[nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #126- On Stage

[Robert Leslie Newman]

NFBtalk
RE:  On Stage 

THOUGHT PROVOKER #126 is one specially written to be used for discussion
during my up coming trip to Turkey as a member of a group of professionals
in rehabilitation of the blind; 10/12-11/7. The group going are members of a
non-profit called BLIND CORPS; the web address for this group is
http://blindcorps.org 

The actions of the blind people within this TP are based upon information
given to me by blind citizens from Turkey and represent behaviors they say
are not uncommon within their country and are ones that they would like to
address with the intent of fostering a positive change. They would like to
know if we engage in these behaviors and/or what we would think about in
terms of what these actions might cause within the blind person themselves
or within the minds of the general sighted public. 

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 126
On Stage

"Rain! What a mess!" Emin said, hand on the doorknob, white cane standing
upright at his side, his apartment door half open. It was Tuesday morning.
The forecasts had mentioned the possibility of rain, "a chance of scattered
showers" is how the announcer had predicted the weather for today.   When
his alarm rang, when he prepared to go to work, nothing, no sign of rain.
But now he had to decide what to do. "Ah well, ." he said aloud, "here we
are, there is no option, I will have to go in late." He hoped this shower
would be of a short duration.  If it ran too long, it could ruin his
project's timing at work and his after work evening plans, the concert with
friends. Speaking aloud again, "What shall be, will be." 

Two hours later, Emin's supervisor came over to where Emin was just
preparing his workstation for the day. "Good day to you, Emin!  Well, except
for the weather," he laughed.  "That was a nasty rain we had.  Staff were
all mud-spattered and bedraggled when they first came in. You were wise to
miss it." 

Later that afternoon, his friend Ameenah passed by and exclaimed, "Emin, you
are still here! You will miss your ride? Better let me shutdown your
computer and you run!" Her next words were spoken in such a way that Emin
knew she looked down at her wristwatch as she spoke. "There is time for me
to help you get to the bus stop fast and get back if that would help?"
Emin's leaving each workday one half hour before all other staff was a known
and accepted fact.  Otherwise the bus which came after the normal closing
time would mean he must wait for a half hour. 

"Oh no, thank you! No I have not lost track of the time. I am purposefully
staying longer today. I have plans to attend a concert this evening and so
right after work I will meet up with two of my friends for dinner. Later we
will bus to the concert hall. So I thank you for being concerned for me."

Two hours later, at the restaurant Emin spoke to his companions, Miriam and
Aladdin. "We need to hurry you two!" This dinner has taken much, much too
long.  I am sure we will miss our bus!"

At the bus stop, Aladdin said, "There goes our bus! Oh well, we will take
the next one and will make it just before the first notes."  And with the
arrival of the next bus, the three friends hurriedly mounted the steps. The
driver seeing that they were blind did not question them as they moved past
the fare box and found seats.

Arriving at the concert center, the friends again hurried. They were not the
only last minute arrivals.  There was a long line of people waiting to pay
and be seated. 

"Please, pass us by!" "Go to the front of the line, be our guests!" Several
people in the line spoke up as soon as the three blind friends showed up at
the end of the line. And giving their thanks, the friends moved toward the
head of the queue. 

Along the way to the front, Emin's cane tapped the leg of a young man who
was unaware of people coming up behind him and as he turned to say something
to the person who had so rudely bumped him, his companion grabbed him by the
elbow, hissing in his ear, "Step back, let them pass; they are blind." 

At the ticket window, the three friends paid their fees and were shown in.
The two ushers got them to their seats just as the first notes sounded.




Robert Leslie Newman
E-Mail- newmanrl at cox.net
Web Site- thoughtprovoker.info

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New THOUGHT PROVOKER #126- On Stage
NFBtalk
RE:  On Stage
THOUGHT PROVOKER #126 is one specially written to be used for discussion during my up coming trip to Turkey as a member of a group of professionals in rehabilitation of the blind; 10/12-11/7. The group going are members of a non-profit called BLIND CORPS; the web address for this group is
http://blindcorps.org
http://blindcorps.org
The actions of the blind people within this TP are based upon information given to me by blind citizens from Turkey and represent behaviors they say are not uncommon within their country and are ones that they would like to address with the intent of fostering a positive change. They would like to know if we engage in these behaviors and/or what we would think about in terms of what these actions might cause within the blind person themselves or within the minds of the general sighted public.
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
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 126
On Stage
"Rain! What a mess!" Emin said, hand on the doorknob, white cane standing upright at his side, his apartment door half open. It was Tuesday morning.  The forecasts had mentioned the possibility of rain, "a chance of scattered showers" is how the announcer had predicted the weather for today.   When his alarm rang, when he prepared to go to work, nothing, no sign of rain. But now he had to decide what to do. "Ah well, …" he said aloud, "here we are, there is no option, I will have to go in late." He hoped this shower would be of a short duration.  If it ran too long, it could ruin his project’s timing at work and his after work evening plans, the concert with friends. Speaking aloud again, "What shall be, will be."
Two hours later, Emin's supervisor came over to where Emin was just preparing his workstation for the day. "Good day to you, Emin!  Well, except for the weather,” he laughed.  “That was a nasty rain we had.  Staff were all mud-spattered and bedraggled when they first came in. You were wise to miss it."
Later that afternoon, his friend Ameenah passed by and exclaimed, "Emin, you are still here! You will miss your ride? Better let me shutdown your computer and you run!" Her next words were spoken in such a way that Emin knew she looked down at her wristwatch as she spoke. "There is time for me to help you get to the bus stop fast and get back if that would help?" Emin's leaving each workday one half hour before all other staff was a known and accepted fact.  Otherwise the bus which came after the normal closing time would mean he must wait for a half hour.
"Oh no, thank you! No I have not lost track of the time. I am purposefully staying longer today. I have plans to attend a concert this evening and so right after work I will meet up with two of my friends for dinner. Later we will bus to the concert hall. So I thank you for being concerned for me."
Two hours later, at the restaurant Emin spoke to his companions, Miriam and Aladdin. "We need to hurry you two!" This dinner has taken much, much too long.  I am sure we will miss our bus!"
At the bus stop, Aladdin said, "There goes our bus! Oh well, we will take the next one and will make it just before the first notes."  And with the arrival of the next bus, the three friends hurriedly mounted the steps. The driver seeing that they were blind did not question them as they moved past the fare box and found seats.
Arriving at the concert center, the friends again hurried. They were not the only last minute arrivals.  There was a long line of people waiting to pay and be seated.
"Please, pass us by!" "Go to the front of the line, be our guests!" Several people in the line spoke up as soon as the three blind friends showed up at the end of the line. And giving their thanks, the friends moved toward the head of the queue.
Along the way to the front, Emin's cane tapped the leg of a young man who was unaware of people coming up behind him and as he turned to say something to the person who had so rudely bumped him, his companion grabbed him by the elbow, hissing in his ear, "Step back, let them pass; they are blind."
At the ticket window, the three friends paid their fees and were shown in.  The two ushers got them to their seats just as the first notes sounded.
Robert Leslie Newman
E-Mail- newmanrl at cox.net
Web Site- thoughtprovoker.info