[nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report fromChairman Gordon Gund

Fri Apr 22 14:21:57 UTC 2011

Gloria, you're making a logical mistake that is known as a false dichotomy. 
Blindness doesn't have to be either a tragedy or a good thing. It might not 
be a tragedy but that doesn't mean its a good thing.

Actually, I think a strong case could be made for blindness being a tragedy. 
It depends on how bad something has to be before you'd call it a tragedy. 
That's a personal judgement that each individual has to make for themselves. 
Personally, I always tell my friends, "Being blind is not that bad. You'd be 
surprised."

SoI'm more or less with you on the "blindness is not a tragedy" thing. But I 
am willing to acknowledge differing opinions. I just don't think any of us 
has the right to make that judgement for anyone else.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gloria Whipple" <ladygloria at webband.com>
To: "'Jeanette Fortin'" <jeanette at fortin-home.com>; "'NFB Talk Mailing 
List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report fromChairman 
Gordon Gund

> Blindness isn't a tragedy.
>
> There are a lot of people who could see and then lost their sight and
> learned how to deal with it. Sure, it would be hard at first, but it can 
> be
> done.
>
>
> Gloria Whipple
> Corresponding Secretary
> Inland Empire chapter
> nfb of WA
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jeanette Fortin
> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 15:04
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
> Gordon Gund
>
> well let me say this, why not fight blindness? if there is a way some 
> people
>
> can regain their vision or if doctors can help folks to save the vision 
> they
>
> have, go for it.
> i got a call today from my cousin who works with hazzardess materials in 
> his
>
> job.  he was hit in the face with some costic liquid last week and lost 
> his
> vision for a couple of days.  Because he was rushed to a special hospital
> and given specific treatment for his eyes which were damaged by the costic
> liquid, the doctors are hopeful he will regain all or most of his vision.
> from some folks way of thinking it appears they think it would be just 
> fine
>
> for him to have lost  his vision and subsequently his job.  it gave him a
> true appreciation of those of us who have dealt with vision loss for years
> and has made him grateful for whatever  vision he has.
> i think maybe the name of the organization, fighting blindness may offend
> some folks, but if you understand how someone who had vision and loses it
> feels maybe you would understand why the foundation is trying to find ways
> to help folks either regain or not lose their vision, jeanette
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "S Baker" <srbaker12 at hotmail.com>
> To: "ANFBchat" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 3:31 PM
> Subject: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
> Gordon Gund
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> SRBaker
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: srbaker12 at hotmail.com
>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: RE: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
>> Gordon Gund
>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:29:26 +0000
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> This email solicits donations. It also has links to current research to
>> correct blindness.There is nothing wrong with being blind, if that is 
>> what
>
>> you want. If there is technology that can reverse,cure me, I am all for
>> it. There is an old saying "There are none so blind as those who will not
>> see". Our eyes may not work but our brains do.
>> Steve
>>
>>
>>
>> SRBaker
>>
>>
>>
>>> From: ladygloria at webband.com
>>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:19:37 -0700
>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
>>> Gordon Gund
>>>
>>> What in the heck is wrong with being blind!
>>>
>>>
>>> Gloria Whipple
>>> Corresponding Secretary
>>> Inland Empire chapter
>>> nfb of WA
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of S Baker
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 14:14
>>> To: AMoLList
>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman 
>>> Gordon
>>> Gund
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> SRBaker
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:24 -0500
>>> From: GGund at FightBlindness.org
>>> To: srbaker at charter.net
>>> Subject: A personal report from Chairman Gordon Gund
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Like you, Steven, I follow the work of the Foundation Fighting Blindness
>>> closely. As a donor, I want to know that my donations make a difference.
>>>
>>> And believe me, they do. When I reflect on the last year and listen to
>>> this
>>> video, I am reminded that we have more clinical trials for sight-saving
>>> treatments underway than ever before. Clearly, hope and optimism are
>>> running high. Incredible strides have been made in the last few years,
>>> and
>>> these remarkable advances would not have been made without your support
>>> of
>>> the Foundation. They include:
>>>
>>> Vision Restored. We are continuing to build on remarkable gains in gene
>>> therapy. As you may recall, in a Foundation-funded trial, 9-year-old
>>> Corey
>>> Haas and 19 others received a gene therapy treatment and can now see. 
>>> And
>>> as the trial has expanded, participants have shown sustained improvement
>>> in
>>> vision. Building on this success, similar gene therapy treatments are
>>> moving into clinical trials for choroideremia, Stargardt disease and
>>> Usher
>>> syndrome.
>>>
>>> Innovative Technology. The high-tech industry has a treatment I'm
>>> incredibly excited about-- the world's first commercially available
>>> artificial or "bionic" eye. Early funding from the Foundation was key to
>>> getting this engineered retina off the ground. Building on the studies 
>>> we
>>> funded, the light-sensing, implantable "chip" has been tested in a
>>> clinical
>>> trial in Europe with great results. In the study, people who were
>>> profoundly
>>> blind experienced improved vision that could help them to be more
>>> independent. In fact, many can now see shapes and recognize large
>>> letters.
>>>
>>> Groundbreaking Therapies. A research team funded by the Foundation
>>> Fighting
>>> Blindness developed an innovative technique for correcting the
>>> disease-causing gene by using stem cells derived from a person's skin.
>>> While
>>> more work is needed to ensure safety, this advancement suggests that
>>> doctors
>>> may someday be able to treat a patient's retinal disease using their own
>>> skin cells.
>>> These few accomplishments barely begin to tell the story of all the
>>> progress
>>> that's being made. And this is why words can never express my personal
>>> gratitude for your passionate and committed support.
>>>
>>> I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video and see the 
>>> results
>
>>> of
>>> your support and the hope it has generated. But most importantly, I hope
>>> you
>>> will see that research is progressing at a terrific rate. It's been a
>>> long
>>> time coming, but we crossed a critical threshold when our researchers
>>> actually restored sight. It launched us into a new era when more and 
>>> more
>>> people will have their sight saved or restored every year. A lot of work
>>> remains. But we'll get there by continuing to work together.
>>>
>>> The Foundation Fighting Blindness values the support you give us by
>>> donating, talking to your friends, and advocating for increased research
>>> funding. As we continue our relentless pursuit to eradicate blindness, 
>>> we
>>> hope you will continue your steadfast support of our mission. Thanks for
>>> envisioning a bright future for the millions affected by retinal
>>> degenerative diseases.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Gordon Gund
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Check us out on:
>>>
>>> Tell a Friend | Subscribe | Change email address | Unsubscribe
>>> Foundation Fighting Blindness
>>> www.FightBlindness.org
>>> 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100
>>> Columbia, MD 21046
>>> 1-800-683-5555
>>>
>>> nonprofit software
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>>
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