Category: News and Views
AFB (American Foundation for the Blind) Blog
> Wednesday, August 30, 2006
> Glenn Beck Makes Offensive Comments on CNN
> By Paul Shroeder
> Guest Blogger Paul Shroeder, Vice President, Programs and Policy Group
> Late last week Glenn Beck made some offensive comments on his CNN Headline News program about braille signs on walls. Media Matters has a clip on their site. LINK:http://mediamatters.org/items/200608250004
The reality is that braille signage is extremely important for information
> and orientation purposes just like signage for anyone. And though we wish
> Mr. Beck would have thought twice before making such stupid remarks on
> national television, it has given us the opportunity to address some of
> the questions people have about braille in public spaces.
> Lots of people probably wonder about braille signs, on elevators, next to
> office doors or hotel rooms, and everyone's favorite, drive-up ATMs. For
> the record, the signs are placed according to a standard to ensure that
> people who are blind do in fact know where to check- typically on the wall
> next to a door or next to an elevator button. And why are those drive-up
> ATMs accessible to people with vision loss? Ever stop to think that blind
> people use taxis (and, yep, go to ATMS), how about that?!
> Glenn Beck didn't even pause to think about how braille might be used when
> he popped off about the silliness of braille signs in buildings. Glenn
> knows nothing about blindness or braille, and unfortunately for him, he's
> probably not really interested in learning either.
> But, thanks, Glenn, for giving us an opportunity to remind the world just
> how helpful braille signs can be, and to make clear to the pitiful few who
> might actually look to Glenn for guidance that yes, braille signs are
> placed just where blind people can find them.
> Posted by Carl Augusto on 8/29/2006 2:52:46 PM
>http://www.afb.org/blog/blog_comments.asp?TopicID=1861&FolderID=19#comments
All I can say is how does that stupid jerk keep his job.
Bob
I never liked the man, thought he was an idiot, well guess he really proved himself there. Some say it was a joke but like I said always thought the guy acted like an idiot.
Troy
On the matter of this topic, I would love to see a debate-style interview featuring Mr. Beck, and a total.
It's a shame. I really like a lot of his commentary, but not this.
oh, come on people, if we make fun of others, can't others make fun of us. Is being blind so sensitive and the blind things that we do so sensitive we can't have someone poke fun at it. I have to admit I found the coffee pot joke totally funny and laughed out loud reading it. It's actually true what he says. Elevators are fairly good with braille but I've never found enough consistency with other braille signs to really find them of much use. Bath rooms I have to hunt around for braille, if there is any, and I wouldn't even try to locate braille signs on walls indicating rooms, especially in public buildings. If you go there once, it's easier to ask for help. If you go there often you will know the rooms anyways. I'm happy someone is actually "brave enough" to make a few uneducated and politically incorrect comments about us blindies, it's better than being regarded so special and so sensitive and different that we need to be protected from those comments. It's not as if he said "blind people are idiots" or "don't talk to a blind person, because they all looks weird and they can't look at you straight" or something. If it was a blind person who said what he did it wouldn't be an issue but just because a famous talk show host pokes fun at us we go all up in smoke and indignation.
I mean, if you are offended by this, of course you have the right, it's not nice, but his show and popularity isn't built on being nice, he goes above and beyond accepted behaviors and that's what people love about him and, personally, I think this was absolutely fine and reacting so strongly to it only goes to show that we're very insecure about being blind and can't even allow people to poke fun at it. I hope that perception is wrong or a misunderstanding of mine.
But it's just a thought, no offense meant to anyone.
cheers
-B
Thank you B. I also laughed when I heard about the comments he made. I work at a rehab center and hear blind people making fun of other blind people all the time. We need to have a sense of humor about this and not let it get so much attention.
agreed!
lol Here's something else we can get pissed off at.
http://www.ninjapirate.com/braille.html
Sorry Frequency, needed a laugh, tried the link you posted above, and got that damned "page not found" message.
Oh well, maybe I didn't really need a laugh after all.
Bob
Oh, thank god or what other higher being there is. Becky and B I was afraid I was alone. I am used to that on some issues. I love Beck, even got his autographed book. that article from the AFB was so stupid, whens the last time anyones drove up in a cab and used the braille buttons on the ATM. specially if the damn thing doesn't talk. The last thing in the world I am going to do is walk down the hall feeling up and down the wall for a damn sign. We are all so capable until someone dares to make a joke at our expense. well as Glenn Beck would say, Boo Stinking hoo. Cry me a river! I think my head is going to explode. please get out the duck tape!
Well, I'm not actually a fan of Beck, in fact I've only been forced to listen to him a few times in the back seat of cabs where the driver has a talk radio station on. But I was just trying to make the point that he may have been joking, and even if he wasn't, get over it. The more we protest, the more he, and others like him, are going to think blind people are nothing but whiny babies with no sense of humor.
well? whiiiyyyyyyiyn?
LOL Bob. Yes, I know you are a whiny baby, but the rest of us aren't.
Couldn't resist. I just love making mature enriching comments on the boards.
Bob