[blindlaw] New THOUGHT PROVOKER- Tiger or the Lady

Mon May 15 21:58:29 CDT 2006

The difference is between pets and service animals.  The service animal is 
vital to Ted's functioning.  If Ted feels that a cane will totally replace 
Tiger, then (then he shouldn't have gotten the dog in the first place) maybe 
a compromise would be reachable. I'm not sure, in this instance alone, that 
people *ARE* more important.  What if he has a relationship with Cynthia, 
gives up his dog and loses his independence to some degree?  Will her love 
replace his freedom?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Wayne" <RWayne1 at nyc.rr.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New THOUGHT PROVOKER- Tiger or the Lady

>I don't think it is that clear cut.
> When my former boss got married, she had to get rid of her cats because 
> her
> husband was allergic.  In addition to the emotional difficulty, she had to
> vacuum her furniture and rugs to get the cat hair out, and this was a 
> major
> project.  But she did it!
> We don't know what types of therapy Cynthia has tried.  Perhaps she could
> try behavior therapy, which is supposed to be very effective for treating
> phobias.
> Obviously, both parties, if they are serious about one another must work
> toward a possible compromise.  But in the end, whether we are talking 
> about
> a service animal or a pet, people are more important.  That is why my 
> former
> boss made the choice she made.
> Ray Wayne
> PS:  They now have two sons and a dog.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark BurningHawk" <stone_troll at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 6:50 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New THOUGHT PROVOKER- Tiger or the Lady
>
>
>> Why doesn't Ted have the dog on the cruise?  Other than that question,
> this
>> one's a no-brainer.  Tough to do, but if Ted has the strength he must 
>> have
>> to deal with blindness and people's prejudice/ignorance as well as he
> seems
>> to, he will have the strength to choose the dog.  If she loves him 
>> enough,
>> she'll get over it.  Considering how well-kept most guide dogs are,
>> allergies seem like the lesser of the problems--her PTSD about being
>> attacked would be the harder one, but again, I can't think of a better
> type
>> of dog to get over it with than a guide dog; gentle, loving, patient, 
>> hell
>> Tiger would probably just ignore her if she didn't speak to him.  I've
> made
>> the choice before, and I've always chosen the guide dog over the woman.
> Can
>> someone please postulate to me the type of person who would NOT choose 
>> the
>> dog?  It's a one-week cruise relationship; I can't imagine he won't be 
>> all
>> better in a couple of weeks or months.  And, as I say, if she loves him,
>> she'll get over it.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2006 3:03 PM
>> Subject: [blindlaw] New THOUGHT PROVOKER- Tiger or the Lady
>>
>>
>> > BlindLaw listers
>> > RE:  Tiger or the Lady
>> >
>> > The new THOUGHT PROVOKER has a blind dog guide user facing a major life
>> > dilemma.  (Have you ever read the short story, The Lady or the Tiger? 
>> > I
>> > always wanted to craft a TP that would some what parallel that tale.)
> If
>> > you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect
>> > responses
>> > and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from
> and
>> > that URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info  If you wish to receive 
>> > THOUGHT
>> > PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-
>> > newmanrl at cox.net
>> >
>> > THOUGHT PROVOKER 106
>> > Tiger or the Lady
>> >
>> > "Hi, looking for a seat?"
>> >
>> > Drink in hand, Ted had just emerged from the cruse ship's observation
> deck
>> > lounge, his cane tapped the metal of what he took to be a deck chair 
>> > and
>> > the
>> > woman who had spoken was sitting in it.
>> >
>> > "There's  one right over here." the woman patted the chair next to her.
>> > "This is my first cruse and I'm just bursting to talk about it."
>> >
>> > "I went last year.  And thank you for the chair."  Ted said, 
>> > maneuvering
>> > around to the other side of the woman.  "Oh, my name is Ted, and 
>> > yours?"
>> > He
>> > said setting down his drink, reaching out a hand toward her.
>> >
>> > "Cynthia."  She said taking his hand.
>> >
>> > ("Humm, an elegant warm hand to go with the pleasant voice," thought
> Ted.)
>> > "So Cynthia, before I get comfortable, being blind I can't tell this,
> but
>> > do
>> > you have a refreshment?  Do you need one?"
>> >
>> > "Yes.No.I mean I don't have one, and yes, I would love one."  She said
>> > starting to rise.
>> >
>> > "No." Ted said motioning with his hand for her to stay seated, "I'll
>> > treat.
>> > And what would be your pleasure?"
>> >
>> > "Well, thanks!"  Giving him her choice, she sat back down.
>> >
>> > "Cynthia?" Ted said, making sure she was where he thought she'd be.
> "Here
>> > you are and I asked for an extra olive."
>> >
>> > "Yes, it's me.  I love olives.  Thank you."  She said, taking it from
> him.
>> >
>> > "So Miss Cynthia, tell me about your cruse."  Ted opened the
> conversation
>> > and the two of them talked and talked, she telling him of her first
>> > impressions of the port and then the ship and now the sailing.  He told
>> > her
>> > of his first cruse, the islands visited, the food, the people, and why
> he
>> > came again.
>> >
>> > "Oh, look at the time!"  Cynthia exclaimed.  "Dinner is in ten minutes!
>> > I've got to change!"
>> >
>> > "WOW!  Can you believe that!  Time flies when you are getting to know a
>> > new
>> > friend.  It's great.  How about dinner, you and me sitting together?"
>> >
>> > "I'd love it, Ted."  Both rising, Cynthia said, "Something tells me I
>> > don't
>> > need to ask you if you need help getting back to your cabin, right?"
>> >
>> > "Right.  And on that note, I appreciate how you have handled my
> blindness.
>> > And trust me, Cynthia, if and when I need assistance, I'll ask.  I feel
>> > it's
>> > been cool how we both have been able to be so free in our exchange and
> as
>> > we
>> > go into this friendship let us try very hard to keep that openness and
>> > honesty.  And that does mean you may ask anything about my blindness
> that
>> > you wish."
>> >
>> > "Thank you, Ted.  You are the first blind person I've ever really 
>> > gotten
>> > to
>> > know and I'm sure there will be much for me to learn."
>> >
>> > That evening was a wonderful one for the two of them.  And over the
>> > remaining seven days of the cruse, Ted and Cynthia spend nearly every
>> > minute
>> > in one another's company as their relationship grew.  Then came the 
>> > last
>> > moonlit night on deck as Ted and Cynthia walked hand in hand under the
>> > stars.
>> >
>> > "I am so happy I came on this cruse and had the chance to meet you,
> Ted."
>> > Said Cynthia.
>> >
>> > "Cynthia.." Ted began, squeezing her hand, "This is an answer to a
> dream.
>> > And I'm so happy we plan to continue it. It's like."
>> >
>> > "Like meeting your soul mate?"  Cynthia volunteered.
>> >
>> > "Yeah, like that.  And when you come visit.Oh, my heavens!  No one will
>> > believe this, but I forgot to tell you about Tiger!  You'll love him."
>> >
>> > "Tiger? Who's that?"
>> >
>> > "My dog guide--my golden retriever, my canine friend, my constant
>> > companion.
>> > I do well with a cane, but usually I go everywhere with Tiger."
>> >
>> > "Oh."
>> >
>> > "Cynthia, what's up, you've gotten so quiet?"
>> >
>> > "Nothing Ted."
>> >
>> > Ted stopped, pulling Cynthia around to face him.  "Come on now, 
>> > remember
>> > our
>> > vow to always tell what we think and feel.  I detect sadness, so it
> can't
>> > be
>> > nothing."
>> >
>> > "I didn't know about your dog.  You sound like you love him so."
>> >
>> > Reaching out, touching her arm, Ted said, "Oh, I do, we've been 
>> > together
>> > for
>> > six years."
>> >
>> > "Ted, I know that you love me, the last week has shown me that.Ted, I
>> > can't
>> > be around dogs."
>> >
>> > "Are you allergic to them?"
>> >
>> > "Yes, that is part of it.  I.when I was eight years old I was attacked
> by
>> > a
>> > large dog and, well, I've gone through therapy for it, but.it's still
>> > there."
>> >
>> > Ted walked on holding Cynthia's hand, knowing the hard choice he now
>> > faced.
>> > It was going to be either Tiger or the Lady.
>> >
>> >
>> > Robert Leslie Newman
>> > Email- newmanrl at cox.net
>> > Web Site- http://thoughtprovoker.info
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > blindlaw mailing list
>> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>> >
>>
>>
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