[Nfbc-info] Letter to the Bee: Help get the word out on attacksonthe blind/visually impaired

Fri Sep 4 03:34:58 UTC 2009

WAY TO GO MICHAEL.

Rob Kaiser
PRESIDENT, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF CALIFORNIA ORANGE COUNTY 
CHAPTER
HOME PHONE (714)289-9114
CELL PHONE (714)323-5203
EMAIL ADDRESS: rkaiser4 at socal.rr.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Peterson" <its_mike at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] Letter to the Bee: Help get the word out on 
attacksonthe blind/visually impaired

>    Hi Eric. a couple problems with this letter
> So please before I become very ill I have to say something.  Take it in 
> the spirit it's meant I do live on or near Schmuckley drive and after 
> reading your post I am feeling rather schmuckley in fact.
> "Gag you! I hope you really didn't send that to the editor of the 
> Sacramento Bee or any other newspaper for that matter.
>
> First Dianne wasn't out after 7:00P.M. it was rush hour.5:00 p.m. in fact 
> and reading your suggestions one you probably forgot is all blind people 
> should were helmets in case some thug hits them from behind with a log.
>
> Let's look more closely at these quote warnings you submitted to the,
> Scared look on my face,
>> To The Editor:
>>
> You say:
>> My friends from the National Federation of the Blind of California's
>> Board of Directors, the Sacramento Chapters of the NFB of California, and
>> everyone else were very appalled to learn that Diane Starin was attacked 
>> by
>> Joseph Webb, in  (Our Region, Saturday.)
> Maybe you mean we found out about the attack Saturday, It actually 
> happened Friday evening and some of us knew then.
> But your correct we were appalled and upset most definitely.But than as 
> it's suggested by Robert Frostwe reached a fork and the roads parted.
> you took the commonly held stereotype position and we took the road less 
> traveled.
>
> Regarding the following please see my notations.
> You write:
> I would like to offer a few tips for
>> all blind/visually-impaired residents:
>>
>> 1.  Try and do all your activities before 7 P.M.
> end quotation.
> Oh my! I think in part that's why I left Rosamond!  No truthfully even 
> there Terra and I were dashing about in the wee hours of 11:00 p.m grocery 
> shopping.
> Now seriously Blind people need to stop all there outside efforts by 7:00 
> p.m?  Meaning blind people can't work nights or long distances away from 
> their dwellings.  Not true.  Dianne was harmed and as hidious as this 
> crime was she was one in how many blind people who travel about daily.
> Other crimes have happened to people who ar blind most of which that I 
> heard about were during the day.
> What about our conventions should we hire security to accompany our 
> guests?
> If we need to be taken care of than we probably should stay at home what 
> employer has the money or the manpower to provide such onsite security.
> Honestly do you really think Dianne would agree with this valuable tip 
> that spits in the face of everything the NFB has been fighting for 
> Equality and opportunity are equal parts of the equassion with that third 
> component security.
>> Your second tip!
>> 2.  Whenever possible, carry around an alarm, a cellular phone, and a
>> whistle.  (Life-Alert will do.
>
> End quote.
> It might even be good for men to carry these items but most probably 
> won't. It's just a problem when you imply this is a special precaution 
> blind folks should take.
> I guess this could be a good cautionary note for any atractive woman don't 
> just single out blind ones.Oops you weren't talking about women 
> specifically were you just vulnerable blind people.
> I must've had a sexist moment or something.
> So how can we protect them?
>  I have a better idea Perhaps guide pit bulls or "Lost in space type 
> robotic dogs with lazers.  "Warning Warning! just kidding.
> Your final  piece of advice
>> 3.  If an attack is unprovoked, yell, and attract attention, and notify
>> authorities immediately!
> end quote
> Don't do it next Saturday because it's nudist walk america day, especially 
> if you are well not wearing clothes.
> But back to your suggestion:
> Hmmm kind of good advice in general especially for a woman being attacked 
> or being raped or a child being abused, it might work if a man screamed 
> but notice this is a general rule not a blind rule. Sometimes it might be 
> better to fight off the asailant each person must judge for his 
> /herself.If you
> Put this in a paper you  reinforce the idea blind people are vulnerable 
> and you actually contribute to the problem.  I mean why go after that 
> little ole lady who can see what I look like when this vulnerable blind 
> person is just going to scream and blow a whistle.  If I catch him/her 
> alone and am fast I could yell right along with them and blow a whistle 
> too while the purse is tucked away in my vehicle.
> The blind person would even see me as a hero!
>>
> That is is he/she isn't someone like Tina or Leesa Maria who knows judo 
> and than I might still need my whistle when they got through with me.I'd 
> be scratching my head asking the paramedics
> How do us sighted thugs protect ourselves from irrate blind women who know 
> those moves, how's a guy to make a living?
> You conclude with this gem!
>> Finally, do not go in places where you may be vulnerable.  This includes
>> bus stops in gang-related areas.  If you must be there, look for sighted
>> assistance from prompt personnel.  Do not attempt to ignore orders, if an
>> attack happens.
> I feel like I'm watching Jerico, 1984 with big brother  or something what 
> is "prompt personnel anyway?
>
> Oh my! Now ignore orders who's orders? Hay bro!  Freeze! Okay yes sir. 
> Need a new leather wallet? My wife just bought it for my birthday.
> Oh and how about this nice sack dinner oops I mean sack lunch it's not 
> after seven is it?
> Confused about this gang related stuff I mean my braille navigator didn't 
> tell me this is a gang related area it must be though I hear really loud 
> music!  Where am I anyway in the lounge at the Hilton?
> Save me Parris save me!
> Wait here comes a nice gentleman
> "Excuse me sir could you direct me to a protected bus stopI'm blind Donnie 
> dark is my name.
> Oh no your blind too?
> Let's hold hands and scream maybe Paris will save us.
> Better not my wife could get wrong ideas and punch us both Maybe even all 
> three of us you, me and Parris.
> Blowing all these whistles they will think it's a traffic cop convention. 
> Here comes Frosty the snowman.
> So far as not going to an area where we are vulnerable that really limits 
> our ability to live can't afford Beverley hills 90210 or Bellaire on this 
> government income and I can't get a job or even training because if the 
> training facilities are like many I have gone
> to such as California Industries for the blind in Los Angeles
> Which was located a few blocks away from fifth  and broadway AKA skid row, 
> I'd be a sitting duck.
> In fact on this limited income I am possibley living in government 
> subsidized or section 8 housing or in an ecconomically "depressed area.
> Real safe staying indoors when a guy on drugs turns on the gas to kill 
> himself but than decides to have one last cigarette.
> Blows a hole through the wall and I get hit in the head with an 
> unidentified flying talking book and that's if I'm lucky.
> What do these poor blind folks do about home invasions which happen in the 
> day time.  Lock your doors and hang on tight Oh Mr. Rogers not such a 
> beautiful day in this neighborhood.
> Well enough of this guess I'll mosy on down to seven eleven with the wife 
> and buy a cinamon role and a hotdog but we will bring our whistles and our 
> canes and she has a cell phone if she didn't run down the battery gabbing 
> with her blind friends!  We don't have a life alert though.
> OOPs well, not all of her friends are blind either but still they run down 
> the battery gabbin!
> woof woof woof woof who let the dog out--I'm in the doghouse now.
> But we're on our way to seven eleven just the same maybe I can apease her 
> with a slurpee or something.
> We have some nerve!  Maybe that's why Billy Joel sang "Only the good die 
> young"
> Don't think Paris lives in Sacramento, how about Christy Brinkly?
> "Not more of that save me stuff says Terra. Let's get out of here 
> chocolate eclairs are calling my name.
> Mike
>> Eric Calhoun, (Blind), Los Angeles
>> --
>>
>> --
>>
>> Don't get caught offsides!   Get into the game!  The way it was meant to
>> be played!  The game of life: over the limit, under scrutiny!
>>
>> Eric from Los Angeles
>>
>>
>>
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>
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>> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus 
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>>
>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
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>
>
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus 
> signature database 4390 (20090902) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
> http://www.eset.com
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