[stylist] Blindness and photography

Sun Aug 8 15:20:51 UTC 2010

Peter,
Bless you. This is right on and well-stated. I too worked as a 
streetsinger. I sang in Philadelphia's Suburban Station and at Penn's 
Landing year-round for over 13 years. There were some people who 
objected to that. Although there is a rich history of excellent blind 
street musicians, apparently some blind people feel that it is only OK 
to be a troubadour if you're sighted. Incidentally, my work led to many 
non street jobs. In schools I actually got to talk about blindness 
issues and help bridge the gap of misunderstanding and fear in the 
sighted world. I also produced 3 albums, wrote a book and was chosen as 
the subject of an independent film.

I hope you are still pursuing your dream. Nobody blind or sighted should 
be stepping on other people's dreams. When it happens within the 
blindness community, it always reminds me how true it is that we are 
just like everyone else -- in this case, that's a shame.
Donna

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Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
www.padnfb.org

On 8/7/2010 11:02 PM, Peter Donahue wrote:
> Hello Elizabeth and everyone,
>
>      This reminds me of the reaction I got from some blind individuals I knew
> in Massachusetts when discussing the possibility of blind persons becoming
> guide dog instructors. These same people often criticized me for working as
> a street musician rather than "being more gainfully employed." It was their
> attitude, their unwillingness to explore possibilities, and being
> unsupportive of my dreams and life goals that put myself and a few others on
> the streets to begin with.
>
>      Not all of us are cut out to be writers or photographers but for God
> sakes if a blind person chooses to become a guide dog trainer, a
> photographer, a writer, or whatever let's support them and quit trying to
> steal their dreams! I sent a message similar to this one to the NABS List
> earlier this past week concerning a discussion of blind drivers. We're
> federationists and our imaginative spirit and can-do attitude needs to shine
> through at all times.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Elizabeth Sammons"<antigone at columbus.rr.com>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'"<stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 9:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Blindness and photography
>
>
> Hi, Robert and all others.
>
> Yes, I'm in complete agreement that this is an interesting discussion, and
> of course, knowing us as writers and thinkers, the discussion could and
> should be 100% civil. (Smile.) I simply find it a mockery, a caper that
> either wishes to say "Look at me, I can do this, too," to attract attention,
> or else totally missing the idea of good photography. I know you did not
> mean it this way, Robert, and while I agree that listening to a voice, a
> bird song, etc., can help one to find the subject, the difference between
> capturing that subject on a picture and making it artistic is the difference
> between saying "Look, I know the alphabet and can write a punctuated
> sentence!" and "Look what a fine sentence I just wrote, evoking the mind and
> spirit of my subject." I don't feel that people who are blind should put
> themselves out to pursue something for the sake of pursuit rather than to do
> a good job any more than as I quoted "Beethoven's Nightmare" the deaf
> group, they could call themselves quote real musicians end quote. For the
> record, I think they take themselves with a lot of irony, which makes  the
> band at least marginally acceptable in my view.
>
> Admittedly, I stand on the more radical edge of this field of thought, but
> I'm putting  it out boldly for the sake of discussion. If anybody writes
> something that makes me change my mind, I'll smile and let you know, though
> please note, I am not  particularly trying to say here please change my
> opinion on this matter.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> Elizabeth
>
>
>
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