[nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

Thu Apr 22 18:48:03 UTC 2010

Lyn,

Well said!  I grew up in the 60's out in the sticks where things are way,
way too genetically homogenous.  We moved there from the DC area, but I was
only about 4.  I was the only one in my class until junior high who was not
everybody's cousin.  Yikes!  Talk about a lack of diversity.

I think my early months in Japan, along with all the stories from there from
the family and of their military travels opened my mind or something, since
I've never had the prerequisite xenophobia to avoid people from other
groups.  In fact, I tend to gravitate towards them.  So I always learn a lot
about where they come from, those little quirks of culture that vary from
ours.  Not the big stuff, even, but just little points of courtesy or
manners that are different.

When I was back in the sticks for a few years, I really did miss the
diversity, and I like being in a more culturally rich area.  Of course, I'm
also learning a new cultural role myself, which keeps me entertained.  Or
something.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Linda Gwizdak
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 9:51 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

There are cultures that are more dog friendly than others. The ones that are

not really dog friendly, you have people who are under exposed to animals or

dogs in particular.  But, you have individuals within these cultures who may

be more open to dogs than others - actually just like any people from any 
culture.

I judge people by how they treat me - who cares what culture of nationality 
they are. I treat everyone as I want myself treated.  But, I'm not a 
doormat, either.  I will stand up for myself when needed.  My statements 
here are as I have experienced people in my urban area!

Culturely, I was raised in the 1950s in an all white neighborhood with a 
small handful of Blacks at school.  In other words, I didn't grow up in a 
diverse population.  I only got to experience a more diverse population when

I went to college in Boston.  After moving to San diego in my late 30s, is 
when I really began to have more exposure to diverse people.  I just saw 
that they are all just people. (grin!)

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: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 5:56 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

> Wow!!!
>
> On 4/20/10, Diana Engle <lapinguina at comcast.net> wrote:
>> My post was to point out that people are individuals, even though the
>> individuals belong to groups that may include a particular ethnic group,
>> religion, disability status or whatever. We cannot say that everyone in a
>> particular group holds the same beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, etc.
>>
>> The way to talk about cultures (and, BTW, there is not a single Hispanic
>> culture), ethnic groups, religions, disability groups, socioeconomic 
>> levels,
>> etc. *without* making generalizations, is by speaking of our particular
>> experiences with *individuals*.
>>
>> Regarding attitudes toward my guide dog and blindness, I have had both
>> positive and negative experiences with people who are Chinese, Muslim, 
>> white
>> Americans, black Americans, rich, poor, Mexican, Catholic, etc. My
>> experiences are with individuals and I would not extend those experiences
>> into generalizations about the groups those individuals belong to.
>>
>> I have seen on lists before people frustrated because a sighted person 
>> has
>> expressed some silly or demeaning generalization about people who are 
>> blind.
>> If we don't like to be the subject of others' generalizations, then we
>> should not create generalizations of others.
>>
>> dE
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 2:25 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
>>
>> Can you add anything to the discussion? Seriously, if you know of more
>> information, please share.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Diana Engle
>> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 9:08 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
>>
>> So discouraging to see this thread, filled with such broad
>> generalizations
>> of people based on ethnic origin and religion. I will say that, although
>> many people who are blind fight against generalizations about the blind,
>> it
>> is clear that some fall into the same trap of making genralizations
>> about
>> other groups of people.
>>
>> dE
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Cheryl Osborn
>> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 7:33 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> 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
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40c
>>>>> ox.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%
>>>>> 40tasc.com
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>>>>> nagdu:
>>>>>
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/chapalacheryl%40g
>> mail
>>> .com
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Cheryl in Mexico
>>>> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/hope.paulos%40mai
>> ne.e
>>> du
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblinds
>> pot.
>>> org
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/chapalacheryl%40g
>> mail
>> .com
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cheryl in Mexico
>> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lapinguina%40comc
>> ast.
>> net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%
>> 40tasc.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lapinguina%40comcast.
>> net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/chapalacheryl%40gmail
.com
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Cheryl in Mexico
> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40cox.n
et 

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/tamara.8024%40comcast
.net