[nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

Thu Jul 14 04:02:40 UTC 2011

Hi Joseph and others on this list:
Let us take TSA to court.
We are no longer Second-class Citizens.
Enough, is enough!

Ken Chrane

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gloria Whipple" <ladygloria at webband.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 1:45 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

>
>
>
> Gloria Whipple
> Corresponding Secretary
> Inland Empire chapter
> nfb of WA
>
> Cell: 509-475-4993
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of T. Joseph Carter
> Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 22:26
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>
> So then I guess the TSA agent was right, if you’re a fair
> representative.  No other blind person insisted upon his rights
> clearly stated in TSA regulations.
>
> An attack on the dignity of the blind is an attack on every single
> one of us.  If that’s not your fight, then I am sorry.  If it is not
> the National Federation of the Blind’s fight, then we have become as
> cowardly as the ACB and the HELP committee can safely ignore our
> little request that blind people be paid a fair wage for fair work,
> because we lack the backbone to defend what little we have won, let
> alone fight for more dignity.
>
> It isn’t about how far I could walk with or without a cane.  It is
> about it being respectable to be blind.  It is about defending a law
> that Federationists fought and went to jail trying to win for all of
> us, whether you personally give a damn or not.  This was an attack on
> the dignity of the blind, outright, and it was an attack on every
> single one of us.
>
> I’ve pointed out that you don’t feel any need or desire to defend the
> rights the Federation fought so hard to attain for you.  If you feel
> insulted by that, maybe you need to ask yourself what your life would
> be right now if the Federation hadn’t been there to fight for the
> rights you have today, including those you casually disregard as not
> personally significant.
>
> That would be equivalent to me saying that discrimination against
> guide dogs isn’t my fight because I use a cane.  It IS my fight,
> because I am a Federationist and an attack on the rights of any of us
> as blind citizens is an attack on every single one of us.  I don’t
> know about anybody else, especially after reading some of the
> cowardly responses on this list, but that is what I go to the matt
> for, every single time, whether it happens to me or not.
>
> Joseph
>
> On Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 12:09:16AM -0400, Brian Miller wrote:
>>Hi Joe,
>>
>>You're assuming I feel intimidated , and this isn't the case at all.
>>However, I will say that as someone who travels for work, travels for fun,
>>and travels often, I'm inclined to smile and nod and just let the TSA guys
>>have their way rather than risk my livelihood and my lifestyle over
>>something that is very low on my list of issues.  Using my cane to go
>>through the machine is likely to set it off, as it has metal on the tip, 
>>the
>>chain, and sometimes things attached to the chain.  To me, putting my cane
>>on the belt and walking maybe five to ten steps at most and getting my 
>>cane
>>on the other side is not taxing my skills, my patience, or my dignity.
>>There are plenty of other things that do, however, but this isn't one of
>>them.
>>
>>I've said that it sure sounds like you got rotten treatment at the hands 
>>of
>>the TSA guys, and I think you should pursue a complaint, but don't put 
>>words
>>in my mouth, impune my integrity, or frankly insult me because this just
>>isn't my fight.  Do I like the brutalizing we all get at the security 
>>check
>>points?  Of course not, but this is an issue way bigger than all of us 
>>here.
>>
>>
>>Airports are full of idiots who know nothing about blindness -- have you 
>>had
>>a sky cap assist you lately?  Talk about insulting!  A gate agent recently
>>accused my wife of faking being blind because she was such a competent
>>traveler.  Now that's something I'm willing to go to the matt over...
>>
>>Best of luck,
>>
>>Brian M
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of T. Joseph Carter
>>Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 11:29 PM
>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>>
>>So what you're saying, Brian, is that you're willing to be intimidated 
>>into
>>giving up your rights, because the big boogeyman TSA agents can do too 
>>much
>>to you if you don't do exactly what they say, whether it's illegal or 
>>flies
>>in the face of every battle we have fought long and hard for as an
>>organization?
>>
>>Just want to be sure I understand here.  Because the TSA said that of 
>>nearly
>>3,000 blind people going through the airport, I'm the only one who 
>>insisted
>>that I had a right NOT to be led around like a child, denied the use of my
>>cane for travel.
>>
>>Joseph
>>
>>
>>On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 09:07:58PM -0400, Brian Miller wrote:
>>>Hi Peter,
>>>
>>>I don't think anyone feels that Joe was treated well, or with the
>>>respect he deserves, but security checks are a serious hassle and a
>>>drag for everyone, and indignities abound.  I think solidarity across
>>>the board, and not just for blind people, is in order.
>>>
>>>I merely say that for me using my cane to walk a few feet through the
>>>metal detector is not worth fighting over -- the last thing I need is
>>>to end up on a "no fly" list.  The point is, you are exactly right that
>>>the blind have been fighting, and getting arrested, and going to jail,
>>>for years over our right to have our mobility devices, and we've won
>>>some, and lost many others.  I think we need to figure out where to
>>>focus our energies to maximize independence while recognizing that we
>>>face a very difficult environment in which to make our arguments when it
>>comes to security.
>>>
>>>Heck, we still don't, and maybe never will, have the right to sit in
>>>the emergency row -- now that makes me feel more like a child than does
>>>a quick guide through the magnetometer .
>>>
>>>Not long ago Dr. Fred Schoeder was denied the right to fly to a meeting
>>>because he was traveling alone... Granted, this was not in the United
>>>States, but that kind of right of freedom of movement, is something I'm
>>>willing to lie down on the tarmac for and go to jail.... Maybe not a
>>>jail in Thailand, though *smile*
>>>
>>>In any case, I don't think Alicia, or any of us, are trying to miminize
>>>the fight we all face.
>>>
>>>Brian M
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>On Behalf Of Peter Donahue
>>>Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 11:30 AM
>>>To: Alicia Richards; NFB Talk Mailing List
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>>>
>>>Hello Alicia and everyone,
>>>
>>>The next time you pass through a TSA Check point we'll cut both of your
>>>feet off and demand that you walk through like anyone else. Blind
>>>people have fought long and hard to be allowed to keep their canes and
>>>dogs with them at all times while passing through TSA check points and on
>>planes themselves.
>>>Blind people were arrested and went to jail to insure these rights are
>>>protected and we don't need our own people telling us that it's not a
>>>big deal.
>>>
>>>Peter Donahue who along with Mary took their last flight ever on a
>>>commercial airliner and can look forward to avoiding TSA screeners in
>>>the future!
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Alicia Richards" <alicianfb at gmail.com>
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 11:37 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>>>
>>>
>>>I agree with Mike and others here.  Yes, the TSA has been given too
>>>much power.  It's shameful that they can perform such invasive
>>>patdowns, violating one's personal space and dignity.  but as Ryan
>>>said, that's not a blindness issue: they can do that to anyone.  And,
>>>I've never understood people's issue with giving up their cane for 30
>>>seconds, taking someone's hand to walk five steps through the security
>>>check, and then have their cane handed right back to them.  I question
>>>someone's mobility training if they are unable to walk five steps
>>>without their cane, and also can't help but wonder if they're
>>>exhibiting what I believe was once called, "rebellious independence,"
>>>by refusing to take the hand or arm of a TSA official for that very
>>>brief time.  But to each their own.  Joseph, I'll be curious if you get a
>>reply from Scott LaBarre about this?
>>>
>>>Alicia
>>>
>>>
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> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/ladygloria%40webband.comAmen 
> on that one!
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