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

[tribble]

Actually one of the initial group of people who made it to Hollywood was 
blind in one eye. Does that count? I hope she is in the top 12 as I liked 
her performance and her attitude.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <powerst at dcpcepn.nci.nih.gov>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 2:20 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane 
andAmericanIdol


This is actually funny now.  Robert sounded so real and since American
Idal is actually going on, I thought it actually happened.  The fact
that the blind man was moving about and dancing and using his cane, lead
away from his blindness.  Singing, standing stock still, makes people
wonder.  When you sing, you also need to show some life, whether or not
your cane moves with you or not.  I hope some day, a blind person
actually makes it to The American Idal stage!

Terry Powers


-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Foret jr [mailto:rforetjr at comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 10:51 AM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane
andAmericanIdol

Wait!!!  no need to get all bent out of shape yet; you see, this is only
a hypothetical situation.  IN reality, there was a blind guy who did
attempt to appear before the judges I think back a couple of years ago;
but, as I understand it, he didn't even manage to get in to the audition
room; so, neither Randy, Paula nor the stuffed shirt Simon was able even
to see or hear him.  I have an unpleasant suspicion that they wouldn't
let a blind person on the show anyhow.  But why?  because of the lack of
visual stage presence.  What I mean by that is this.  Does the blind
person just stand there still and sing; or, does the person move around
and dance and all that?  You will notice that Robert has obviously dealt
with that question very directly in his thought provoker.  Read it
carefully, and you'll see that Robert has anticipated this very issue.
Obviously, the blind guy sure just doesn't just stand there and sing.
Let's give it some thought.  Do the judges pay more attention to how a
contestant looks or how they sound.  This is a sighted world; and,
whether we like it or not, how someone looks is almost more important
than any other consideration.  So, if you just stand there still and
sing, the chances are you're not  going to arouse any enthusiasm on the
part of either the judges or the audience.  As I understand it, there
was a young blind lady who did manage to appear before the judges, but,
it was her lack of visual stage presence that did her in; and, she never
even got in front of the  camera in the judging room.

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: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <powerst at dcpcepn.nci.nih.gov>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 9:30 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane
andAmericanIdol


Go Ray, go!
That is a discrace on the blind.  He has no right even saying anything
about the man's cane.  I missed that episode.  I did not even know we
had a blind person on the show.  I think he is the first and I am sure
glad we are finally represented.  I sure hope he stands up for his
rights.  His cane is his means of getting around.  It sure looks better
for the man to use a cane and be able to walk one the stage, alone, than
to have to have a sighted guide.  This reminds me of the airlines taking
away our canes.
If a singer had MS or CP..., would he have the nerve to take away their
walking cane?  I bet not, so why is he questioning a blind person using
a walking cane for navigation.  This could lead to a 508 case if it gets
out of hand.  In my opinion, he is being discriminated against and could
be taken to court.  I see he said nothing about that man with the real
long hair!

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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