[nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report fromChairman Gordon Gund
John Heim
john at johnheim.net
Fri Apr 22 15:07:46 UTC 2011
I guess my work here is done. :-)
Seriously, Ray, I'm really surprised to here you say these things. I've
written a lot on this list about my problem with the NFB philosophy. I doubt
there is a stronger adherent to its values than myself. Of course, I've put
my own personal spin on it and who knows if its what Dr. Jernigan actually
intended. But I think blindness should be approached like anything else --
whatever you do, try for perfection. You may not be able to make blindness
into a mere inconvenience but that should be your goal. You're going to have
to get off your butt and get to work. But you should never accept anything
less than reducing blindness to being more than a nuisance. Never.
Having said that though, IMO, there are three basic problems with the NFB
philosophy. One is that its not ethical for the NFB to force that
philosophy on anyone. Second, the philosophy makes it impractical to serve
those who disagree with the philosophy. Third, the philosophy is often
misinterpreted to mean that if you are struggling with blindness, its your
own fault. I'll admit that the vast majority of people who are struggling
with bliness really just need an attitude adjustment. But that's not
everyone. Different people have different strengths and weaknesses. Some
people will never be able to reduce blindness to a mere nuisance no matter
how hard they try. And even if someone just needs an attitude adjustment,
the NFB has a responsibility to look out for them too. Most likely,
someday, they will adjust. In the mean time, in my opinion, the NFB has an
ethical obligation to look out for them.
I don't know if I can ever make this clear. I doubt there is anyone on this
list who believes more strongly that you should never settle for blindness
being more than a mere nuisance. Yet at the same time, I feel that is a
personal value judgement that none of us has the right to impose on anyone
else.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at att.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report fromChairman
Gordon Gund
> Yes, this is true, however, you are overlooking the human fact that not
> every blind person is as comfortable with their blindness as we are. The
> NFB philosophy is true, and, it's words are true; but, human reality has a
> habit of cutting in every now and again. As a perelell, , if you're used
> to walking barefooted on gravel and rocks and shells because of having
> toughened the soles of your feet by going barefooted all your life, and
> you meet someone who is not used to it, and suddenly, they decide to be
> like you and try it, they're not going to be used to shells right away
> because their soles have not yet toughened up enough for it. You can't
> expect them to get used to it right away and say "well, just deal with
> it.". It takes a little time to toughen the soles so they can take it.
> Frankly, I think it is more compationent to realize that a person just
> gone blind is going to need a little while to get used to it then to just
> say, "well, you're blind. So what? Here's a tape about the NFB. Just
> get over it.". To speak frankly, if you haven't lost your sight because
> you never had it, I do not think you can really or honestly say you
> understand what that's like. I was born blind myself, and, to tell the
> truth, it took me a little while to come to the point where I was willing
> to give a little on this question.
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>
> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
> Skype name:
> barefootedray
>
> Facebook:
> facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1
>
> On Apr 21, 2011, at 5:13 PM, Gloria Whipple wrote:
>
>> Blindness isn't a tragedy.
>>
>> There are a lot of people who could see and then lost their sight and
>> learned how to deal with it. Sure, it would be hard at first, but it can
>> be
>> done.
>>
>>
>> Gloria Whipple
>> Corresponding Secretary
>> Inland Empire chapter
>> nfb of WA
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Jeanette Fortin
>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 15:04
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>> Chairman
>> Gordon Gund
>>
>> well let me say this, why not fight blindness? if there is a way some
>> people
>>
>> can regain their vision or if doctors can help folks to save the vision
>> they
>>
>> have, go for it.
>> i got a call today from my cousin who works with hazzardess materials in
>> his
>>
>> job. he was hit in the face with some costic liquid last week and lost
>> his
>> vision for a couple of days. Because he was rushed to a special hospital
>> and given specific treatment for his eyes which were damaged by the
>> costic
>> liquid, the doctors are hopeful he will regain all or most of his vision.
>> from some folks way of thinking it appears they think it would be just
>> fine
>>
>> for him to have lost his vision and subsequently his job. it gave him a
>> true appreciation of those of us who have dealt with vision loss for
>> years
>> and has made him grateful for whatever vision he has.
>> i think maybe the name of the organization, fighting blindness may offend
>> some folks, but if you understand how someone who had vision and loses it
>> feels maybe you would understand why the foundation is trying to find
>> ways
>> to help folks either regain or not lose their vision, jeanette
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "S Baker" <srbaker12 at hotmail.com>
>> To: "ANFBchat" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 3:31 PM
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
>> Gordon Gund
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> SRBaker
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: srbaker12 at hotmail.com
>>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: RE: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
>>> Gordon Gund
>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:29:26 +0000
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This email solicits donations. It also has links to current research to
>>> correct blindness.There is nothing wrong with being blind, if that is
>>> what
>>
>>> you want. If there is technology that can reverse,cure me, I am all for
>>> it. There is an old saying "There are none so blind as those who will
>>> not
>>> see". Our eyes may not work but our brains do.
>>> Steve
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> SRBaker
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: ladygloria at webband.com
>>>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:19:37 -0700
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
>>>> Gordon Gund
>>>>
>>>> What in the heck is wrong with being blind!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Gloria Whipple
>>>> Corresponding Secretary
>>>> Inland Empire chapter
>>>> nfb of WA
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>> On
>>>> Behalf Of S Baker
>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 14:14
>>>> To: AMoLList
>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
>>>> Gordon
>>>> Gund
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> SRBaker
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:24 -0500
>>>> From: GGund at FightBlindness.org
>>>> To: srbaker at charter.net
>>>> Subject: A personal report from Chairman Gordon Gund
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Like you, Steven, I follow the work of the Foundation Fighting
>>>> Blindness
>>>> closely. As a donor, I want to know that my donations make a
>>>> difference.
>>>>
>>>> And believe me, they do. When I reflect on the last year and listen to
>>>> this
>>>> video, I am reminded that we have more clinical trials for sight-saving
>>>> treatments underway than ever before. Clearly, hope and optimism are
>>>> running high. Incredible strides have been made in the last few years,
>>>> and
>>>> these remarkable advances would not have been made without your support
>>>> of
>>>> the Foundation. They include:
>>>>
>>>> Vision Restored. We are continuing to build on remarkable gains in gene
>>>> therapy. As you may recall, in a Foundation-funded trial, 9-year-old
>>>> Corey
>>>> Haas and 19 others received a gene therapy treatment and can now see.
>>>> And
>>>> as the trial has expanded, participants have shown sustained
>>>> improvement
>>>> in
>>>> vision. Building on this success, similar gene therapy treatments are
>>>> moving into clinical trials for choroideremia, Stargardt disease and
>>>> Usher
>>>> syndrome.
>>>>
>>>> Innovative Technology. The high-tech industry has a treatment I'm
>>>> incredibly excited about-- the world's first commercially available
>>>> artificial or "bionic" eye. Early funding from the Foundation was key
>>>> to
>>>> getting this engineered retina off the ground. Building on the studies
>>>> we
>>>> funded, the light-sensing, implantable "chip" has been tested in a
>>>> clinical
>>>> trial in Europe with great results. In the study, people who were
>>>> profoundly
>>>> blind experienced improved vision that could help them to be more
>>>> independent. In fact, many can now see shapes and recognize large
>>>> letters.
>>>>
>>>> Groundbreaking Therapies. A research team funded by the Foundation
>>>> Fighting
>>>> Blindness developed an innovative technique for correcting the
>>>> disease-causing gene by using stem cells derived from a person's skin.
>>>> While
>>>> more work is needed to ensure safety, this advancement suggests that
>>>> doctors
>>>> may someday be able to treat a patient's retinal disease using their
>>>> own
>>>> skin cells.
>>>> These few accomplishments barely begin to tell the story of all the
>>>> progress
>>>> that's being made. And this is why words can never express my personal
>>>> gratitude for your passionate and committed support.
>>>>
>>>> I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video and see the
>>>> results
>>
>>>> of
>>>> your support and the hope it has generated. But most importantly, I
>>>> hope
>>>> you
>>>> will see that research is progressing at a terrific rate. It's been a
>>>> long
>>>> time coming, but we crossed a critical threshold when our researchers
>>>> actually restored sight. It launched us into a new era when more and
>>>> more
>>>> people will have their sight saved or restored every year. A lot of
>>>> work
>>>> remains. But we'll get there by continuing to work together.
>>>>
>>>> The Foundation Fighting Blindness values the support you give us by
>>>> donating, talking to your friends, and advocating for increased
>>>> research
>>>> funding. As we continue our relentless pursuit to eradicate blindness,
>>>> we
>>>> hope you will continue your steadfast support of our mission. Thanks
>>>> for
>>>> envisioning a bright future for the millions affected by retinal
>>>> degenerative diseases.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>
>>>> Gordon Gund
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Check us out on:
>>>>
>>>> Tell a Friend | Subscribe | Change email address | Unsubscribe
>>>> Foundation Fighting Blindness
>>>> www.FightBlindness.org
>>>> 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100
>>>> Columbia, MD 21046
>>>> 1-800-683-5555
>>>>
>>>> nonprofit software
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>>>
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