[Journalists] Mr. Hamilton's article, a contrarian's view

[D. W. Hill]

November 3, 2007
Hello Laine & Journalist Friends,
Regarding Mr. Hamilton and his "humor." A few weeks ago while Rich 
and I were camping in the Finger Lakes region of New York, we had the 
Today Show on in the camper while getting breakfast. There was a 
segment with a psychologist talking about people being sensitive 
about this or that. After clarifying that she wasn't talking about 
people who have issues with everything and make their friends and 
relatives walk on egg shells in their presence, she said that 
sensitivity to one specific area of conversation was actually healthy 
for the community because it fostered tolerance. In other words, 
African Americans, for instance, when they exhibit reactions against 
"black people" jokes are causing the rest of us to think twice about 
our prejudices.

Ever since that segment, I have been grappling with the possibility 
that, in my efforts to fit in, I am actually doing more harm than 
good by not speaking out about the discomfort I experience when 
"blind people" jokes come up. I don't tell such jokes, and I would 
never write an article like this, nor do I find any humor in it. The 
"Uncle Tom" comparison comes to mind. However, I wish all the best 
for Mr. Hamilton. As blind people, we're all in a very unenviable 
position, and I would never condemn him for whatever survival 
techniques he finds useful, but I find it very sad.


I don't feel that the sighted world tolerates much in the way of raw 
emotion with regard to me. I'm allowed to participate in society in 
so far as I display
an up-beat cheerful attitude, but frustration, anger, hurt feelings, 
while they seem OK things for non blind members of the community to 
exhibit from time to time, are not acceptable from me. I have learned 
to talk about things like the seventy percent unemployment rate among 
otherwise able-bodied blind Americans of working age in a non 
emotional way which works when I'm addressing a group. I can tell 
them that it is frustrating, humiliating or whatever when people 
"admire" me for ridiculous things like being able to tie my own shoes 
or look straight at them when we're talking. I can get a laugh by 
imitating the extreme reactions of sighted people who approach me to 
ask me if I'm blind and then collapse in exaggerated displays of 
sympathy -- some even saying they'd rather be dead.  But, all of 
these things must be stuck in between "up-lifting" stories, and the 
deepest and most perpetual pain of my life -- that my abilities and 
talents are not embraced while the world around me sinks further into 
ignorance, selfishness and helplessness -- is taboo.

Although it is true that at any given time most people are ignoring 
us whether we're blind or not, there is data suggesting that
the public has a significant prejudice against blind people. Public 
attitudes have not kept pace with the technological advances of 
modern human civilization and are still rooted in the traditions of 
primitive cultures.

In 1991, the National Organization on Disability hired the Louis 
Harris poll to find out what America really thought about people with 
disabilities -- including blindness.  The survey summary states, "The 
public views disabled people as fundamentally different than the rest 
of the population, feeling admiration and pity most 
often.  Embarrassment, apathy and fear are also common."  I am not 
aware of any more recent study, but in light of the enormous 
technological advances and accomplishments of some blind individuals 
in the interim and the fact that, in spite of it, unemployment among 
blind people has remained stagnant, it doesn't seem like much has 
changed with regard to public attitudes.

People actually feel that we're fundamentally different? It's not a 
pleasant thought. I'm guessing that we're too politically correct 
nowadays to get a similar response. The responses of admiration and 
pity only serve to place a person on a different level than 
ourselves. Most of us try to shrug off unpleasant incidents with the 
public , but they are far more than a passing nuisance when we 
consider their deeper implications.

For starters, attitudes like this cause sighted people to attempt to 
give inappropriate, unwanted and sometimes dangerous help to us 
without even bothering to introduce themselves let alone 
asking.  Years ago when I lived in Philadelphia, I was boarding a 
commuter train one evening on my way to a concert with my first guide 
dog Simba.  GDF had trained my dog and me to board trains safely and 
we had been doing it successfully for years.  That night, however, 
after I had already put one foot on the train, the conductor grabbed 
my left elbow and pulled me backwards.  Both of us fell.  Simba was 
just shaken up a bit, but my leg went down between the platform and 
train.  I had a couple of nasty cuts and probably should have had 
stitches, but I wanted to get to that concert.

I did, however, chew out the conductor in front of all of the 
passengers in our car, and told him how guide dogs are trained and 
explained how this was an example of why you should always ask a 
blind person first prior to grabbing them. I had a whole long list of 
reasons what he did was a bad idea, concluding with, "Besides that, 
it hurts." I managed to be quite eloquent according to a couple of 
the passengers, and I did it all without a single swear word -- not 
an easy thing for me generally.

In addition to the danger, public perception has real consequences to 
our lives. Other minorities who have succeeded in raising the 
public's consciousness insist on rooting out "humor" like this.

I think most people understand intuitively why someone would not 
appreciate being pitied, but the admiration part seems to come as a 
bit of a surprise to them .  I'm not talking about admiring someone 
for their talents and abilities.  I'm referring to being overly 
impressed with the ordinary, as Jeff mentions. As an example, I had a 
dental hygienist for years when we lived in the Philadelphia area who 
couldn't get over how I took off my visor cap and sunglasses and 
stored them in my back pack.  She went on and on about it every time 
I had my teeth cleaned.  We talk about the glass ceiling that women 
encounter in the business world.  For blind  people, however, it is 
more of a brick wall.  It's hard to interest a prospective employer 
in your abilities when they are feeling sorry for you or when they 
are overcome with admiration that you actually got yourself to the 
interview or that you can hold a conversation without staring out 
into space.  What we are facing is as much of a prejudice as racism, 
sexism or homophobia yet there isn't even a word for it.  Often blind 
people are not even mentioned when minority issues are discussed.

Probably the most pervasive, most unusual  and to me the saddest 
aspect of this prejudice has to do with its effect on the people who 
hold it.  Generally speaking, white people don't wake up black and 
men don't all of a sudden become women.  However, this is precisely 
what happens in most cases of blindness and disabilities.  Only about 
twenty percent of all blind people were born blind or lost their 
vision as children.  The rest grew up sighted.  When they lose their 
vision, they become not only victims of whatever caused their vision 
loss, but more importantly they become victims of their own 
prejudice.  If they have always thought of blind people as somehow 
inferior, helpless or pathetic, they become those things in their own 
mind. Their biggest challenge in adjusting to blindness is not 
learning to use a guide dog or a computer with a screen reader, but 
learning to re think their expectations and assumptions of what blind 
people can do.

Although portrayals of blind people, such as in Mr. Hamilton's 
article, are understandable and certainly forgivable, I don't 
consider it harmless fun. I think Mr. Hamilton is missing 
opportunities to use humor to make people think and inspire them.

I was trying to think of a story I do sometimes tell that has to do 
with blindness to see if I'm just adding to what I see as a problem. 
The only example of a story that I have told to sighted audiences 
that comes to mind involves a trip Curly Connor and I took to the 
local bank when we lived in the Philadelphia area. The bank was 
extremely crowded, and I hate waiting in line. So, I went to the 
drive-through window, which had no customers at the time. The lady 
told me that she couldn't serve anyone unless they were driving a 
car. I mustered my most innocent look -- an accomplishment in itself 
-- and said, "But, they won't give me a license." She thereupon 
cashed my check.
I'm not sure what that does.

I think of myself as a particularly sarcastic person, and enjoy 
making people laugh including at my own foibles. I do draw the line, 
however, at stuff like Mr. Hamilton's article. For one thing, humor 
in person is different than humor in "print." In person, you are 
choosing your audience and capable of judging and responding to their 
reactions. In print, it's a different matter and a much more 
dangerous and unpredictable exercise.

OK, I've ranted long enough. Monday we leave for a three-week camping 
trip through the South ending with Thanksgiving at relatives in 
Florida. For sixteen years, we had no vacations at all; now, we hit 
the road whenever we can. Have a good holiday , everyone.
Donna Hill  



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November 3, 2007
Hello Laine & Journalist Friends,
Regarding Mr. Hamilton and his "humor." A few weeks ago while Rich and I were camping in the Finger Lakes region of New York, we had the Today Show on in the camper while getting breakfast. There was a segment with a psychologist talking about people being sensitive about this or that. After clarifying that she wasn't talking about people who have issues with everything and make their friends and relatives walk on egg shells in their presence, she said that sensitivity to one specific area of conversation was actually healthy for the community because it fostered tolerance. In other words, African Americans, for instance, when they exhibit reactions against "black people" jokes are causing the rest of us to think twice about our prejudices.
Ever since that segment, I have been grappling with the possibility that, in my efforts to fit in, I am actually doing more harm than good by not speaking out about the discomfort I experience when "blind people" jokes come up. I don't tell such jokes, and I would never write an article like this, nor do I find any humor in it. The "Uncle Tom" comparison comes to mind. However, I wish all the best for Mr. Hamilton. As blind people, we're all in a very unenviable position, and I would never condemn him for whatever survival techniques he finds useful, but I find it very sad.
I don't feel that the sighted world tolerates much in the way of raw emotion with regard to me. I'm allowed to participate in society in so far as I display
an up-beat cheerful attitude, but frustration, anger, hurt feelings, while they seem OK things for non blind members of the community to exhibit from time to time, are not acceptable from me. I have learned to talk about things like the seventy percent unemployment rate among otherwise able-bodied blind Americans of working age in a non emotional way which works when I'm addressing a group. I can tell them that it is frustrating, humiliating or whatever when people "admire" me for ridiculous things like being able to tie my own shoes or look straight at them when we're talking. I can get a laugh by imitating the extreme reactions of sighted people who approach me to ask me if I'm blind and then collapse in exaggerated displays of sympathy -- some even saying they'd rather be dead.? But, all of these things must be stuck in between "up-lifting" stories, and the deepest and most perpetual pain of my life -- that my abilities and talents are not embraced while the world around me sinks further into ignorance, selfishness and helplessness -- is taboo.
Although it is true that at any given time most people are ignoring us whether we're blind or not, there is data suggesting that
the public has a significant prejudice against blind people. Public attitudes have not kept pace with the technological advances of modern human civilization and are still rooted in the traditions of primitive cultures.
In 1991, the National Organization on Disability hired the Louis Harris poll to find out what America really thought about people with disabilities -- including blindness.? The survey summary states, ?The public views disabled people as fundamentally different than the rest of the population, feeling admiration and pity most often.? Embarrassment, apathy and fear are also common.?? I am not aware of any more recent study, but in light of the enormous technological advances and accomplishments of some blind individuals in the interim and the fact that, in spite of it, unemployment among blind people has remained stagnant, it doesn't seem like much has changed with regard to public attitudes.
People actually feel that we're fundamentally different? It's not a pleasant thought. I'm guessing that we're too politically correct nowadays to get a similar response. The responses of admiration and pity only serve to place a person on a different level than ourselves. Most of us try to shrug off unpleasant incidents with the public , but they are far more than a passing nuisance when we consider their deeper implications.?
For starters, attitudes like this cause sighted people to attempt to give inappropriate, unwanted and sometimes dangerous help to us without even bothering to introduce themselves let alone asking.? Years ago when I lived in Philadelphia, I was boarding a commuter train one evening on my way to a concert with my first guide dog Simba.? GDF had trained my dog and me to board trains safely and we had been doing it successfully for years.? That night, however, after I had already put one foot on the train, the conductor grabbed my left elbow and pulled me backwards.? Both of us fell.? Simba was just shaken up a bit, but my leg went down between the platform and train.? I had a couple of nasty cuts and probably should have had stitches, but I wanted to get to that concert.
I did, however, chew out the conductor in front of all of the passengers in our car, and told him how guide dogs are trained and explained how this was an example of why you should always ask a blind person first prior to grabbing them. I had a whole long list of reasons what he did was a bad idea, concluding with, "Besides that, it hurts." I managed to be quite eloquent according to a couple of the passengers, and I did it all without a single swear word -- not an easy thing for me generally.
In addition to the danger, public perception has real consequences to our lives. Other minorities who have succeeded in raising the public's consciousness insist on rooting out "humor" like this.
I think most people understand intuitively why someone would not appreciate being pitied, but the admiration part seems to come as a bit of a surprise to them .? I'm not talking about admiring someone for their talents and abilities.? I'm referring to being overly impressed with the ordinary, as Jeff mentions. As an example, I had a dental hygienist for years when we lived in the Philadelphia area who couldn't get over how I took off my visor cap and sunglasses and stored them in my back pack.? She went on and on about it every time I had my teeth cleaned.? We talk about the glass ceiling that women encounter in the business world.? For blind? people, however, it is more of a brick wall.? It?s hard to interest a prospective employer in your abilities when they are feeling sorry for you or when they are overcome with admiration that you actually got yourself to the interview or that you can hold a conversation without staring out into space.? What we are facing is as much of a prejudice as racism, sexism or homophobia yet there isn't even a word for it.? Often blind people are not even mentioned when minority issues are discussed.
Probably the most pervasive, most unusual? and to me the saddest aspect of this prejudice has to do with its effect on the people who hold it.? Generally speaking, white people don't wake up black and men don't all of a sudden become women.? However, this is precisely what happens in most cases of blindness and disabilities.? Only about twenty percent of all blind people were born blind or lost their vision as children.? The rest grew up sighted.? When they lose their vision, they become not only victims of whatever caused their vision loss, but more importantly they become victims of their own prejudice.? If they have always thought of blind people as somehow inferior, helpless or pathetic, they become those things in their own mind. Their biggest challenge in adjusting to blindness is not learning to use a guide dog or a computer with a screen reader, but learning to re think their expectations and assumptions of what blind people can do.
Although portrayals of blind people, such as in Mr. Hamilton's article, are understandable and certainly forgivable, I don't consider it harmless fun. I think Mr. Hamilton is missing opportunities to use humor to make people think and inspire them.
I was trying to think of a story I do sometimes tell that has to do with blindness to see if I'm just adding to what I see as a problem. The only example of a story that I have told to sighted audiences that comes to mind involves a trip Curly Connor and I took to the local bank when we lived in the Philadelphia area. The bank was extremely crowded, and I hate waiting in line. So, I went to the drive-through window, which had no customers at the time. The lady told me that she couldn't serve anyone unless they were driving a car. I mustered my most innocent look -- an accomplishment in itself -- and said, "But, they won't give me a license." She thereupon cashed my check.
I'm not sure what that does.
I think of myself as a particularly sarcastic person, and enjoy making people laugh including at my own foibles. I do draw the line, however, at stuff like Mr. Hamilton's article. For one thing, humor in person is different than humor in "print." In person, you are choosing your audience and capable of judging and responding to their reactions. In print, it's a different matter and a much more dangerous and unpredictable exercise.
OK, I've ranted long enough. Monday we leave for a three-week camping trip through the South ending with Thanksgiving at relatives in Florida. For sixteen years, we had no vacations at all; now, we hit the road whenever we can. Have a good holiday , everyone.
Donna Hill
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