[stylist] On Governor Patterson

[Judith Bron]

I'm listening to Gov Paterson being interviewed now.  His reasons for 
failure as a politician have nothing to do with blindness.  Actually he 
wasn't that bad as a Governor, he inherited a rotten situation.  His lack of 
blindness skills goes back to his childhood and the way his disability was 
handled.  His parents threw it under the bus and wanted their son to be 
treated as if there was nothing wrong.  When you're dealing with a lifetime 
of denial it's pretty hard to fight.  I still can't read Braille, and it's 
not for lack of trying.  In my area I haven't found anyone who can teach me. 
Hadley didn't work.  I don't agree with their teaching method or teacher who 
insisted I couldn't learn it, but that's water under the dam.  Everyone 
learns differently.  I'm not an idiot, but a Cum Laude college grad.  Back 
to Patterson, he's going to have to do a lot for himself now.  While 
Governor he always had a water boy.  He had a chauffer, secretaries to send 
an email and another secretary to read his correspondence.  I wish him the 
best.  Don't worry about SNL being called on the carpet for negatively 
portraying the disabled.  As long as they get high ratings  picking on 
people's weaknesses they will continue acting like disability bigots.  If 
they stood in the public square acting out these inane skits they'd all be 
in jail.  Go figure. Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 1:30 AM
Subject: [stylist] On Governor Patterson


> Hello all,
>
> It has been a long time, but busy time of year.  Don't have much chances
> to check in lately.
>
> I don't know if many watch Saturday Night Live, but they consistently
> made fun of Gov. Patterson during the Weekend Update segment, displaying
> him as incompetant, for many reasons, one being blindness.  The actor
> portraying him would walk aimlessly around set, use visual aids upside
> down and other similar depictions.  At some point, the Federation tried
> to contact the show to voice our concern.  After this, I noticed that
> when making fun of him, they down played the blind factor or would have
> the actor do something, but say it was just a joke.
>
> At some point this year, while doing this skit, the real Gov. Patterson
> came onto set and made his own jokes displaying how ridiculous their
> stereotypes were.  SNL then allowed him to make a PR of sorts and talk
> about the abilities of the blind.  It was actually a very positive
> message.
>
> It is disappointing that Gov. Patterson, for whatever reasons, has not
> embraced any alternative methods other than adaptive technology.  It is
> equally sad that many are trying to make him the role-model for why
> skills like Braille are not necessary.  There are always exceptions, but
> for most, without training in alternative skills, we do not have a great
> chance at success.
>
> My brother-in-law has RP and he is in his late thirties so his vision is
> extremely poor, yet he refuses to even contemplate learning skills like
> Braille.  Last year, he broke his leg while cleaning the backyard due to
> a fallen tree limb he did not see.  When it was suggested he learn how
> to use a long white cane, he would not hear it.  Instead of doing all he
> can to continue to be a successful person, he clings to his denial.
>
> I have seen this attitude and it is scary how many feel the same.  We
> are our own worse enemy when we react like this.  We listened too long
> to the lies about blindness that we now see them as truth.  Blindness is
> what it is because of a perceived reality.  Perceptions can be changed,
> but first we must admit that the current state of reality is merely a
> perception and not concrete, unchangeable truth.
>
> Bridgit P
>
>
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