[Nfbc-info] Letter To The Bee: Joseph Webb

Fri Sep 4 14:13:36 UTC 2009

Good Evening,

I am not be as eloquent as some others, but there are some things that need to be said. So grab some cake and coffee, sweethearts, and enjoy the ride.  

No one is arguing with the idea of being safety conscious. Everyone blind or sighted needs to be aware of their surroundings What some of us take issue with, Mr. Calhoun, is this "helpless blind person" attitude. The Federation has been fighting against the negative blind stereotypes for years, and one of the beliefs is blind people are helpless. Frankly, some of you tips are ludicrous. As I've stated before, crime happens 24/7.

Honestly, Tina Thomas's idea for a self defense course is an excellent idea. Everyone should know how to defend themselves. My point is a person can still lead a productive life and still be safety conscious. 

Karmalynne
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--- On Fri, 9/4/09, Michael Peterson <its_mike at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> From: Michael Peterson <its_mike at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] Letter To The Bee: Joseph Webb
> To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Friday, September 4, 2009, 4:33 AM
>    Hi Eric. Even when
> a kind person offers you a ride sometimes it may not be an
> act of kindness.  I used to hitch hike everywhere and
> didn't have any problems but others I know did.Well that's
> not exactly true, I did get scared a couple times like when
> a man on drugs I think picked me up one night and told me he
> was the devil.  I made sure I kept talking to him and
> got him to drop me a few blocks from my house and I ran. He
> might have followed me or maybe just had a good laugh or
> just went on his way to where ever, I don't know but it got
> the old adrenalin pumping that's for sure This isn't a
> blindness thing it's a society thing.
> ..
> This was maybe 25 years ago not to worry! just as at risk
> were the good samaritans.  How many times did a nice
> looking babe stand on the side of the road with her thumb up
> looking upset and forlorn beside a broken down car or just
> there and a person stops to pick her up when out of the
> shadows comes a man with a crow bar. the samaritan gets
> robbed, car stolen or worse.
> In rosamond I had a few people offer me rides and sometimes
> I said yes other times no. Depending on my judgment.
> As for sacramento transit my understanding is the reason in
> part that money is tight is mismanagement over spending on
> the light rail.
> Sacramento is a smaller town but even rules regarding
> paratransit are tighter than Los angeles.
> For example the cut off time for next day service is 5:00
> p.m
> And, they don't have emergency same day service.
> If you do a river cats game and you need a taxicab here's a
> really great cab driver Terra and I met.
> She's a gem and why she's driving at night I can't
> figure--guess she didn't read your tips or just disregarded
> them not being a blind woman.
> but though she's at risk guess she needs to support her
> family.
> Let's help by taking her cab.
> Her name is Beverley.
> (916) 317-4526
> Tell her the blind couple, Mike and terra referred you if
> you want.
> She is really great even called us on our cell and directed
> us to her cab.
> Mike Couey refferred us to her company it's called co-op
> cab. They are good and they are fair with fares.
> Mike
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Calhoun" <eric at pmpmail.com>
> To: <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 2:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] Letter To The Bee: Joseph Webb
> 
> 
> > Hi Angela, your comments are well, I repeat, well,
> justified.  In my
> > research, I've learned that it's not a good idea to be
> on the Sacramento
> > streets after 7 P.M., for safety reasons, the most
> obvious is: (1)
> > Sacramento Regional Transit's buses stopping well
> before midnight, and (2)
> > having a contact person help you when you get
> stuck.  In hinsight, we are
> > all aware of the dangers of organized crime.  But
> to say these tips are
> > unavoidable is not true.  To cite an example:
> Three years ago, I was on my
> > way back from a River Cats' baseball game. 
> Sac-Transit Access wanted to
> > pick me up after eleven o'clock.  But the game
> was over at 9:45.  I got
> > back onto the Yolo County bus, headed for the Capitol
> Mall Light Rail.  My
> > stop was Arden-Del Paso.  After 9 o'clock, there
> are no buses going toward
> > the Hilton Arden Sacramento West, so I had no choice,
> but to have someone
> > call a cab for me.  Why?  Because I was on
> the bus stop with a lot of
> > winows!  And, I wanted my hotel room.  What
> if the game ended at about 9
> > o'clock?  Well, I would still call a cab.  I
> could not the fact that I am
> > blind stop me from getting away from thuggery. 
> Better to be safe than
> > sorry.
> > 
> > I have another question: All of us can afford
> Sac-Transit's fares.  Then,
> > why, in the name of the National Federation of the
> Blind of California,
> > don't the people ask for 24-hour-a-day
> transportation?  Because, there is
> > no money for it.
> > 
> > Lastly, these "thugs" don't care that we're
> blind.  I know Tina
> > personally, by the way.  We are not helpless
> souls!  But don't tell that to
> > the thugs.  I want justice served, too, but
> protective, and corrective,
> > measures come into play here.
> > 
> > In closing, we need to remember that when we see a
> chance for someone to
> > take us home, and they're sincere, we should take
> it.  I run into this
> > problem in L.A. everyday: people telling us "street
> smarts."  Do we want to
> > be shown "street smarts," or do we want to be shown
> complete control.  I
> > resent, as much as you do, someone telling me, and
> giving me, "street
> > smarts."  But when something that can be
> prevented happens, what must we
> > do?  Fight back.  What must we do, if
> someone "worries" about us, and gives
> > us the "lecture on street smarts?"  Let them know
> we can do it.
> > 
> > Thank you for reading this letter.  It's always
> refreshing to know that I
> > can disagree politely with my good friends.
> > 
> > Eric
> > --
> > 
> > --
> > 
> > Take a stand!  Be a winner!  Be a team
> player!
> > 
> > Because: Friends don't let friends be sore losers!
> > 
> > Eric from Los Angeles!
> > 
> > 
> > 
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