[nagdu] beginning to use a cane

[Larry D. Keeler]

Human?  But you hang around with a poodle!  Hahaha!!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tami Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 5:52 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] beginning to use a cane


> Sheila,
>
> Well said! That's my attitude, too, so that when others are trying to make 
> sure I notice that I am less than human and not fit to be in their space 
> breathing their air, I simply continue to believe I am human and behave 
> accordingly. In other words, i just go around being me without reference 
> to what other people think I am. If I get a chance, I smile brightly at 
> whichever fool is making the point to all around the there is a nonhuman 
> presence who does not belong there. If it's appropriate, I even toss off a 
> cheery greeting or parting or something. "Have a nice day!"
>
> I do not do this because I am a nice person. I do this because I know that 
> it is the meanest thing in the world I can do to someone like that, 
> especially if they are carrying on this way in public. /lol/ My response 
> to them, as if they are just people like me alters the attitudes, 
> expressions, etc. of the captive audience. I can even feel the change in 
> how everyone is breathing. So I maintain my cheery smile on a vengeance is 
> sweet basis and just go on my way, sharing wry chitchat with those who say 
> something to me in a respectful, courteous or kind tone. My work here is 
> done!
>
> Beauty of all that corporate experience I started on when I was so young. 
> One does learn to play power games to win. Teehee.
>
> Okay, I'm an obnoxious twit, but I am *not* a second class citizen as a 
> woman or as a blind woman. Though it's funny. I'm reading a discussion on 
> another list about people who grab blind people. As always, I am shocked 
> by how many blind people believe that we should appreciate that people are 
> so helpful that they will grab us forcibly to lead us where they think we 
> should go. To me, since that is not considered an appropriate way for 
> people to treat people, I do not believe it is an acceptable way for 
> people to treat me. It took me a bit to learn to adapt my usual methods of 
> both verbal and nonverbal communication once others started identifying me 
> as "not people," but by now I've got a working repertoire of responses to 
> use for any occasion to ensure these sorts grasp that what they are doing 
> is not okay and that I am not grateful. Besides, if I need help, I will 
> ask for it, and I will ask for the specific help I need. If I do not ask 
> for help, then it can be safely assumed I do not need help because I've 
> got it covered. Thank you very much. /lol/
>
> We will just not talk about people who try to help by grabbing the cane or 
> the handle on the guide dog harness... Oh, I think not! What is wrong with 
> people who do that, anyway. Oh, never mind. /smile/
>
> Tami
>
> On 12/22/2011 08:49 AM, Sheila Leigland wrote:
>> I see many interesting posts on the subject on the cane. The most 
>> disturbing one for me have to do with the perceptions of being a second 
>> class citizen or worse than that. I'm not a second class citizen or worse 
>> than that and I won't accept that kind of treatment from anyone. I had to 
>> learn to stand up for myself and my right to take up space on this planet 
>> and noone will take that away from me.
>>
>> Sheila Leiglan d
>>
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