and picked up her child, and
said in spanish bad dog, I said in spanish, ciega which mean blind of it
it's
a man I say Ciego, and I say Perro Trabajan so sorry for incorrectly
spelling if someone on here is spanish.
And then thank god another lady with her daughter also told the lady that I
was blind and that Maxx is a guide dog.
You see in certain countries and also here, there are loose dogs, a lot of
people don't watch out for there dogs. And most of the dogs in those
countries are bad dogs. That is what I found out, so a lot of the people
coming here are uneducated but there children are.
Cheryl Echevarria
Independent Travel Consultant
C10-10646
http://Echevarriatravel.com
1-866-580-5574
http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hope Paulos" <hope.paulos at maine.edu>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
> I'm not sure if religion has anything to do with it, but I'm sure that
> lack
> of education *does* play a big role in individual's attitudes towards
> guide
> dogs. After all, we have many individuals in the United States who act the
> same way and who are not accustomed to being around individuals with
> disabilities. I think it all stems back to needing to educate people.
> I'm
> a high school Spanish teacher and when I was in college did a lot of
> research on Hispanic culture. I remember talking to my professor/friend
> from Peru. She said that although Peru had a lot of services for the
> blind,
> she was surprised to see someone as competent/poised as I was. She had to
> learn to accept that blind people could do everything sighted people do.
> She
> was nervous about the dog in the beginning, but after she got to know her
> a
> bit, she was able, when I allowed her, to pet my dog and be social with
> her.
> Take care and sorry for the long post.
> Hope and Beignet
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 7:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
>
>
> > Yes, I agree that religion has something to do with it, along with
> > ignorance and poverty. I do live in a rural area. When I have gone
> > into Guadalajara, I have met a lot of people who think using a guide
> > dog is pretty neet stuff. At present, there are no guide dog schools
> > here. about 15 years ago, someone tried to start a guide dog school
> > but couldn't get enough support. Big shock.
> >
> > On 4/19/10, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
> >> Then to they are a devoutly catholic community, and the catholic faith
> >> does
> >> not always place the blind at the top of the heap. Culture and religion
> >> work
> >> against us here.
> >>
> >> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> >> CEO/Founder
> >> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> >> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> >> New York, New York 10004
> >> www.myblindspot.org
> >> PH: 917-553-0347
> >> Fax: 212-858-5759
> >> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
> >> is
> >> doing it."
> >>
> >>
> >> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >> Behalf
> >> Of Hope Paulos
> >> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 5:00 PM
> >> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> >> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
> >>
> >> Just to put my 2 cents in here, this seems to be the belief for all
> >> hispanic
> >>
> >> culture. Had the same views of me and my guide dog from my friends in
> >> Peru
> >> and Chile. Think it's that there aren't very many blind peole with
> >> guide
> >> dogs in these parts of the world.
> >> Hope and Beignet
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
> >> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> >> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 3:27 PM
> >> Subject: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
> >>
> >>
> >>> Rebecca,
> >>>
> >>> I believe that there is quite a difference in attitudes, blind Mexican
> >>> or blind gringo. From what I have experienced, Mexicans are very nice
> >>> and helpful to me and amazed that I am capable of doing anything.
> >>> The only blind Mexicans that I have run into, literally, have been
> >>> beggers.
> >>>
> >>> On 4/19/10, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>> Hi Linda.
> >>>> If I can ask, why did you bring your dog to Mexico in 1992, and why
> >>>> did
> >>>> you not bring a cane?
> >>>> Am not trying to judge, just understand even if it is "I wasn't
> >>>> thinking".
> >>>> To Cheryll, how are attitudes towards blind people in Mexico? Any
> >>>> difference in attitude between blind men and blind women?
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >>>> Behalf Of Linda Gwizdak
> >>>> Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 12:37 PM
> >>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> >>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Thanks for the welcome
> >>>>
> >>>> Hi Cheryl O,
> >>>> Welcome to the list!
> >>>>
> >>>> I see you live in Mexico. Would you please tell us about life in
> >>>> Mexico
> >>>>
> >>>> with a guide dog?
> >>>>
> >>>> I am Lyn and I'm working with my eighth dog - foourth one from Seeing
> >>>> Eye.
> >>>> My dog is Landon, a red Golden/Lab cross and I got him in 2007.
> >>>>
> >>>> We work as pet assisted therapists at a military hospital and in two
> >>>> programs with our local Humane Society. Landon LOVES this work! LOL
> >>>>
> >>>> I live in San Diego so we are very near Tijuana, BC, Mexico. I
> >>>> haven't
> >>>> visited there since 1992 and don't feel like going there again.
> >>>> there
> >>>> is a
> >>>> warning from the US State Dept. about traveling to Mexico because of
> >>>> the
> >>>>
> >>>> drug cartels "activity" along the border towns.
> >>>>
> >>>> When I brought my guide dog there, the restaurants didn't want me to
> >>>> bring
> >>>> my dog inside. After my explanations of the dog being my guide, they
> >>>> compromised by having me sit by the door! Also, I had someone come
> >>>> up
> >>>> to me
> >>>> to ask if I'd sell him my dog! I said no and told him in Spanish that
> >>>> the
> >>>> dog was my eyes - a perro de guia. He then left. After that, I
> >>>> thought
> >>>> about what if the guy reacted differently and grabbed my dog from me
> >>>> and
> >>>>
> >>>> there I would be, in a foreign contry, without a mobility aid! I
> >>>> didn't
> >>>> even
> >>>> have a white cane with me. Along the border towns, they steal dogs
> >>>> to
> >>>> sell
> >>>> to labs even though reputable labs will NEVER take a microchipped or
> >>>> tatooed
> >>>> dog as it is very illegal.
> >>>>
> >>>> The other thing is that Mexico has no laws regarding having dogs
> >>>> vaccinated
> >>>> against Rabies or other diseases. Do you know if any of this has
> >>>> changed?
> >>>>
> >>>> Again, welcome and look forward to hearing from you about life in
> >>>> Mexico!
> >>>>
> >>>> Lyn and Landon
> >>>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>> From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
> >>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> >>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >>>> Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 1:05 PM
> >>>> Subject: [nagdu] Thanks for the welcome
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Thanks for the welcome Marsha.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Your Q is certainly not too personal. I live in a very small town
> >>>>> in
> >>>>> central Mexico. My husband and I retired here about 4 years ago.
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> nagdu mailing list
> >>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
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> >>>>> for
> >>>>> nagdu:
> >>>>>
> >>>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40c
> >>>> ox.net
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> nagdu mailing list
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> >>>> nagdu:
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> >>>> 40tasc.com
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>
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> >> .com
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Cheryl in Mexico
> >>> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >>> nagdu:
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> >>
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> >> du
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Cheryl in Mexico
> > chapalacheryl at gmail.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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