[Nfbmt] More fallout from the convention

[sheila leigland]

great letter madam president.

On 10/21/2015 10:17 AM, Bruce&Joy Breslauer via Nfbmt wrote:
> When the Mayor of Great Falls welcomed us, he talked about how well dressed
> he was but that we couldn't see that, although we looked pretty good to him.
> He talked about the different things to do in Great Falls, to see the C. M.
> Russell museum, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, etc.  He made some
> comment about shopping in Great Falls, and then I thought he said something
> about us not shopping.  Many of his remarks came off to me as if we were
> economically disadvantaged, poor blind folks, and I decided he needed a
> letter.
>
>   
>
> Dear Mayor Winters:
>
>   
>
> On behalf of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, I would like to
> thank you for addressing our third annual convention Friday evening, October
> 9, 2015, at the Holiday Inn, and welcoming us to Great Falls.
>
>   
>
> We have these conventions annually not to commiserate with each other about
> how miserable and debilitating it is to be blind, but to celebrate the fact
> that we are alive and well and contributing members of society.  We are just
> like everyone else, except without sight.  Actually, most blind people do
> have some sight; only 3 to 5% of us have no sight whatsoever.  Even so, we
> are employed, some of us have college and post graduate degrees, some of us
> are married with children or grandchildren, some of us own our own homes or
> businesses.  We cook, we shop, we love, we hate, just like everyone else.  We
> look forward to the day when blindness will be viewed by our fellow citizens
> as nothing but a characteristic, like blonde hair or blue eyes.  We are not
> more remarkable than you; we are not more disadvantaged than you.  We are
> people who are just like you in every respect except we happen to be blind.
> We get together every year to celebrate that, and to pass on that philosophy
> to those who are newly blind or who have not had an opportunity to experience
> the good life that we have in spite of and sometimes because of our
> blindness.  To paraphrase someone with whom I am sure you are familiar, we
> look forward to the day when we will not be judged by the manner of our dress
> or whether or not we have sight, but by the content of our character.  As the
> Psalmist David said, man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart.
> That is what we look forward to in our lives as well.
>
>   
>
> We are a civil rights and advocacy organization striving to better the lives
> of those who are blind or have low vision through education, legislation, and
> recreation.  For example, we want to work toward making our lives better by
> advocating for the repeal of such antiquated but still legal practices as
> paying subminimum wages to people with disabilities.  Having a job that pays
> at least minimum wage or higher is  something that most Americans take for
> granted, and would raise holy heck if they didn't.  In fact, some are
> organizing to raise the minimum wage even higher.  All we are asking for is
> to have the same opportunities that our fellow citizens take for granted.
>
>   
>
> We have a statewide  at large chapter that meets by telephone once a month.
> We have a local chapter in Billings and have just formed one in Great Falls,
> and hope to do so in other cities and localities as we grow.
>
>   
>
> For more information, please visit our web site at www.nfbofmt.org.
>
>   
>
> Thank you again for addressing us at our convention.  We look forward to
> being in touch with you on matters of interest to us as members of our
> community and first class citizens of our great nation.
>
>   
>
> May God continue to bless you in your personal and political endeavors.
>
>   
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Joy Breslauer, President
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Montana
>
>   
>
> Live the life you want
>
>   
>
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
> blindness is not what holds you back.
>
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>