[stylist] question

Wed Mar 25 16:40:50 UTC 2009

well it actually harms us by pushing a notion that circumlocution 
helps us, that we need protection from the simple concept of 
blindness.  the the stark reality of the simple word "blind" harms us 
and we sensitive weak people need the big strong educrats and 
professors to come along and fix it for us.
baaah.
jc

Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 06:47 AM 3/25/2009, you wrote:
>The labeling of groups according to some falsely researched 
>sociologists is for the sake of those who aren't a part of the group 
>being labelled.  When New York State labeled the blind visually 
>impaired I'm sure the State Assembly felt fuzzy and warm.  After 
>all, they just lifted a labeling burden from those who were 
>blind.  However, no blind person saw better with their eyes, got a 
>higher grade at school or got a job faster because some bureaucrat 
>had to feel that they had done something very benevolent towards a 
>charitable group that was waiting for them to be benevolent so that 
>the targetted group could have a better life.  Bureaucracies have 
>done this with a lot of minorities.  But they are too stupid, or 
>self centered to notice that their actions are as useful as spitting 
>in the ocean.  Judith
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "James Canaday M.A. N6YR" 
><n6yr at sunflower.com>
>To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 1:31 AM
>Subject: Re: [stylist] question
>
>
>>sadly,
>>many of the terms, particularly "visually impaired"  have been 
>>promoted by paternalistic researchers/professors.  I knew one at 
>>kansas university. had all kinds of publications, teaching that 
>>circumlocution actually helped us blind, and when we disagreed she 
>>dismissed our protests.
>>
>>if white professors published and insisted upon how blacks should 
>>be labeled, how long would that last?
>>
>>unfortunately I had to take a class as a grad student from that 
>>crone. crone is a technical term.
>>she never accepted that we blind people accepted the term and chose 
>>it for ourselves.
>>jc
>>
>>Jim Canaday M.A.
>>Lawrence, KS
>>
>>At 01:45 PM 3/24/2009, you wrote:
>>>John, The reality, as much as you disagree, is that being sighted 
>>>is better than being blind.  Terms like "visually impaired", 
>>>"Visually challenged" or any of the like are legislated terms.  I 
>>>can't see any better or worse when a bureaucrat describes my 
>>>visual limitations.  I am what I am.  Like I said before, I have 
>>>to take those limitations, do the best I can to do what I am 
>>>capable of and continue striving to be the best me I can be.  I 
>>>don't care how society looks at my limitations.  And, yes, they 
>>>are limitations.  I have to be the one to deal with them.  Almost 
>>>every person in this world has limitations.  Some can create 
>>>beautiful artwork, some can't.  Some can write beautifully, some 
>>>can't put together a cognizant statement either verbally or in 
>>>writing.  Some have athletic prowess while others are happy being 
>>>couch potatoes.  Some love to eat while others are skinny and 
>>>physically fit their entire life.  All "problems", all 
>>>"limitations" when put in the perspective of the optimum and 
>>>people all over the world live with them every day.  When was the 
>>>last time you heard of the "art impaired" person? Or the person 
>>>who can't sing one note without causing distress to the other 
>>>person's eardrums?  Are there cultures for the tone deaf?  The 
>>>person who can't draw a straight line?  John, deal with 
>>>John.  Society has enough problems.  As a society we have a lot to 
>>>deal with, but making John socially comfortable isn't one of them.
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "John Lee Clark" <johnlee at clarktouch.com>
>>>To: "'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 1:56 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [stylist] question
>>>
>>>
>>>>Lori:
>>>>
>>>>I love the words blind and deaf.  I abhor anything with impaired in it.
>>>>
>>>>Although the definition of blind may say one who cannot see, and that's a
>>>>negative description, we still have the opportunity to neutralize the word
>>>>itself and have it convey something else entirely, into something that's
>>>>cool.  Same with deaf.  We can take it and turn it around, and associate it
>>>>with culture, pride, ASL, all sorts of great and positive things.
>>>>
>>>>But you can't neutralize and turn around a term like sight impaired. Tthat
>>>>term does two very bad, bad, bad things.  First, it implies that sight is
>>>>the ideal, that it's right, and what we SHOULD have, and that if we don't
>>>>have it, we SHOULD want it.  This is society talking, "Sight is better."
>>>>
>>>>Second, the term implies that we're broken or we're short of the ideal, or
>>>>we've fallen from the grace of what society says is normal.  This is very
>>>>bad, bad, bad.
>>>>
>>>>Does NFB merely "prefer" the word blind?  It shouldn't.  it should embrace
>>>>it absolutely.
>>>>
>>>>John
>>>>
>>>>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>>>>Checked by AVG.
>>>>Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.26/2020 - Release Date: 3/24/2009
>>>>9:19 AM
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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>
>
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