<html class="apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Standing up in a plotting I love this message. Great job.</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Oct 16, 2026, at 11:36\u202fAM, Wendell Price via NFBofSC <nfbofsc@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Andrew,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking perspective</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Oct 14, 2026, at 6:06\u202fPM, Shannon Cook via NFBofSC <nfbofsc@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">I completely agree. The philosophy expressed here in deep thoughts of introspection are definitely worth thinking over many times.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size: 17pt;">With gratitude,<br>Shannon Cook</span><div>Member, National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina.<br>The greatest investment you can make in this world is kindness.</div><div></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Oct 14, 2026, at 2:28\u202fPM, Janice Bright via NFBofSC <nfbofsc@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Such a powerful piece<div>It has me reflecting \U0001f914</div><div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Janice Bright, MA OL<div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ms.jlbright@gmail.com</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(803)760-3717 <br></span></div></div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Oct 14, 2026, at 12:50\u202fPM, Andrew Adams via NFBofSC <nfbofsc@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 16.1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold; font-kerning: none;">THE BLIND SHALL PREVAIL: EVEN WHEN THE DEVIL WALKS AMONG US</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-width: normal; font-size: 20px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-style: italic; font-kerning: none;">\u201cThe greatest deception of darkness is believing that those without physical sight cannot recognize the evil standing directly before them.\u201d</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">There is something mythical about the journey of the blind. A journey that many will never understand, some will question, and others will attempt to control. We live in a world where the devil does not always appear with horns, nor does evil always announce its presence. Sometimes, the devil walks among us dressed in loyalty, disguised as friendship, speaking words of encouragement while secretly planting seeds of destruction.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">His followers are not always strangers. Sometimes, they are the very individuals who shake our hands, sit at our tables, celebrate our accomplishments, and convince us that they have our best interests at heart. They become our confidants, study our vulnerabilities, manipulate our trust, and exploit our willingness to help others. They recognize the strength of the blind long before they acknowledge our worth. They will use our knowledge, our influence, our connections, and our dedication to advance their own interests. Yet, when our usefulness has expired in their eyes, they discard us as though our contributions never mattered.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">What these individuals fail to understand is that blindness does not represent an absence of wisdom, discernment, or power. The inability to see with physical eyes does not prevent someone from recognizing deception, identifying manipulation, or understanding the intentions of those who operate in darkness.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Perhaps the greatest irony is that some who possess perfect physical sight remain spiritually and morally blind.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">However, the devil\u2019s greatest accomplishment is not always the manipulation carried out by his followers. Sometimes, it is convincing blind individuals to turn against one another. He creates division where unity should exist, jealousy where encouragement should flourish, and competition where collaboration could produce extraordinary change. He convinces some that another blind person\u2019s success somehow diminishes their own opportunities.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">And that is where the real tragedy begins.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">How can we demand equality from a society that continues to underestimate us when some within our own community participate in the very behaviors that hold us back? How can we challenge discrimination while quietly standing beside those who practice it? How can we preach independence, empowerment, and opportunity while refusing to celebrate the accomplishments of another blind individual?</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Not everyone who stands beside you stands for you. Some are standing close enough to observe your progress, study your weaknesses, and determine how to benefit from your next accomplishment.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Nevertheless, I refuse to believe that darkness has the authority to determine the destiny of those who were created to shine.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I give recognition to the blind individuals who maintain high expectations despite living in a society that continuously attempts to lower them. To those who refuse to settle for mediocrity, who challenge themselves beyond the limitations others have established, and who understand that independence is not measured by whether someone uses a white cane, travels with a guide dog, reads Braille, or relies on assistive technology.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I applaud the blind individuals who advocate for themselves without apology, who refuse to become convenient instruments for someone else\u2019s advancement, and who understand that kindness should never require sacrificing self-respect.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I especially recognize those who continue showing up for others, even when others have failed to show up for them. Those who mentor without seeking recognition, lead without demanding praise, and extend opportunities to individuals who may never possess the resources to return the favor.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Not everyone wears Prada, carries a prestigious title, or stands beneath the spotlight of public recognition. Some of the greatest leaders walk quietly among us with a cane in one hand, determination in their hearts, and a vision for tomorrow that extends far beyond what physical eyes could ever comprehend.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Let the devil and his followers continue lurking in the shadows if they choose. Let them underestimate our intelligence, question our abilities, and mistake our compassion for weakness. Their deception may delay certain opportunities, but it cannot permanently destroy the purpose of someone determined to prevail.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">For every blind individual who has been manipulated, underestimated, betrayed, or discarded, remember this: your value did not disappear when someone decided they no longer needed you. Your purpose was never dependent upon their approval.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">The darkness may surround us, but it does not own us. Our greatest strength is not simply learning to navigate a world without sight; it is learning to recognize our worth in a world that sometimes refuses to see it.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold; font-kerning: none;">And when the devil\u2019s followers ask how the blind can possibly prevail, remind them that darkness has never been powerful enough to extinguish a light that was destined to shine.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold; font-kerning: none;">THE BLIND SHALL PREVAIL.</span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-kerning: none;"><br>
</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">#BlindMonth #HappyHalloween</span></p><div></div><div dir="ltr"></div></div></div><span></span></div></blockquote></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFBofSC mailing list</span><br><span>NFBofSC@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBofSC:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/coffeequeensc1%40sc.rr.com</span><br></div></blockquote><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFBofSC mailing list</span><br><span>NFBofSC@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBofSC:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/wprice879%40gmail.com</span><br></div></blockquote><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFBofSC mailing list</span><br><span>NFBofSC@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBofSC:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/loriannecoley%40gmail.com</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>