[nfbwatlk] Target thinks blindness is a laughing matter:

[Rebekah Jakeman]

Dear Mike,

Agreed.  We choose our battles.  I think your point was well-stated.

Rebekah
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 7:24 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Target thinks blindness is a laughing matter:


> Fellow listers:
>
> I realize that Kay is mightily perturbed over this whole incident. Who
> can blame her? But let's get the emotion out of the discussion and look
> at this logically in light of NFB philosophy and in light of what might
> be effective. I realize that what I say next may not go down well with
> some of you. So be it; you elected me to lead and you have the power of
> the vote; my term is up this year. (grin)
>
> First, let's consider Lisa's suggestion that we go to the press
> concerning this incident. If Kay were sighted, would this incident have
> been worthy of press notice? I submit that the answer is a resounding
> NO! The press wouldn't give the time of day to someone who issued a
> press release saying they were laughed at or treated rudely at a store.
> The general response would be: if you don't like it, shop elsewhere!
> Then if this is true and given that we of NFB wish to be integrated into
> society on the basis of equality with the sighted and if we maintain
> that blindness is just another characteristic with which we must live
> and is nnot much more than a nuisance, do we *really* wish to be treated
> differentially with respect to blindness? I submit that the answer to
> this question, too, is a resounding NO. I further submit that
> complaining to the press about this would play on the sympathy card and
> in the end would accomplish a purpose quite contrary to that which we
> all want -- to be treated the same as everyone else. So I believe that
> trying to arrange a protest or get pres coverage of this incident is
> counterproductive at best.
>
> Now let's consider how effective a boycott might be. Yes, I know; we all
> grew up with knowledge of the glory days of civil rights when
> African-americans boycotted busses and other services. But in the
> instances where such boycotts were effective, African-americans were a
> majority of the customers of the entities being boycotted. That is not
> the situation here. Target has revenues of over $2 billion a year; any
> boycott we might arrange would be a drop -- not just in a bucket but in
> a thimble -- compared to this revenue. So it would be like spitting into
> the wind. It would be wasted effort. WE have enough discrimination
> problems so that we don't need to scatter our shots on ventures that are
> not likely to be effective.
>
> The one possible way I can see to protest Kay's treatment would be for
> her to file a complaint with the U.s. Department of Justice under Title
> III of the ADA alleging that she didn't receive reasonable
> accommodations in gaining access to the menu. But this is a long,
> drawn-out process and, I submit, not worth the bother.
>
> Am I saying that what happened to Kay was right? Of course not. Is it of
> sufficient gravity to make a Federal case out of? I don't think so.
> There's a lot in life that isn't right. But sometimes the best thing to
> do is to ignore it or, in this case, take one's business to a different
> store.
>
> The Serenity Prayer applies in spades!
>
> Now I'll put on my fire-resistant suit. <g>
>
> Mike Freeman, President
> NFB of Washington
>
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Owenblue2 at aol.com
>  To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>  Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 11:43 PM
>  Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Target thinks blindness is a laughing matter:
>
>
>  Ok; let's see how much they laugh if we boycott their stores and Pizza
> Hut
>  as well. I think you should go to the press. I am furious and mad as a
> hornet!
>  How dare they treat you this way!
>
>  Whatever you decide to do I support you all the way.
>
>  Lisa Owen
>
>
>
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>
>
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