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From: cmfaltz@phoenix.princeton.edu (Christine Marie Faltz)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: why blink?
Message-ID: <15048@handicap.news>
Date: 19 Apr 91 20:16:32 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com
Reply-To: cmfaltz@phoenix.princeton.edu (Christine Marie Faltz)
Organization: Princeton University
Lines: 29
Approved: wtm@hnews.fidonet.org
Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 15048

	I am relatively new to this news group, and I may be reopening
an issue without knowing it, but I would appreciate responses.
	I am ot happy with the names "blinklink" or "blinktalk" since I
have, along with most of my blind friends (and enemies!) always viewed
"blink" as a pejorative term, analogous to "nigger" for
African-Americans or "kike" for Jews.  Such terms offend me to a great
extent.  
	The names of the cmoputer nets are not the real problem; I can
accept it, with a little trouble.  But I have been noticing that many of
the blind members of the conference use the word "blink" interchangeably
with "blind people," "blind person/man/woman/child".  I find this
offensive, insulting,--and, if anyone does, orhas, argued that it is a
"bonding" word,--I feel it is infantile.  We share enough negativity;
let's respect each other enough to beproud of what we are--people who
justhappen to be blind.  There is no reason to hide behind a cute,
colloquial term that offends many people.  I am a blind person--a
capable, independent, attractive, intelligent blind person.  I am not a
"blink" any more than I am a broad.  
Christine
Please excuse the typos; I'm being called to the phone!

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|	Poor is the person 	|	Christine Faltz 		| 
|	whose permission 	|	33 Prospect Ave.		|
|	depends upon the 	|	Princeton, NJ 08540		|
|	perceptions of others.	|		"Who is John Galt?"	|
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