[Nfbf-l] Fw: [leadership] Blindness and Perspective, The Protests Harm Our Image

[Sherri]

Sheila, I put the message out there because I was sharing another's opinion. 
the ACB also came out with a statement against the SNL skit, which probably 
was a good thing to do.

I'm not against anyone's right to protest, be it the movie Blindness or the 
SNL skit, but I still contend that the positive example of our capabilities 
and abilities is what projects a positive image of blind people to the 
public.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 2:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Fw: [leadership] Blindness and Perspective, The 
Protests Harm Our Image


> Sheila,
>    What I find interesting is how disabled people disempower themselves by 
> allowing negative stereotypes about disability to go unchallenged, thus 
> passively allowing them to be promulgated. If more disabled people - like 
> those of us in the National Federation of the Blind - would stand up and 
> say, "We will not tolerate being degraded, ridiculed, and 
> disenfranchised!" perhaps the media would stop treating us in such a 
> manner. The reason there are fewer negative statements about racial 
> differences is that those who make them are seriously reprimanded and 
> disciplined! You bet there would never have been a movie made about this 
> book if it were to have portrayed people turning black and losing all 
> morality! Why do you think the movie was such a bust in the United States 
> when it did so well in other countries? It is because the national 
> Federation of the Blind stood up against Disney and made our voices heard! 
> I was one of the ones on the barricades talking to those people in front 
> of the theater. They understood what we were saying and told others about 
> this despicable movie. The director ridiculed the National Federation of 
> the Blind on one hand, while on the other said he didn't understand why 
> the movie was such a flop in America! I am convinced it is because other 
> countries do not have the national Federation of the Blind.
>    When those ignorant writers who would portray blindness and other 
> disabilities in a negative manner are disciplined as sharply as those who 
> make racial jokes and slurs,  and the public realizes this sort of thing 
> is not funny, then these negative portrayals will stop and we will take 
> our rightful place in society on terms of equality.
>    In the words of the doctor in the movie, "I know my place!" And my 
> place is in the first-class status with the rest of our citizens!
>
> Fraternally,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "sheila" <sayoung125 at cfl.rr.com>
> To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 6:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Fw: [leadership] Blindness and Perspective,The 
> Protests Harm Our Image
>
>
>> You go girl, as I do believe that Penny is so right in her attitude. The 
>> more we highlight our disability, the more people feel we aren't 
>> self-reliant. We need to stop making a big deal about what is negative in 
>> the news and project what is positive in the lives of those that are 
>> disabled.
>> Sheila Young
>>
>>
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