[nfbwatlk] why we need to be there

Tue Apr 7 03:07:46 UTC 2009

Jedi:

I believe that for each person, blindness isn't ambiguous, at least most 
of the time. I think that each person predominantly thinks blind people 
are either miraculous or helpless but usually not both.

For me, the common denominator is that blind persons are strange --  
either especially blessed or especially cursed -- gifted or helpless. In 
other words, blind persons are estranged from the rest of humanity; 
being abnormal simply by virtue of their blindness. Of course, this is 
poppycokc but since we're such a low-incidence disability, most people 
won't encounter the blind except in terms of the caricatured 
stereotypes.

I also think that there may be an element of thinking that *all* the 
blind are fundamentally helpless (even the geniuses) so that some blind 
persons are considered gifted or miraculous because the run-of-the-mill 
specimen of homo sapiens sapiens wants life to be fair and since 
blindness is patently unfair, he/she thinkgs that we, the blind, must 
have our affliction compensated for by some special gifts or talents.

It's enough to make one ill.

Mike Freeman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jedi" <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
To: <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 9:13 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] why we need to be there

Lauren,

You're absolutely right. Blindness itself certainly isn't ambiguous.
And yes, it's got more to do with people's attitudes regarding
blindness and blind people. The question I'm really asking is why their
seems to be an ambiguity regarding blindness? why is it that we,
according to common misconceptions, exemplify contradictory
characteristics? Does that make any sense? A good reference point might
be Jernigan's "Is Literature Against Us?" This speech (which my
students read) offers a run-down of the ambiguity I'm speaking of.
Cheers and thanks.

Original message:
> Hi,
> I don't think blindness, itself, is ambiguous.  I think it's peoples'
> attitudes about blindness that can sometimes be ambiguous.
> Thanks
> Lauren
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jedi" <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 5:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] why we need to be there

>> Mary Ellen,

>> You're a ton stronger than I am. I don't what I would have said if 
>> someone
>> told me I was classified as a visually impaired person who presented 
>> well.
>> I was shocked when I read it, and I felt my facial expression sour. 
>> Isn't
>> it interesting how juxtiposed people's views of blindness are?

>> I'm teaching a class this quarter called "straight talk about 
>> Blindness."
>> One of the assignments I've set my students is a homework set, or a 
>> set of
>> three thought-provokers. One of the questions on this assignment is: 
>> why
>> is it that blindness is so ambiguous? Why is it that we're both 
>> amazing
>> yet helpless, intelligent yet ignorant, and virtuous yet sinful all 
>> in the
>> same person and moment in time? Realistically speaking, a person can
>> logically be all of these traits at once, but surely not as a direct
>> result of being blind. What do all of you think? Why is blindness so
>> ambiguous to the point where we call to mind such opposite traits all 
>> at
>> once just because we can't see? If it's okay with all of you, i'd 
>> like to
>> collect your responses and share them with my class. Of course, no 
>> names
>> will be mentioned or tied to your responses.

>> Original message:

>>> It's election time in British Columbia; the barbecues and the 
>>> rhetoric
>>> are
>>> sizzling. There's not much of a contest in our legislative district.
>>> Kelowna
>>> is a one party town. Candidates from the other parties keep the 
>>> majority
>>> party in check by raising issues, but the person who wins the BC 
>>> Liberal
>>> Party nomination is pretty well assured the seat in the legislature.

>>> I'm pleased with the nominee. He has a record of conscientious 
>>> service on
>>> the Kelowna City Council and a commitment to issues that matter to 
>>> me. So
>>> I
>>> was happy to add his campaign kick off barbecue to my list of 
>>> Saturday
>>> errands.

>>> I arrived during the preliminary speeches and joined the 
>>> enthusiastic
>>> crowd.
>>> After the program ended, a  friend who is a member of the campaign 
>>> team
>>> showed me to the volunteer table and introduced me to the woman 
>>> taking
>>> names
>>> there. "Can you fill out the form, or would you like me to help with 
>>> it,"
>>> she asked politely. I spelled my name, gave my address and phone 
>>> number,
>>> and
>>> told her which boxes to check in the list of potential volunteer 
>>> duties.
>>> When we'd finished, she proudly told me, "I've marked on your form
>>> "visually
>>> impaired, but presents well."

>>> I doubt the woman noticed that my return smile was somewhat rueful. 
>>> It
>>> was
>>> that word "but." My performance as an aspiring volunteer had just 
>>> been
>>> graded as "exceeds expectations." But what expectations? That little 
>>> word
>>> "but" implied that she didn't expect the "visually impaired" to 
>>> "present
>>> well."

>>> Yet it was clear to me that she had intended a compliment. I chose 
>>> to
>>> take
>>> it in that spirit. Her mother had become blind during the last 
>>> twenty
>>> years
>>> of life. "I'm blind," I replied. "I don't really believe in 
>>> euphemisms."
>>> That put her more at ease.

>>> Having been assured that the volunteer coordinator would call me to
>>> schedule
>>> a time for me to begin, I walked off toward the food tables. Another
>>> campaign volunteer offered to help me through the line.

>>> Our local Federal member of parliament walked up to us and greeted 
>>> me by
>>> name. (I'd volunteered for his campaign three years ago.) "How's 
>>> Paul?
>>> How
>>> are the children? Oh, by the way, I'm now on the parliamentary 
>>> committee
>>> which deals with disability issues and poverty. Here's my new 
>>> business
>>> card." He grinned while I read the Braille card, obviously pleased 
>>> with
>>> himself.

>>> "Impressive! When you have the time," I responded, " I'd like to 
>>> talk to
>>> you
>>> about the work your committee is doing. I'll send you a paper 
>>> written by
>>> the
>>> Canadian Federation of the Blind concerning employment and
>>> rehabilitation."

>>> "I'd appreciate that," he said, and moved on to talk to the next
>>> supporter.

>>> I think my new campaign volunteer friend was somewhat surprised. 
>>> "Let me
>>> introduce you to Norm, the provincial candidate. "Norm," she said, 
>>> "this
>>> is
>>> Mary Ellen."

>>> "Oh, yes, Mary Ellen, how are you? I've met you several times at the
>>> French
>>> school."

>>> "This isn't the time," I told him, "but I'd like to set aside five 
>>> or ten
>>> minutes to talk with you about issues that are important to me."

>>> "Sure," he answered. "I'll be meeting with people throughout the
>>> campaign,
>>> and after the campaign is over. Just call and set up an 
>>> appointment."

>>> "I'll be volunteering," I replied, " so I'll do it then. Unless 
>>> apathy
>>> sets
>>> in, I'm sure you're heading for Victoria. Good luck."

>>> My volunteer friend chatted as we approached the tables laden with
>>> burgers
>>> and smokies. "I used to work at a home for the aged. We learned so 
>>> much
>>> about people with disabilities. I remember one day they blindfolded 
>>> us
>>> and
>>> we walked with someone the way I'm walking with you now. I remember 
>>> how
>>> vulnerable I felt."

>>> "I'm glad you're so interested in learning," I told her. "The way 
>>> you
>>> felt
>>> is probably how someone who is newly blind or has had no training 
>>> feels,
>>> but
>>> it's a bit inaccurate. I don't feel the least bit vulnerable."

>>> Thinking back on the hour I spent at the rally and barbecue, I'm 
>>> struck
>>> by
>>> contrasts. On one hand, we're "visually impaired but present well." 
>>> At
>>> the
>>> same time, elected officials want our opinions on matters which 
>>> affect
>>> us.
>>> Ignorance and opportunity are all around us. Responding to the 
>>> ignorance
>>> can
>>> be a teeth gritting exercise in diplomacy. Seizing the opportunity 
>>> must
>>> be
>>> our continual mission. When it comes to politics, as in so many 
>>> other
>>> circumstances, we really need to keep being there.

>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfbwatlk mailing list
>>> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>> for
>>> nfbwatlk:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40samobile.net

>> --
>> REspectfully,
>> Jedi

>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
>> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.

>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbwatlk mailing list
>> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfbwatlk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/lauren1%40catliness.com

> _______________________________________________
> nfbwatlk mailing list
> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfbwatlk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40samobile.net

-- 
REspectfully,
Jedi

Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.

_______________________________________________
nfbwatlk mailing list
nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
nfbwatlk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com