[Blindtlk] speaking of transit

T. Joseph Carter tjosephcarter at gmail.com
Wed May 14 00:09:27 CDT 2008 

Right on David!

The NFB is about the right and responsibility to choose for ourselves what
we will do with our lives and how we will do it.  That includes the right
to make the wrong choices according to others--even other blind people.

The thing that looks less independent isn't necessarily so.  Have we
gotten so hung up on Jernigan's words that we've begun to forget his
message?

Joseph

On Tue, May 13, 2008 at 07:49:07PM -0400, David Evans wrote:
> 
> Dear All,
> 
>  Where the heck are you guys getting this stuff you are calling NFB 
> philosophy?
> Where is it written?
> NFB philosophy for me says that we should be trying to be as independent as 
> we can be, but it doesn't say, to me anyway, that we have to be some kind of 
> martyr.
> It teaches us to use what we have to to be free and independent by keeping 
> the power of what we choose to do in our hands and not letting others take 
> it from us because we lack the will and knowledge to know the difference.
> Blindness is not an automatic qualifier to ride Para-transit.  You must have 
> other conditions that cause ore can cause you to need the service instead of 
> using the fixed route bus.
> Laziness is not one of those things that will get you on the van, additional 
> disability does.
> I don't look down my nose at any one who must take Para-transit to get where 
> they need to go.
> It sounds as if we are getting very judgmental of others based on appearance 
> and not facts.
> I prefer to just encourage people to get out and do something with their 
> life and not sit at home imitating a potted plant.
> 
> David Evans, NFBF
> MV Transit
> Consumer Advocate
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "jaybee" <jayjohnson62 at bellsouth.net>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 7:08 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] speaking of transit
> 
> 
> >    I have been a part of the Federation for years, and I believe in our
> > philosophy, and as a rule, I follow it but not "blindly."  I basically 
> > agree
> > with what you said, and I'm not certain that the philosophy dogmatically
> > prohibits a blind person from legally using means available.  I do, 
> > however,
> > guard against encouraging taking advantage of these situations simply
> > because we're blind.  I personally do not believe that I give up my right 
> > to
> > complain about unfair practices if I  use what's legally mine.  Jaybee
> > Things eyes of flesh can't see are in the mind.
> > To those with perfect sight:  I am not blind!
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
> > To: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>; "NFBnet Blind Talk 
> > Mailing
> > List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:34 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] speaking of transit
> >
> >
> >> Okay okay.  Time for me to weigh in here.  Look y'all, it's like this. 
> >> IF
> >> I
> >> wanted to be strictly true to NFB philosophy and always think I had
> >> something to prove, I'd never ever accept or use half fare.  But, I've 
> >> got
> >> news for you purists out there.  Real life sometimes requires you to make
> >> other choices.  Let me be very blunt about this.  As true as the NFB
> >> philosophy is, there are times when it doesn't take real life in to
> >> account.
> >> I will use half fare; but, only in situations where I MUST get to town on
> >> the bus and I don't have enough cash on hand to pay full fare.  Now, The
> >> NFB
> >> purists will accuse me of not being rue to the NFB philosophy because I
> >> used
> >> half fare even once; but, I say in all frankness that such a purist has
> >> not
> >> lived enough real life to know what he's talking about.  How do I know,
> >> simple.  I used to be what I would call a purist myself.  Now, let me put
> >> this question.  IF you had to go to town, and the regular fare was a
> >> dollar;
> >> but, you only had fifty cents, what would you do?  Keep in mind that you
> >> have no one upon whom you can call for help, and, you MUST get in to town
> >> on
> >> some official business; jury duty for example.  Which way will you go?
> >> Will
> >> you say,
> >>    "Well, NFB philosophy says I'm only half a person if I use half fare;
> >> and so, I don't care how urgent my business is.  I'll just stay home
> >> because
> >> I only have half fare.".  Then, in that case, yes, your believe in the 
> >> NFB
> >> philosophy would win out, and you'd feel philosophically vindicated; but,
> >> try telling that to the judge when he hauls you in to court to explain 
> >> why
> >> you did not appear for duty.  What worth your precious philosophy then?
> >>    No.  Real life must take control here.  Real independence is not
> >> defined
> >> by how strictly you adhere to the NFB philosophy; rather, it's having the
> >> tools you need to get done what you have to do to get it done.  So, I say
> >> this.  Avoid using half fare as much as possible; but, if your
> >> circumstances
> >> dictate that you do otherwise, do otherwise.
> >>    The NFB philosophy is not the end all and be all of every tiny little
> >> detail of how to live one's life.  It was never meant to be; rather, it
> >> should serve as a general guide for the blindness aspects of how to live 
> >> a
> >> normal life.  I used to think otherwise.  I used to believe that if you
> >> didn't do everything the NFB dictated for you to do twenty/four/seven, 
> >> you
> >> were a trator to the NFB cause and not worthy of what ever help the NFB
> >> might see fit to offer you.  I had not lived enough of actual real life 
> >> to
> >> know better at the time.
> >>    Now, am I suggesting that the NFB philosophy is now no good and that 
> >> we
> >> should abandon it?  No, indeed not.  We should use it as much as possible
> >> to
> >> live the best normal lives as possible and in a positive way to help 
> >> other
> >> people.
> >>    As for the paratransit services, this is what I believe.  If a blind
> >> person lives within walking distance of a regular city bus stop, then,
> >> that
> >> blind person should not use paratransit at all; excepting on those
> >> occasions
> >> where getting to a destination is necessary, (going to church for
> >> example),
> >> and there is no bus running on the weekends and no other mode of
> >> transportation is available.  IF, however, the blind person is faced with
> >> other physical inconveniences, (being confined to a wheelchair), then, of
> >> course, that blind person needs to make the logical choice and use
> >> paratransit.  If the able bodied blind person lives too far from the bus
> >> stop to walk there, then, under those circumstances also paratransit may
> >> be
> >> used.  Also, if the cab companies don't do regular contract type
> >> arrangements, (taking one to and from work for a reduced fee) for 
> >> example,
> >> then, in such a case also paratransit may be used.  Well, that's it from
> >> me
> >> about that subject.
> >>
> >> Take care.
> >>
> >> Sincerely,
> >> The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray
> >> Phone:
> >> 985-360-3375
> >> e-mail:
> >> rforetjratcomcastdotnet
> >> Skype Name:
> >> barefootedray
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
> >> To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 9:16 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] speaking of transit
> >>
> >>
> >> Dewey,
> >>    First of all, I think it is telling that you wrote, "I can see doing 
> >> it
> >> for seniors and vets". To follow through on your logic, are there not
> >> seniors and vets who have excellent incomes? Why would you give it to
> >> them?
> >>    On our public transportation system, the regular fare for a single 
> >> ride
> >> is $1.50 or $.75 for a reduced fare. An All-day pass is $3.25 and the
> >> reduced fare is $1.60. In order to qualify for the reduced fare, one must
> >> provide proof that they are disabled, senior, or a student, register with
> >> the authority, and show the pass whenever paying the reduced fare. I, for
> >> one, do not accept the reduced fare. I have two reasons for this. 
> >> Firstly,
> >> I
> >> do not wish to register and divulge personal information. Secondly, I 
> >> feel
> >> that, if I pay my full fare, I have the full right to complain when
> >> services
> >> are not adequate.
> >>
> >> Fraternally,
> >> Marion Gwizdala
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> From: "dewey bradley" <dewey.bradley at att.net>
> >> To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 10:57 PM
> >> Subject: [Blindtlk] speaking of transit
> >>
> >>
> >>> What do you folks think about the fact that we ride for half the price,
> >>> and in Illinois we ride for free?
> >>> I know blind people who make over 50, and still will pay half the fair,
> >>> the people who make these laws think that all blind people are pore I
> >>> guess.
> >>> I've gone to my law makers about getting It set to where you have to
> >>> prove
> >>> you're low income to get the reduced fair cards, but no one will even
> >>> talk
> >>> to me about It.
> >>> maybe If those of us that make good money would pay the full fair, maybe
> >>> we would have better services.
> >>> I don't make much money right now, but I used to make almost 16 bucks an
> >>> hour, I should have been made to pay the full fair.
> >>> So what do you think about that?
> >>> I can see doing It for seniors and vets
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >>
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> >
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