While it is true that this fellow is operating from his limited perspective, his actions and publicity are likely long reaching and have an impact on other blind persons who in no way wish to be identified in this manner. Don't think it isn't so. For example, when I fly with my dog guide I like to sit in the regular seats not the bulkhead, because my dog can slide under the seat in front of me where she is more comfortable, out of the way and less conspicuous. But my wishes as an individual are not important, rather it is the small number who tell the airlines they prefer the bulkhead with their dog. I have to argue this point at every gait with the gait personnel every single time with out fail. I'm not an argumentative person typically, but on this matter I am treated as a "blind person" who doesn't know what she is talking about. So please don't loll yourself into thinking that these kind of things are innocuous and that they don't have an impact on you as a blind person. Don't forget the public always remembers the sensational and the out of the ordinary and they are the same individuals whom you sit across the table from in job interviews and other important events.
Thanks,
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Rossi [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 1:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette July 15, 2003
I have to agree with Amy here. Although my first reaction to hearing of
the shirts was revulsion, I believe the guy who is making them is 73 years
old and lost his sight only about ten years ago.
I'm sure that there are some out there who could completely adapt under
those circumstances, but being 63 and having to just start learning to
function as a blind person would be an incredibly daunting task.
Dan
On Tue, 15 Jul 2003, Amy Berger wrote:
> I had to throw in my two cents. It is very easy to be offended at the idea
> of wearing something that states "I am blind and need help" or whatever it
> says. I am not sure about the numbers but I do know that within the blind
> community there are all different types of people, just as there are within
> the normal population. I would not choose to wear one but I do realize
> that there are blind individuals who may be comforted by wearing such
> clothing. Lets not be too smug about the concept. I hope the guy who is
> making them is earning a living at it. I am so used to people looking at
> me and my guide dog and all they see is a blind person, that instead of
> being pissed off I turn it into an opportunity to let them see me as an
> capable individual , understanding that there may be some of us who do not
> operate in that capacity. Even though we are blind, we are all
> individuals and I would hate for us to forget that.
> Amy
> and if we start At 03:38 PM 7/15/2003 -0400, Diana C. wrote:
> >I would be more than willing to print up some more t-shirts like the one I
> >am currently wearing. It states, "I've fallen and I can't get up!"
> >
> >The joke is a little old, but anything for the cause. I will even throw in a
> >good exchange rate for my friendly neighbours south of the border. Every
> >t-shirt guaranteed to arrive SARS FREE!
> >
> >Diana from SARSville (Toronto, Ontario)
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Bud Kennedy" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 2:03 PM
> >Subject: Re: From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette July 15, 2003
> >
> >
> > > Tom,
> > >
> > > I agree with you wholeheartedly. The only reason that I think the guy
> > > that has "please help me I'm blind" on his underwear was mentioned first
> > > in the article, is that he is local. As a Pittsburgh resident, I'm
> > > hoping that, because of this article, every time I'm standing on a down
> > > town street corner minding my own business and thinking impure thoughts,
> > > I'm not accosted by thousands of Pittsburghers running up to me saying
> > > "let me buy you one of them/there new shirts." I know that we can't
> > > expect everybody who writes an article for a newspaper to be intimately
> > > familiar with the subject on which they are writing. However, I do
> > > expect them to get factual information straight. For example,
> > > Bookshare.org was incorrectly reported as Bookshare.com.
> > >
> > > Bud Kennedy
> > >
> > > [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Tom Fowle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 1:37 PM
> > > To: Bud Kennedy
> > > Cc: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette July 15, 2003
> > >
> > >
> > > Now there is a fine example of bad journalism wirtten by somebody with
> > > no
> > > experience at all with the field in which she is supposed to be
> > > reporting.
> > >
> > > Or am I biased by being rather nausiated by having talking signs and
> > > other usefull products side by side with "I'm blind help me" caps and T
> > > shirts.
> > >
> > > Some stuff gets better, ans some most definitely does not.
> > >
> > > Personal opinion only,
> > > Tom Fowle
> > >
> > >
> > > 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
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> > > VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
> > > http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
> > >
> >
> >
> >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
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> > VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
> >http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
>
> "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world.
> Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
>
> Amy L. Berger
> U.S. Geological Survey, Section 508 Coordinator
> 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 807
> Reston, VA 20192
> (703)648-7124
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Fax: (703)648-4250
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
--
Blue skies.
Dan Rossi
Carnegie Mellon University.
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel: (412) 268-9081
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