[Nfbmd] Obama Baltimore Rally

[McCarthy, Jim]

I thought I would use this list to offer reflections on the Obama rally
where NFB members ere offered special seating or really standing to
watch the rally.  Those of us who actually attended may still be thawing
out today.  It was cold!!  Some have wondered if being placed in a
designated section is or is not consistent with the policies of the NFB.
I think that is an interesting discussion and I would not shy away from
having it, though I will stay mostly here with my perceptions of what
did happen rather than with their philosophical implications.

We arrived at the parking place for the one van load of people we had.
>From there, we were met by a volunteer guide who lead the group to the
light rail which we took a couple of stops north. That all when very
efficiently and the blind people traveled using our canes as we always
do communicating with each other along the way.  At Baltimore street, we
met gulf carts that took us to the gate we needed for security.  This
part bothered me before the event but in reflection, it would have been
difficult to navigate the crowd and get to the correct gate where people
could direct us to the area reserved for the NFB. This part probably
took the longest amount of time accept for waiting on the president
elect to speak to us but it went pretty well.  Security was rigorous but
sensible.  None of us carried very much so we basically had to put all
metal and technology, (I had a Victor Stream and cell phone) on a table.
They promptly evaluated the stuff and wanded us allowing us beyond the
gates with another volunteer.  That person knew exactly where our
seating was and encouraged us to stand but made chairs available for any
who lacked stamina to stand for a long time.  I think all of us might
have sit for a total of 5 minutes in the time we were there, if that.
The volunteers certainly understood that there is nothing about
blindness that would require us to sit in chairs though we weren't
discouraged from that if we had other conditions.  The fact is that they
were old church or social hall metal folding chairs and they were really
cold!!

We were very early to the event in our places by 2:00.  We had two hours
plus to wait in the cold.  We shared stories with each other with Joanne
and Harold Wilson regaling us on other inaugural   adventures in their
past.  From the sound system, a wide variety of music was played with
largely positive themes.  There was a personal trainer for Ray Lewis who
ran us through some exercise routines to make sure the blood did not
freeze in our limns or something.  We had two or three of these visits
while we waited for the main event.  He reminded the crowd that the
Ravens had a real opportunity to go to the super bowl and that we should
root them on, which most were excited to do.  As the event drew  nearer,
we received a concert from the Morgan State University Choir, which was
really great in a gospel sort of way.  Terri commented that she was
impressed that anyone could actually sing at all, let alone that well
under those cold conditions.  Understand that I cannot recall the last
time I was that cold.  I kept taking off my gloves to twitter (send
little text messages) to my group of friends, but these were hard to
read because I had little control of my frozen fingers on the cell
phone.

Periodically volunteers would check to see if we needed chairs.  They
also offered to help us to the portapots and the like.  They were very
respectful though, not like so many of their sort in airports or other
public places that demand you to take their help.

I think that most of us felt we were a part of an important historic
event in our city.  Congressman Cummings spoke and roused the crowd in
preparation;  our governor offered a blessing to Obama; a former
Baltimore resident (one none of us knew about) introduced Obama.  His
speech was moving,  though many saw it so I will not elaborate about it.
We were all moved to be right there within 50 feet or so of the stage.
As the dignitaries left, many passed very close to us.  Mr. Nur, a cab
driver many of us know and love, actually got to shake speaker Nancy
Pelosi's hand, and he may still be on cloud 9 after that.

Energized and needing to move in order to keep our legs from freezing
off our bodies,  we happily walked about a mile back to where our van
was parked.  Everyone I spoke to who went was glad that they chose to
participate.  It was a unique event that we do not always get the chance
to have.  It was enjoyable to share it with federation friends and
though anyone could have gone down there, I don't think I would have
done so alone given the cold and the crowds.

Finally, we all chanted "NFB, the blind, Yes we can!"  We did not have
our most creative chanters along, but we did what we could.  We also
needed more people to be well heard with our cheer, but we held our
canes high with pride of membership in the NFB and enjoyed the moment
immensely.  I especially enjoyed it when I realized that all my limns
remained in tact and that some day they would become warm and the
feeling would return to them.
Jim McCarthy