[nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personalreport fromChairman Gordon Gund

Fri Apr 22 15:18:16 UTC 2011

I don't think "fighting blindness" is that bad. Its just a PR thing. They 
are trying to raise money for research. Whatever works. I mean, maybe they 
could have picked a better phrase but, to me, its basically a non-issue.

Having said that though, I will admit I was made pretty uncomfortable the 
other day at a Foundation Fighting Blindness event. They ran a video about 
the child who's vision was restored through research sponsored in part by 
FFB. In the video, they kept talking about how this kid was saved from the 
terrible scurge of blindness. I don't remember the exact wording but it 
definately had me squirming in my seat.

In my opinion, the way to deal with this is to reinforce whenever we can the 
idea that blindness isn't the horrible condition most people seem to think 
it is. I think we should use ppersuasion and set a good example rather than 
use confrontation and criticism.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:03 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personalreport fromChairman 
Gordon Gund

> Absolutely.  However, I believe one can acknowledge this while still
> resenting the terminology of "fighting" blindness.  I get just as 
> irritated
> with the all-too-prevalent phraseology of "fighting" diabetes.  One 
> doesn't
> fight either blindness or diabetes; one lives with them.
>
> Mike Freeman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Lisa Kidder
> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 5:59 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report fromChairman
> Gordon Gund
>
> Very good point.  I had to tell a lot of the people I worked with
> that.  Every one is different, and needs to be taken in to
> consideration.  Lisa
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:40:51 -0500
> 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:
>
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> Foundation Fighting Blindness
> www.FightBlindness.org
> 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100
> Columbia, MD 21046
> 1-800-683-5555
>
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