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Being blind has nothing to do with physical strength. You wouldn’t want a physically capable blind person sitting in an exit row, but you wouldn’t mind someone with an anxiety disorder, or someone who is drunk? After all, they can still see, and they should be completely capable, right?

That’s the problem with things like this movie. People’s preconceived notions are enhanced by obvious fallacies. You already assume you know what the blind are capable of, and so you might find some truth in the helplessness the movie displays.

I respectfully disagree with both of your assertions.

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Hey Ryan, I don’t want someone that is blind, deaf (they don’t hear the announcements or the alerting system), or in a wheelchair sitting in the exit row of a plane. It is a matter of “the stronger and fitter” are the ones to open that heavy door and throw it out of the way so the rest of us can get out of the fricking plane. That is why they look you over at the airport check-in if you have a pre-assigned seat in the emergency exit row (i.e., you selected your seat on-line). That’s why we don’t see parents with children and older people in the emergency row. So yeah Ryan, it isn’t a matter of “social problem” it is a matter of survival, and let’s face it, someone that is blind, deaf, or uses a wheelchair is not going to be able to save the lives of everyone. It sucks, I know, but that’s the way it is and if I was blind, deaf, or in a wheelchair I wouldn’t want that responsibility either.

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The stereotype here is helplessness. It’s the same one that contributes to things like the FAA rule that blind people can’t sit in exit rows on airplanes.

I realize this is getting a bit far afield here, but I have to point out that people in exit rows don’t have to pass any kind of stress test beyond “if you’re uncomfortable sitting in an exit row…”, and they can even be served alcohol, but blind people (who might just be pretty talented in situations where sight is limited) are not legally allowed to sit there.

It’s the impression of helplessness we’re trying to quell.

As for the comparison between blindness and dark skin, it’s not a matter of ability so much as it is of demographic. If we made a movie about how everyone suddenly turned blac, and consequently started stealing things, mugging people, and being locked away in prisons to protect the white population, a lot of people would be pissed. Even if we claimed it was a metaphor aimed at exposing the savage nature of man, many people would probably call it hate speech.

I totally agree with you about the influence of art on belief, though. After all, what is art if not a vehicle for social change?

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It is not true that people can seperate life from art, no matter how smart they are. Certain stereotypes in books, movies, magazines or commercials are so persistent that they do influence the way we see the world. Why do you think gender studies has been so important? Deconstructing stereotypes in pop culture is very important and necessary.

I am in the dark (no pun intended) about what stereotypes you are referring to, Sarah32? I wasn’t aware that blind people were stigmatized into being crazy savage people who poop in hallways. And yes, I fear blindness (though not actively. I mean, I don’t go around all day “fearing blindness”. Now THAT would be a handicap!). I am aware of the fact that most blind people get around just fine, but it’s just easier if you’re not blind! I don’t get how that is offensive??
I hope I will never lose my sight, or my hearing or use of my legs! (knock on wood)

By the way, nice to compare being blind with having a darker skin. Do I really have to explain the difference to you? I wouldn’t mind turning black, but suddenly turning blind would probably have me in a fit.

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I will not regale you with lofty, poor me tales of discrimination and unfair treatment; it’s not becoming, and serves very little purpose. However, I hope you will also keep a few things in mind:

1: In a study done some years ago (I wish I could find the direct link at the moment), it was determined that blindness ranked in the top five fears of Americans. People are most definitely scared to go blind, and because of that fear, the film’s shock factor goes way up.

2: There are a lot of misinformed people out there, and sad as it might be, many of those misinformed people are the ones making major decisions in this world. A friend of my sister’s once said to me, “It’s so weird that we met today, because I was just thinking about going blind this morning. I was in the shower, and I wanted to see what it was like to be blind, so I closed my eyes while I was shampooing my hair, and got so scared I had to open them again. It must really be tough for you.” This lady is a supervisor at a major fundraising firm in my hometown.

Was the comment laughable? Absolutely. When she was gone, both my sister and I had a huge laugh about it, but the fact is: it was there, and this woman was serious.

I have had it assumed that I don’t dream, and that I can’t tell if it’s raining when I step outside. I have been told that it must be easy to be blind, because I don’t have to care what I look like. (as anyone who has ever had a job interview must know, that’s just not true). I have been told that it must be nice to have people to help me, and that I should definitely marry someone sighted so that she can take care of me.

The fact is: people just don’t know about blindness, and for those people who don’t know, and are–at the same time–impressionable, this movie will perpetuate some of those negative stereotypes.

I understand that we–all of us–live in a world designed for the sighted. In a world where everyone suddenly went blind, everyone would be helpless. No one could run electrical instruments in power plants, no one could drive delivery trucks, no one could run the complex visual machinery needed for mass communication. It is because of this social collapse that the world would be plunged into hysterics, and for the purpose of this movie, blindness is just icing on the anarchy cake.

You people get that. You wouldn’t be so up-in-arms about the protest if you weren’t. But understand that you’re also not the only people out there, and that not everyone else may be as enlightened. I don’t mean this sarcastically. I read the book; in some sections, it scared me completely, but the blindness wasn’t part of it. I was scared because I don’t want to imagine living in a post-apocalyptic world where society has completely collapsed.

At the same time, though, I can’t read this book without considering the fact that some of it is just plain awful. Consider the following quote–and yes, I did take it from a Braille version of the book, thank you.

“he was still hesitating between curiosity and discretion, when his wife put the question directly, What is your name, Blind people do not need a name, I am my voice, nothing else matters,”

If this was just a movie and a book about social collapse, why would you write that?

The blind in this book are likened to dogs and pigs, and referenced in various sections as looking humorous or ridiculous. I can’t help but take umbrage at that. I know that in the wake of hurricane Katrina, there were people who acted like beasts, but they weren’t categorized by race or sex.

The reason I protested, and the reason I am so against this film is that I don’t want people believing any of this, and having had the experiences I have, I know that some will. Some will see the difference and understand the theme, but others will not, and they will assume that much of what this film portrays about blind people is true. I love art, but I don’t like being the scapegoat for it.

Closing things:

If you think I’m full of it, by all means, give me a good ribbing. I want to spark discussion and thought, but I’m also open-minded, so feel free to take the gloves off.

If any of you would like to discuss this further, or would like to even talk about things not related to blindness, feel free to contact me via AIM at rstrunk83, or MSN or email r_strunk@hotmail.com. I think that open, honest discourse is the best way to get to the bottom of anything of this sort, and I hope that you will take me up on my offer.

And just to show that I’m not over-sensitive:

How do you tell a blind guy at a nudist colony?

It’s not hard.

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If you’re wondering about Don McKeller, check out Last Night and the Red Violin. LOVE HIM!!!!!

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I know that the overwhelming opinion here are that the movie is not about blindness, it’s about suddenly dealing with unanticipated limitations. Blindness is the tool used to illustrate that. It’s easy for those of us with sight to gripe about the lack of perspective of the NFB, but try to imagine what it’s like to have misconceptions and limitations constantly heaped upon you. And then have to deal with a stupid movie making morons think that you can’t eat pudding on your own. (And there are people out there that are that stupid.)

I’m not saying that the NFB is right, but I can understand their concerns.

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