Barbara.Akin@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (02/23/90)
Index Number: 6906
Hi all, thought I'd throw this out here, and see what kind of thoughts I
get back from anyone who might be interested in replying to this post.
My Pastor is giving a sermon on the man who was born blind, in the next
three to four weeks or so. He asked me if he could interview me for about
5 minutes durring the sermon.
I said yes, he could. Now, here is my concern--although I know my Pastor
well, and he knows me as well, I still have Some concerns about being up
there as "the blind woman" rather than being a woman who Happens to be
blind.
There is a world of difference between the two as I'm sure you all know.
I plan to first write a letter to my Pastor explaining to him that it is
lonely as hell to be thought of as "the blind woman" rather than as the
person I am. I do Not want to be interviewed as a blind person. I want to
be interviewed as a person who deals with the dissability of blindness,
and that blindness is Not the main issue in my life. It is important to
me that people see the woman first, and the disability second.
I want to make this letter as honest and real as posible and I certainly
do not want to be offensive in the way I write it.
But, in the past, unfortuneately, when having been placed in an
interviewing type of posision, the interviewer has kept asking me about
blindness, and focusing solely on that. I want to get the message across
that while I am blind, I am much more than "that blind woman."
I know you all know what I mean here. Any thoughts from this echo would
be of help. Thanks in advance.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460!Barbara.Akin
Internet: Barbara.Akin@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.orgRon.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Rothenberg) (02/24/90)
Index Number: 6938
BA> interviewer has kept asking me about blindness, and focusing
BA> solely on that. I want to get the message across that while I
BA> am blind, I am much more than "that blind woman." I know you
Hi Barb,
Interviewing is a two-way street. Give him a copy of your eloquent
posting before you begin.
Put a 'spin' on the interview, and let him know what you want him to
know. It will probably make for a much better sermon, anyway.
-rsr-
... We are all in this together -- by ourselves. - Lily Tomlin
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460!Ron.Rothenberg
Internet: Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.orgFloria.Antin@f304.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Floria Antin) (02/24/90)
Index Number: 6940 > But, in the past, unfortuneately, when having been placed in an > interviewing type of posision, the interviewer has kept asking me > about blindness, and focusing solely on that. I want to get the > message across that while I am blind, I am much more than "that blind > woman." I know you all know what I mean here. Any thoughts from this > echo would be of help. Thanks in advance. I think you expressed your felings very well, why not write a very similar letter to your pastor making exactly the same points you made in your post here. Your post was forthright but in no way offensive. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!304!Floria.Antin Internet: Floria.Antin@f304.n109.z1.fidonet.org
Jack.O'keeffe.Of.129/26@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe Of 129/26) (02/24/90)
Index Number: 6943
Hi, Barbara:
What a wonderful opportunity you have to express the very thoughts
and feelings you so eloquently stated here.
BA> interviewer has kept asking me about blindness, and focusing
BA> solely on that. I want to get the message across that while I
BA> am blind, I am much more than "that blind woman." I know you
BA> all know what I mean here. Any thoughts from this echo would be
BA> of help. Thanks in advance.
What you do is what the politicians and other expert interviewees
do. Just because a question is asked, you don't have to answer it.
When he pauses for your answer, just say "Yes, but ...." and talk
about the wonderful person that you are. You can change the subject.
You are in control more so than he is. I wish you all the best.
Jack.
... Xpress Yourself!
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe.Of.129/26
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe.Of.129/26@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.orgPat.Goltz@f3.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Pat Goltz) (02/27/90)
Index Number: 6963
Interesting, about your pastor wanting to interview you during a sermon
on the man born blind. My only question would be how that would further
the spiritual truths he has to get across to the congregation!
I suggest you meet with him in advance and make your position clear,
and if you are not satisfied, tell him that you wouldn't feel comfortable
being interviewed, and that you have to look out after your ability to be
accepted by the members of his congregation as a fellow human being.
Pat
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!3!Pat.Goltz
Internet: Pat.Goltz@f3.n300.z1.fidonet.orgRobert.Norstrand@f8.n10.z1.fidonet.org (Robert Norstrand) (02/27/90)
Index Number: 6964 Barbara, just tell him that you are a woman first and formost. If he takes offense at that then he has a problem and shouldn't be a minister. And if he dwells too much on your blindness during the interview let him know that you resednt it. After all, it IS your right to view yourself the way you want and expect others to view you in the same way. Good luck. Let us know how it goes. We would like to know. # Origin: The Magic RBBS, Lakeland, FL (813) 688-8151 (1:137/600) (8:925/10) --
Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (02/28/90)
Index Number: 6990
Hi Robert, I don't think he would deliberately put me in an unfavorable
light. Its just that I think that often sighted persons never stop to
even Think about what it would feel like to be constantly viewed as
disabled first, and a person second.
They have never been in that situation, and so they do much of what they
do out of total unawareness, or just plain ignorance.
However, I do agree whole heartedly with you that it is up to me to let
others know how I want to be seen----and I certainly Will!!!
I am now in the proccess of composing a letter I want my pastor to read
before he even finishes preparing the sermon.
Thank you for your support in this!
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15!Barbara.Akin
Internet: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.orgBarbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (02/28/90)
Index Number: 6991
Pat, those were my thoughts EXACTLY!!! Really, we are speaking about
spiritual trugths here, and I guess the only real benifit of myself being
up there being interviewed is that I will focus on the fact that Christ
ALWAYS saw the person first.
He did NOT see "the blind man" he saw the PERSON of that man! So, if THAT
truth gets across, then my being there will be of benefit. I plan to
state loud and clear, that Christ always did, and Does look at people,
Not disabilities!
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15!Barbara.Akin
Internet: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.orgStephen.White@p1.f853.n681.z3.fidonet.org (Stephen White) (03/02/90)
Index Number: 7027 > interviewing type of posision, the interviewer has kept asking me about > blindness, and focusing solely on that. I want to get the message across > that while I am blind, I am much more than "that blind woman." > I know you all know what I mean here. Any thoughts from this echo would > be of help. Thanks in advance. Oh you can always twist the answer around to include what you want. "Are you blind?" "No, but I have the slight problem in that my eyes seem to think they're in a dark room." If you want to try and recover your sight, stand next to a wall the next time an earthquake comes around. Worked for a woman in Newcastle! Steve! -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!3!681!853.1!Stephen.White Internet: Stephen.White@p1.f853.n681.z3.fidonet.org