In a message to All dated 10 Jan 97 09:09, Alan & Ruth Anne Wheeler- wrote:
 A&> How about a *genuine* apology instead
 A&> of an attitude of "I don't care"?
 A&> It would have been *nice* had he
 A&> acknowledged that something wrong was
 A&> done.  Instead, the store manager had a sense of apathy.
Now waaaaaait a minute, here.  I have remained silent until this 
point on this thread as I thought the responses of others were 
perfectly adequate.  No longer.  I realize that this sort of 
incident bugs the hell out of most blind persons -- at least those 
who have decided, whether secretly or openly, to not accept the 
second-class inferior status that society often afflicts the blind 
with (note that *this* is the *real* affliction of blindness!).  
But frankly, it seems to me that you've got a rather large chip on 
your shoulder here.  You said in your earlier post that the 
manager said he'd had problems with that particular cart boy and 
would speak to him.  What more would you have him do?  Grovel?  
Why should the sighted grovel any more than should the blind?  
And how can you genuinely say the man was not sincere?  In fact, 
the cart boy was sincere.  That's the real bummer -- that people 
discriminate without even knowing it and, often as not, out of 
kindness.  Relax, man!  You can still offer the manager and/or 
store personnel NFB publications -- hell, you could put some 
Kernel books in amongst the tabloids (with permission, of course)!  
And you don't have to frequent that particular store.  The grocery 
business is sufficiently competetive that if the manager's 
attitude is as bad as you say it'll carry over to his regular 
customers and the store will be out of business in short order!
 A&> I have noticed, that in the Midwest,
 A&> blind people are treated like dirt.
I have not lived in the MIdwest so I cannot verify the truth of 
this.  However, in my numerous visits, I've noticed nothing of the 
kind.  Could it be that you might just possibly be wearing a "kick 
me" sign, even if unintentionally?
I realize this post is blunt.  It is not meant unkindly.  But we 
blind persons face dscriminations large and small every day.  If 
we are to keep our sanity, we must sort out which matter and 
which, while acknowledged and filed away for citation when someone 
says there isn't any discrimination against the blind, can be 
more-or-less ignored because there are easy ways around them.  As 
I say, chill out!  This too shall pass.
MIke Freeman
Internet: mikef@pacifier.com
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