[nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane andAmericanIdol

Tue Mar 11 11:21:25 CDT 2008

PS: You know a guide dog could easily be trained to do some kind of added 
tricks for the coriography. I think that would be interesting.  And I didn't 
mention in my last mail that I thought Simon had no business banning the 
cane, especially if the guy worked it into his act.
Now what about using echolocation on a stage like that -- I don't think that 
would work for some reason.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dianefilipe at peoplepc.com>
To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 11:10 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane 
andAmericanIdol

No telling what command I could give my dog (grin)!
Di
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E] powerst at dcpcepn.nci.nih.gov
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:31:32 -0400
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane
andAmericanIdol

I also wonder how he would respond if a blind person had a guide dog.  A
dog and cane are equal tools of blindness.

Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Foret jr [mailto:rforetjr at comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 8:23 AM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane and
AmericanIdol

Well, to me, this is a no brainer.  We all know, of course, that it's
respectable to be blind.  We all know that the white cane draws
attention to us, in one way or another; usually, we hope, a good way.
We know this, but, many sighted still do not know it.  The white cane
would, as a matter of fact, draw attention directly to the performer
rather than away from him.
Besides which, the white cane could be used as part of the appearance
aspect of his performance.  IF some female American Idol contestants
perform BAREFOOTED as part of their appearance or preference, (Kelly
Clarkson comes to mind) Why not the white cane for the hypothetical
blind performer?  As for Simon, well, that stuffed shirt doesn't seem to
like anything or any one; so, what can I say?

Just my $0.02 (Zero Dollars two cents) worth.

Sincerely yours,
The Constantly Barefooted,
Ray
Home phone and fax:
(985)360-3375
E-mail:
rforetjratcomcastdotnet
Skype Name:
barefootedray

God bless President George W. Bush!
God bless our troops!
and God bless America
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "nfbtalk" <NFB-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 9:16 PM
Subject: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane and American
Idol

NFBtalk members
RE:  White Cane and American Idol

Simon, Paula and Randy are faced with judging if a white cane is a
detractor
to the performance of the first blind American Idol contestant. See if
you
agree with their Judgment. fellow judges 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 131
White Cane and American Idol

White cane arching, swaying, at times twirling like a baton in his
fingers,
the young blind man belted out his vocals and danced in rhythm to the
driving beat of the stage band and supporting voices of the backup
singers,
all part of his well rehearsed number for the audience and judges of
American Idol, the hit television show. The competition was in the third
week, eight contestants had already been eliminated, four in each of the
proceeding two weeks. This week four more, two males and two females
would
be voted off, sent home by America's voting audience.

The live audience responded enthusiastically, obviously having liked the
young blind man's rendition of the eighties rock tune. The radiant smile
and
confident movement of the young man on stage told the watcher that the
singer felt he'd given a good performance.

"Check it out! Check it out! Dog!" Loudly proclaimed Randy, the first of
the
three judges standing on his feet, bent arms waving the beat, looking
excited and pleased. "That was hot! That is what we saw in you from the
first tune you sang in front of us.  it's the enthusiasm of delivery,
good
clear tone, and the way you handle yourself. Dog! Good song choice--that
was
perfect for you. I liked that! This was the best performance of the
night!"
Randy was beaming so hard, he could have been an ad for toothpaste.

Paula was next, face beaming, still standing where she had risen to
dance
behind her chair, "Brent, that was a stunning performance; great vocals!
Your parents. who are in the audience, can be proud of you. You looked
natural up there; you had the audience loving you! And hey, you can
dance!
We hadn't seen that in your earlier performances.  You looked good; you
need
to do more of that. I think you are going to be in the final twelve and
the
other singers will have to work hard to beat this performance."  She sat
down, tilting her head and raising her eyebrows to check what the
persnickety judge on her right was going to say.

The cameras shifted to the final judge. He had sat, arms crossed, taking
in
Brent's performance with his usual critical eye and half smile.  With
serious tone and British-accented speech, Simon began one of his
infamous,
well known intros to an evaluation of a singer's performance. "To be
honest
with you, I have mixed feelings about you." The audience erupted with
hoots
and jeering in response to the judge they loved to hate. "Wait a minute,
wait a minute, let me have my say." And with the return of quiet to the
hall, Simon addressed the now unsmiling, serious young singer. "On the
positive side, I think you actually are one of the top two voices in the
competition." The audience responded favorably but quieted down quickly,
knowing that Simon had more to say. "But my problem is." Simon's
eyebrows
came together as he frowned in concentration.

"Ah, what? The ever eloquent Simon is lost for words!" blustered Randy.

Turning a serious face to his fellow judge, Simon answered, "Well, we've
never before had a blind contestant and I'm struggling with how to
phrase my
comment." Abruptly turning back to the waiting performer, face
determined,
Simon continued, "Brent, I will not treat you any different, I owe you
that,
and I'm going to tell you what the problem is. It is . as we tell you
all,
in this business you have to be believable. And in your special case,
you
have to be acceptable." The audience reacts, Randy and Paula's voices
add to
the storm of protest and Simon has to again pause. "Now wait a minute,
wait!
Let me finish. Hear what I've got to say." With order restored, Simon
went
on, "I did not say a blind singer would not be acceptable! As everyone
else
here, I'm aware of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, and other blind
musicians
who have made it in professional music. But there's a difference at work
here. Now what my problem is--I said your vocals were one of the best,
but
on stage I believe you will have to lose that white stick. It was .
annoying; it kept drawing the eye, taking the focus off of where it
should
be, on the singer. Sorry, the stick is not compatible with being an
Idol."
THOUGHT PROVOKER 131
White Cane and American Idol

White cane arching, swaying, at times twirling like a baton in his
fingers,
the young blind man belted out his vocals and danced in rhythm to the
driving beat of the stage band and supporting voices of the backup
singers,
all part of his well rehearsed number for the audience and judges of
American Idol, the hit television show. The competition was in the third
week, eight contestants had already been eliminated, four in each of the
proceeding two weeks. This week four more, two males and two females
would
be voted off, sent home by America's voting audience.

The live audience responded enthusiastically, obviously having liked the
young blind man's rendition of the old rhythm and blues classic. The
radiant
smile and confident movement of the young man on stage told the watcher
that
the singer felt he'd given a good performance.

"Check it out! Check it out! Dog!" Loudly proclaimed Randy, the first of
the
three judges standing on his feet, bent arms waving the beat, looking
excited and pleased. "That was hot! That is what we saw in you from the
first tune you sang in front of us.  it's the enthusiasm of delivery,
good
clear tone, and the way you handle yourself. Dog! Good song choice--that
was
perfect for you. I liked that! This was the best performance of the
night!"
Randy was beaming so hard, he could have been an ad for toothpaste.

Paula was next, face beaming, still standing where she had risen to
dance
behind her chair, "Brent, that was a stunning performance; great vocals!
Your parents. who are in the audience, can be proud of you. You looked
natural up there; you had the audience loving you! And hey, you can
dance!
We hadn't seen that in your earlier performances.  You looked good; you
need
to do more of that. I think you are going to be in the final twelve and
the
other singers will have to work hard to beat this performance."  She sat
down, tilting her head and raising her eyebrows to check what the
persnickety judge on her right was going to say.

The cameras shifted to the final judge. He had sat, arms crossed, taking
in
Brent's performance with his usual critical eye and half smile.  With
serious tone and British-accented speech, Simon began one of his
infamous,
well known intros to an evaluation of a singer's performance. "To be
honest
with you, I have mixed feelings about you." The audience erupted with
hoots
and jeering in response to the judge they loved to hate. "Wait a minute,
wait a minute, let me have my say." And with the return of quiet to the
hall, Simon addressed the now unsmiling, serious young singer. "On the
positive side, I think you actually are one of the top two voices in the
competition." The audience responded favorably but quieted down quickly,
knowing that Simon had more to say. "But my problem is." Simon's
eyebrows
came together as he frowned in concentration.

"Ah, what? The ever eloquent Simon is lost for words!" blustered Randy.

Turning a serious face to his fellow judge, Simon answered, "Well, we've
never before had a blind contestant and I'm struggling with how to
phrase my
comment." Abruptly turning back to the waiting performer, face
determined,
Simon continued, "Brent, I will not treat you any different, I owe you
that,
and I'm going to tell you what the problem is. It is . as we tell you
all,
in this business you have to be believable. And in your special case,
you
have to be acceptable." The audience reacts, Randy and Paula's voices
add to
the storm of protest and Simon has to again pause. "Now wait a minute,
wait!
Let me finish. Hear what I've got to say." With order restored, Simon
went
on, "I did not say a blind singer would not be acceptable! As everyone
else
here, I'm aware of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, and other blind
musicians
who have made it in professional music. But there's a difference at work
here. Now what my problem is--I said your vocals were one of the best,
but
on stage I believe you will have to lose that white stick. It was .
annoying; it kept drawing the eye, taking the focus off of where it
should
be, on the singer. Sorry, the stick is not compatible with being an
Idol."

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

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