[nfbwatlk] From the Archives: FW: A Job Well Done!

[Mike Freeman]

From: sysop at NFBnet.org [mailto:sysop at NFBnet.org] On Behalf Of
NOAPRLFOO at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 6:30 PM
To: Multiple recipients of NFBnet nfb of washington talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: A Job Well Done!

 

Hello Federationists, 

It was an exhilarating experience to walk in that demonstration.  We reached
out to people in so many ways.  People on the streets were eager to hear
about our message and readily agreed we had been crossing streets for years
without the assistence of the bleeping beepers.  Many people approached us
to ask why we were opposed to the noisome nuisance.  We educated them in so
many ways, not just with our good and valid reasoning, but by our courteous
orderly appearance.  We were able to show the public that the blind can
function well without assistance.   As a group we presented ourselves
capable happy people.  There were no clucks of sympathy or offers of
unneeded help. We smiled, laughed and interacted with John Q. Public. We
were a diverse group of dynamic people taking an important message to the
public that was well received.  It was obvious that we had planned well and
knew how to get our message of independence out there. We only fo und one of
the many fliers we handed out on the ground.  That says a lot right there. 

I left Portland tired and sore, but I was very proud to have been able to
participate in our demonstration.  We have much of which to be proud.  We
were a great example of our motto: "Changing what it means to be blind."
The past ten months that I have been a member of the NFB has been an
exciting experience.  This is an incredible diverse group of people.  I am
no longer embarrassed to be using a white cane.  I carry it like a badge of
honor.  It is proof that blindness is only an inconvenience, not the end of
independence. 

Kay Burrows