Okay list, sorry to be my tactless, irreverant self (pardon the pun Keith)
but I have to protest this article.  Not protesting of course that Mr. Bundy
was generous to give his time and thoughts to the media.  What I protest is
their warm and fuzzy, feel good, oh poor blind guy who triumphs over it all"
attitude.  I know from experience.  In high school, I made the mistake of
consenting to be interviewed and photographed for the Washingtonian
magazine.  The article was all about my blindness and all the stuff I'm
doing despite being blind etc etc.  Then I made the even bigger mistake of
letting CBS news come film me and do a story about me on their morning show.
Boy did I regret it.  It was that very same spin, the whole "she's an
inspiration to us all" crap, and frankly I don't feel a need to be an
inspiration to anyone... at least, not just because I happen to do some
useful stuff in life despite being blind.  I like to play the trumpet, and
if you like my trumpet playing, great, I'm glad, I have possibly earned it.
But to me, blindness is, as a friend once put it, a mild annoyance at times,
nothing more.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets patted on the shoulder
and told that I'm an inspiration and all that.  Is anyone else tired of that
stuff?  I try to be nice when folks say stuff like that.  They mean well,
and perhaps they genuinely are inspired.  But it makes me feel as though
they really wouldn't expect me to do anything productive in life and are
amazed that I manage to be a self-sufficient adult despite this horrible,
drastic affliction.  I know this is a computer list, so I won't take any
more time.  But I'd love to hear from folks (even if you don't want to
continue the discussion over the listserve) what your thoughts are on this
subject.  It's really a pet peeve of mine in case you didn't guess.  Have a
nice one.
Catherine Armstrong
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Cassell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 5:32 PM
Subject: An article about one of our own List Members.


> Blind pastor inspires students
> Alan Van Ormer
> For the Argus Leader (South Dakota)
>
> published: 9/5/2004
>
> DSU academic counselor helps keep focus on what's important
>
> Mona Singer gives Keith Bundy credit for helping her finish college and go
> on to graduate school.
>
> In 2001, she was almost kicked out of Dakota State University because
> personal problems were affecting her work.
>
> But Bundy saw her potential, even though he couldn't see her.
>
> Bundy is blind.
>
> As director of student development at DSU for the past five years, Bundy
> provides academic and personal counseling. He also
> is an ordained minister at the Church of the Nazarene in Madison, where he
> has been pastor for 15 years. It was through
> counseling sessions that he met Singer.
>
> "I began to stop going to classes and had the feeling that nothing really
> mattered any more," said Singer, 40. "I was to the
> point of self-destruction at the academic level when thankfully I was
placed
> on financial aid probation and had to begin
> academic counseling."
>
> With Bundy's help, Singer made the Dean's List once and nearly made it a
> second time.
>
> "Keith is a great inspiration to many," said Erik Miller, who works with
> Bundy, who is 47. "Keith has a way of winning people
> over. His sense of humor. His genuine care and concern for people. His
> openness. If it wasn't for the cane and dog at his
> side, you really wouldn't know he's been blind since birth."
>
> Bundy first realized he was blind after learning how to read. He grabbed a
> book from his father's chair and remembers telling
> his mother, "Mom, how can dad read a book when there is nothing on the
> page?"
>
> "That is when it first hit," Bundy said. "You know it wasn't really a
> terrible thing. I think what happens is that those who
> lose their sight later in life, it is one of those tragic things that can
> happen. But for me, I was born that way. Hey, this
> is just the way it is. It never bothered me a lot."
>
> He admits he sometimes feels sorry for himself but tries to maintain a
> positive attitude.
>
> One of his toughest times was when one of his sons graduated from high
> school.
>
> "As all of the students were walking in, it hit me like a brick. I can't
see
> him walking in," Bundy said. "That was really
> tough. When they first played ball, it was tough to realize I would never
> see them play ball."
>
> His wife, Peggy, and their sons provide support.
>
> "To them, I think it is just a part of life," Bundy said.
>
> "Keith is a loving and caring husband and father," Peggy Bundy said. "He
> wants what is best for our family, and his
> relationship with Jesus Christ is very strong."
>
> Bundy wants the best for students as well.
>
> "My purpose is to help students learn that they can be successful and help
> them to gain the tools to achieve that success,"
> he said.
>
> "I like to think that one of my skills in helping students is that I have
> been on both sides of the coin," he said. During
> his own early college years, he put his scholarship in jeopardy because
> "having a lot of fun was a lot more important," he
> said.
>
> During the summer between his sophomore and junior years, though, he began
> building a stronger relationship with Jesus
> Christ. It changed his life, and his grades, for the better.
>
> "Students are going to realize that I've succeeded, and they can, too,"
> Bundy said.
>
> Singer is living proof.
>
> "There are days when I would just love to give in to the pain (of various
> health issues), but as I drag myself through the
> day and see how Mr. Bundy always has a smile on his face, well, it just
> helps to put things into perspective," she said.
>
> Copyright 2004 Argus Leader. All rights reserved
>
> Source URL:
> http://www.argusleader.com/news/Sundayarticle5.shtml
>
>
> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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>
>


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html