[Ohio-talk] 50th year of the dream

Wed Aug 28 17:01:43 UTC 2013

Amen Doctor

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Smith, JW
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 12:45 PM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] 50th year of the dream

The Boss has well said it concerning the parallels of the 2 struggles but they are both simultaneously similar and different at the same time.

This is a very important day in our history and worthy of memory and celebration because I do think that we have come along way as a country both culturally and racially!

I find it interesting when people say that having a President with Barack Obama's background and racial composition is no big deal when in fact in my opinion, it is a major deal and should not ever be downplayed in the broader discussion of racial maturity and advancement in our society.

Also, I maintain that only blind people and only black people can really know the reality of those existences and they are unique human experiences frought with enormous complexities that often can not even be adequately verbalized or communicated effectively!

Jw

Dr. JW Smith
Associate Professor
Interim Director of Honors Tutorial Studies School of Communication Studies Lasher Hall, Rm. 112 Athens, OH 45701 smithj at ohio.edu
T: 740-593-4838
F: 740-593-4810

*Ask me about the newly revised Ohio Fellows Program or visit http://www.ohio.edu/univcollege/ohiofellows.cfm 

"Regarding the past, change what you can, and can what you can't."
"Our minds are like parachutes. They work best when they are open."

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barbara Pierce
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 12:06 PM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] 50th year of the dream

The two civil rights struggles are parallel in many ways, but it has always seemed to me that blind people have mostly not faced the bigoted hatred that black people in my childhood faced. We have been thought stupid and pitiable, incompetent and a pain in the neck. But mostly blindness has not made ignorant people hate us in the same way they have hated those who were different racially. In that way the celebration of how far society has come in the past fifty years  since the I Have a Dream speech is much further than blind people have traveled. 
I have had black friends who are also blind say that overcoming the discrimination against the blind has been harder in their experience than racial stupidity. I cannot know about that. I do know that it behooves us to recognize and welcome fellow travelers. I know that the white race is freer because of the progress we have made since 1963. Listening to John Lewis makes me even more determined to strike the chains of bondage from everyone who is held back by prejudice and ignorance.
Barbara

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Payne, Richard L (GE Capital)
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 10:17 AM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List (ohio-talk at nfbnet.org)
Subject: [Ohio-talk] 50th year of the dream

I can remember the statement that Dr. Jernigan    made by comparing the
struggles of the blind with the civil rights movement    of African
Americans.
This is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Kings I have a dream and the historical march. We have our own march on Washington that we now call the Washington seminar.
I can state this day that when I first heard the comparison it seemed to be a stretch to me. When I look back at the trail of years it reminds me of just how far we have come and the long road ahead. Richard

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