[Nfb-seniors] There's Nothing 'Super' About It

[Paul Leung]

...hear hear hear...
Everett, well said and all truth.
Paul Leung

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Everett Gavel
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 7:15 AM
To: NFB Senior Division list
Subject: [Nfb-seniors] There's Nothing 'Super' About It

Hello "Pink," and All,

Pink, please, stop being so silly.  There is nothing 
"super" about it.  It's common-sense, or, common 
senses.

Horseback riding is as easy as you let it be, as are 
many of the other things you share with sarcasm below. 
If you could get past the wall of sarcasm you have put 
up as one of your defenses, you might actually get to 
enjoy life a little.  But as long as you keep putting 
blindness first, and making it the showstopper you seem 
to, it will of course hold you back.  Just as a bum leg 
might, or a wheelchair might, or being a girl rather 
than a guy might, for some people.  Whatever you let 
hold you back, surely will.  It is not blindness that 
stops you from giving it a go.  It's one's atitude, 
plain and simple.  If you want something bad enough, 
you'll find a way to get it, or to achieve it.  But 
everyone reading this knows, as do you, that it's of 
course much simpler, easier, to sit back and share 
sarcasm about it instead.  Talking is always easier 
than trying.  That's not NFB-jargon or hype.  That's a 
simple reality.

Now, Pink, for the record, there are many blind people 
that are equestrian fanatics and enthusiasts around the 
world.  There are many in our own nation of course, but 
if you go to www.BlindCoolTech.com, I believe you can 
listen to a podcast from a blind man in Africa who has 
his own horse farm.

If you ever choose to begin simply reading up a little 
more on your own rather than wasting time sharing silly 
sarcasm, I recommend starting with the numerous 
articles that come through the Blind News Mailing List 
at http://geoffandwen.com/blind/ - there you'll find 
more than 22,000 archived articles sharing the simple 
truths of blindness with you, with more being published 
in newspapers and magazines almost daily.  And it's not 
an NFB list, I'm sure you'll be happy to hear.  It's 
simply a list that appears to aggregate all articles 
published, which positively or negatively discuss any 
aspect of blindness.

By reading up a little, you'll find there are of course 
blind pilots out there flying, blind sailors out there 
sailing--including one down in the Ft. Myers, Florida 
region that is planning a round-the-world solo-sailing 
trip as we now speak.  He is also a blind, certified, 
scuba diver.

Additionally, Pink, the United States Association of 
Blind Athletes (USABA) can teach you about many of the 
sports you sarcastically mention wishing you could play 
as a blind person.  As I said, the only thing holding 
you back, holding us back, is our attitude, truly.

At www.usaba.org, you can learn about the sports and 
players playing: Athletics, Cycling, Goalball, Judo, 
Powerlifting, downhill and cross-country skiing, 
Swimming, Wrestling, and Football.  There are also 
"Emerging Athlete Training Camps," if interested. 
USABA also offers beginner camps for those interested 
in learning how to ski, how to play goalball, and how 
to start cycling.

As for golfing, I could teach you that, though I'm a 
bit of a slacker and my game is definitely not one 
worth teaching these days.  But there are plenty of 
golfers who are blind.  I hope that one day you'll be 
one of them.  There are whole associations devoted to 
blind golfers.

I don't consider this message a waste of time, even 
though I doubt you'll take it seriously.  I'm writing 
this more for the many others who will be able to read 
this for years to come thanks to the Internet, Pink. 
But maybe, just maybe, God will enlighten you a bit 
too.  I'm praying for it.  As for fishing, that's just 
too simple to really deserve a response.  Why would you 
think a blind person could not fish?  Do you also need 
help finding the TP after you go to the bathroom?  I 
mean, seriously, come on.  You do *not* need sight for 
many things people just assume you do, before they 
actually use some common sense and think about the 
processes involved.  I get this from 3rd and 4th 
Graders all the time when talking with them in their 
classrooms.  They ask, how do you feed yourself?  Or 
how do you find your way around your house?  From them 
I expect it.  They're kids and they're learning.  But 
from you it's pure sarcasm and a lack of understanding. 
More pointedly, a lack of wanting to understand. 
Fishing is fishing, Pink.  You don't need to see the 
hook and the weight, or the bobber if using one, to 
know which is which.  You don't need to see the shrimp 
down in the water to grab one and hook it.  You don't 
need to see the fish under the water to catch 
it--though many do 'cheat' and use those fish-finders. 
(smile)

As for reading details on any document, such as the 
contracts you mention, either find yourself a 'reader' 
to help, or scan them into a computer and read them 
yourself.  There's not a scanner out there I don't 
believe, that doesn't come with free OCR text-to-speech 
software included.  As for that, though, and needing a 
reader, all my life I've heard recommendations for 
people to bring them to their lawyers anyway.  So 
there's a reader for you, sighted or blind.  (smile)

Now, as for saling, sailing can be taught to you, as it 
is many other blind individuals, at places like the 
Cleveland Sight Center (www.clevelandsightcenter.org). 
At the CSC it is taught each Spring on Lake Erie.  I 
know it's also taught at other facilities, to blind 
people, around the nation.

It's not so hard, for one that wants to learn a little, 
and live a little.  It is going to be harder, of 
course, for those persons who choose to stay at home 
and merely share sarcasm and negativity by phone or via 
e-mail.  Make the right choice, Pink.  Make the better 
choice.  And God bless your efforts.


To A More Fulfilling, Enjoyable Life!
Everett
www.everettgavel.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <pinkhawaii at gmail.com>

> Dear very few answering members. Congratulations that 
> you overcame your
> blindness and became better than the sighted!
> Maybe you can teach me to play tennis or golf again, 
> to get my pilots
> license back, even to get my drivers license back 
> would be a great help,
> teach me how to use my sail boat again or go surfing, 
> scuba diving and
> fishing. I like to go skiing again or go horseback 
> riding, to write
> contracts and read the fine print, to go hunting or 
> just finding a nice girl
> friend who does not mind my blindness and being hard 
> of hearing. Please let
> me see an Opera, an Operetta,  or just  enjoy any 
> show or movie again. I
> enjoyed sled riding, Ice skating, ping pong and 
> volley ball. I did all of
> that quite well, but now I must find a super teacher 
> from the NFB like
> YOU!!! Who pays you to spread those rumors of our 
> blind capability,
> enpowerment and blind superiority!!!
>

_______________________________________________
Nfb-seniors mailing list
Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors