[nfbwatlk] our sacred trust

[Joanne Laurent]

To answer your direct question Carl, I've never been to Alaska but I heard
of Palin long before there was a hint of rumbling about the VP. The reason
her name stuck in my mind was because she was among the most popular
governors who had an excellent reputation for serving the needs of her city,
then her state's constituents. 
  How's that flu coming along? 
  Would love to email you off list regarding our last week's conversation
but don't know how to reach you. I appreciate the time you spent providing
valuable information. My email is joanne at blindcoach.com
 

Joanne Laurent
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
If you can't learn it, I'm not teaching it right!
www.blindcoach.com

Highest Expectations Travel and Adaptive Skills Instruction for the Blind
P.O. Box 586 Ariel, WA 98603
(360) 231-4597 


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of carl jarvis
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 9:02 AM
To: nfbw
Subject: [nfbwatlk] our sacred trust

Sometimes I fear that our primary disability is not blindness, nor even the
attitudes about blindness, but rather, our eagerness to trust without
question.  
Take Governor Sarah Palin, a pretty, fresh young face on the political
scene.  How many of us, outside Alaska, ever heard the name Palin prior to
her being embraced by Senator McCain and the Republican Party?  In fact, how
many Alaskans actually know who their governor is?  I mean, has she really
been in office long enough to have established a track record?  But because
this virtual stranger has a disabled child, she is acclaimed as an expert on
the subject of special needs.  
Over the many years that I have been active in the struggle for equality for
the blind, I have met, or heard countless politicians declare their,
"understanding of you people".  
Many of them had a disabled family member or knew a neighbor with one.  How
many oily hands have grabbed my hand as I was being told, "You people are so
deserving".  But when the particular bill I was promoting came to the floor,
Bam!  My new friend voted it down!  
And by the way, don't waste your time going back and trying to find out why
he/she voted against your bill.  You'll just wind up covered with oil.  
Now don't get me wrong.  I'm not suggesting that we blind people quit
trusting folks.  What I'm asking is that we use a little common sense before
we just fling out the welcome mat.  
Sometimes we are just too willing to allow ourselves to be taken in.  But if
we are going to move forward as equal partners in this nation, we need to
always ask the hard questions, and expect straight, honest answers before
placing our trust in anyone.  

We need to look at our trust as sacred.  A rare gift.  Not to be given
lightly.  

Carl Jarvis
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