[nfbwatlk] *HAVE* the blind lost their way or their will? Never!

[Carl Jarvis]

Good morning Jedi and all wide awake debaters,
Jedi, you wrote, "...All that being said, how do you expect
for us to get employed when there's a question of our overall ability to
take care of ourselves?..."

And you have put your finger smack dab in the center of the issue.
While it is important to debate the impact or value of such innovations as 
audible traffic signals or identifiable paper currency, your question is the 
one we must solve.
And all I am trying to say is that to me, the solution does not hinge on 
what kinds of aids or accommodations we decide are appropriate for us.  What 
will bring us to equal status in our community must begin within ourselves. 
Teaching our brothers and sisters to believe that they are worthy and equal 
people.  And then, although a positive attitude goes a long way toward 
convincing others of our competency, it will take strong legislation, 
forcing the public to treat us as equals.  Acceptance comes much slower, but 
it will come.
Meanwhile, turning on ourselves and dumping on folks who do not agree with 
our beliefs does us far more harm than good.
Personally I do not support the concept that all traffic signals should be 
audible.  Maybe a few at particularly difficult crossings, but certainly not 
the coocoo and chirpchirp signals.
These signals do not assist those of us who have good travel skills.  And 
they do not assist the older or untrained folks, either.  Older blind people 
generally have additional age-related issues, and travel with companions. 
Those who try using the signals are often confused and can't remember 
whether to cross on the coocoo or the chirpchirp.
But audible traffic signals are not going to change the deep seated public 
attitudes about blindness.
The long white cane, our sign of independence, does not change the erroneous 
beliefs about blindness.  After all of the years we have been learning to 
function competently in our world we still face a 70 percent unemployment 
rate.
I am not suggesting that we forget trying to develop better tools.  We must 
stay current with the technology of the day.  But I am saying that this is 
not what will bring us to our place in the sun.
That day will only come when we believe in ourselves strongly enough that we 
forcibly take our proper place in society.
Meanwhile, at times our efforts may appear misguided to others.  In an open 
society this is often the case.  People are free to try many ideas, not all 
of them of much value.  But this does not make them evil, or bad, or stupid, 
or...
It makes them human.  Usually it means that they care.  Open debate then 
becomes very important.  By fairly debating issues, we tend to expand our 
thinking and educate one another.  Debate among equals is healthy.
That's all I'm trying to say.

Carl Jarvis