[nabs] nabs Digest, Vol 23, Issue 105

Carly carlymih at earthlink.net
Wed Aug 24 00:37:27 EDT 2011



Hi, Tyler,

Don't you see the representation of a single language, as laying 
seeds for a homogenous, singular voice within such a nation that 
supposedly,  prides itself on being a mixed bag,of ethnicities and languages?
for today,
Car
  At 06:59 PM 8/23/2011, Littlefield, Tyler wrote:
> >Well, our law says that we expect all immigrants to learn English.
>We're not bashing immigrants, in fact, we welcome them.  However, I 
>believe that if...
>I don't want to start a fight, but I really am curious. Which law is 
>this that you speak of?
>
>
>On 8/23/2011 6:50 PM, Chris Nusbaum wrote:
>>Hi everyone,
>>
>>Here are my thoughts on the posts in today's digest.
>>
>>> From Tara Prackash on "Immigrant Bashing"
>>
>>Well, our law says that we expect all immigrants to learn English.
>>We're not bashing immigrants, in fact, we welcome them.  However, I 
>>believe that if a person comes here, that person should have a good 
>>understanding of our laws and expectations of them, and should follow them.
>>
>>Also from Tara: On Racism and the Unnecessary Use of the Word "Black"
>>
>>Wow, that sounds like a research paper! * Smile! There is a 
>>difference, in my opinion, between racism and realism.  If the 
>>professor in question is in fact black, then he's black! He 
>>wouldn't appologize for it, and it's the truth.  Racism would be if 
>>Alicia said something bad about him on the basis that he's 
>>black.  The fact that he is black and the fact that she told us 
>>that isn't racism, it's honesty! But, who cares? She didn't say 
>>anything bad about him; in fact, she commended him and respects 
>>him, as she said in her earlier post.  So, who cares about his race 
>>when he's a good professor and Alicia's having problem 
>>understanding him? So, then, what's the racism?
>>
>>Those are my thoughts.  Any thoughts are welcome on or off list.
>>
>>Chris Nusbaum
>>
>>"The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The 
>>real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that 
>>exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and opportunity, 
>>blindness can be reduced to a mere physical nuisance." -- Kenneth 
>>Jernigan (President of the National Federation of the Blind, 1968-1986.)
>>
>>  Visit the I C.A.N.  Foundation online at: www.icanfoundation.info for
>>information on our foundation and how it helps blind and visually
>>impaired children in MD say "I can!"
>>
>>
>>Sent from my BrailleNote
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: nabs-request at acb.org
>>To: nabs at acb.org
>>Date sent: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:54:56 -0400
>>Subject: nabs Digest, Vol 23, Issue 105
>>
>>Send nabs mailing list submissions to
>>     nabs at acb.org
>>
>>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>     http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>     nabs-request at acb.org
>>
>>You can reach the person managing the list at
>>     nabs-owner at acb.org
>>
>>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>than "Re: Contents of nabs digest..."
>>
>>
>>Today's Topics:
>>
>>   1.  Re: foreign professors (Tara Prakash)
>>   2.  Re: My Apologies (Tara Prakash)
>>   3.  Re: My Apologies (Starner, Alicia M.)
>>
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>-----
>>
>>Message: 1
>>Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:10:08 -0400
>>From: "Tara Prakash" <taraprakash at gmail.com
>>To: "Discussion list for NABS,    National Alliance of Blind Students."
>><nabs at acb.org
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] foreign professors
>>Message-ID: <50E703424BE44A7A9138134F2B6C87CF at tara
>>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>>     reply-type=response
>>
>>Yes, it's time to pressurize the government to invest more in education.  US,
>>believe it or not, does not have enough qualified professors and remember
>>the pittance the professors are paid to get all the blame for all the ills
>>of the society.  if immigrant bashing gives pleasure to some on this list,
>>they can go on and please themselves, but the fault lies with the system.
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>>To: <nabs at acb.org
>>Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 4:38 PM
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] foreign professors
>>
>>
>>Hi Ann,
>>
>>I agree that professors from other countries should speak fluent English
>>for their students.  As Alicia pointed out, English is a hard language to
>>learn, and we're not sure if he's been there for a while.  But I agree
>>with you in theory, as we expect that from all immigrants to our country.
>>
>>Chris Nusbaum
>>
>>"The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The real
>>problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that exists.  If a
>>blind person has the proper training and opportunity, blindness can be
>>reduced to a mere physical nuisance." -- Kenneth Jernigan (President of
>>the National Federation of the Blind, 1968-1986.)
>>
>>  Visit the I C.A.N.  Foundation online at: www.icanfoundation.info for
>>information on our foundation and how it helps blind and visually
>>impaired children in MD say "I can!"
>>
>>
>>Sent from my BrailleNote
>>_______________________________________________
>>nabs mailing list
>>nabs at acb.org
>>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Message: 2
>>Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:19:35 -0400
>>From: "Tara Prakash" <taraprakash at gmail.com
>>To: "Discussion list for NABS,    National Alliance of Blind Students."
>><nabs at acb.org
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>Message-ID: <B82B99DFB39640BA96D374F938CA1CD5 at tara
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>>Ashley.  There is no point beating the dead horse.  But in one of 
>>her emails the original emailer identified the professor as 
>>Black.  That was unnecessary.  But I wish people would allow this 
>>matter not as a blindness related issue, it does not apply 
>>specifically to the blind.
>>
>>
>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>  From: bookwormahb at earthlink.net
>>  To: Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.
>>  Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 5:16 PM
>>  Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>
>>  Since we do not know the professor?s race, race had nothing to do 
>> with this.  If you cannot understand a professor, it impedes  your 
>> learning.  It doesn?t matter where they are from.  I hope the 
>> situation can be worked out.  I took classes with professors who 
>> had mild accents.  What helped me was repetition either in class 
>> as I asked for clarification or in office hours and I sat up front.
>>  But if a professor had a thick accent, I doubt I?d be able to cope with it.
>>  Ashley
>>
>>  From: Leena and Charity
>>  Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 3:52 PM
>>  To: Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.
>>  Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>  I did too.  I also think a lot of people over react to things if 
>> they even sound like there might be a hint of racism.
>>    ----- Original Message -----
>>    From: bookwormahb at earthlink.net
>>    To: Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.
>>    Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:41 PM
>>    Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>    Christine, You meant to say Alicia, not Ashley, I 
>> think.  Anyway, I thought her posts were perfectly fine and not judgemental.
>>    Ashley
>>
>>    From: Christine Szostak
>>    Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:56 PM
>>    To: Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.
>>    Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>    Hi Ashley and All,
>>      I do not think it is necessarily your posts that Sarah was 
>> referring too.  Your questions, at lease to me came across as 
>> intended.  I think there may be a little name-mixing up on the 
>> list that may be occurring which may be why you feel targeted.
>>    Many thanks,
>>    Christine
>>
>>
>>    M.  Szostak
>>    Doctoral Candidate
>>    Language Perception Laboratory
>>    Department of Psychology, Cognitive Area
>>    The Ohio State University
>>    Columbus, Ohio
>>    szostak.1 at osu.edu
>>      ----- Original Message -----
>>      From: Starner, Alicia M.
>>      To: 'Discussion list for NABS, National Alliance of Blind Students.'
>>      Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:41 PM
>>      Subject: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>      Hello All,
>>
>>
>>
>>      I would like to apologize to anyone who may have been 
>> offended by the thread started by me titled ?foreign 
>> Professors?.  I believe there was a misunderstanding in the 
>> original intent of the thread, which was not to discriminate 
>> against my professor in any way for any reason.
>>The inquiry was simply about what you have all done to overcome 
>>communication barriers due to a thick accent, a lisp, or other 
>>communication barrier that makes understanding difficult or 
>>impossible for you as a student.  While oral and written 
>>communication skills is extremely important for anyone who is 
>>providing a service, I am not one that believes that one should be 
>>perfect with these skills.  On the other hand, I do believe that if 
>>a service provider including but not limited to teachers, doctors, 
>>social workers, councelors, and psychologists have a thick accent, 
>>lisp, or other communication barrier that may impede their ability 
>>to be understood, they should work with those individuals to ensure t
>>hey have the information they need.  This thread was in no way a 
>>punch to his race, because I never mentioned his race on list, nor 
>>was it a blow to him as a person with ethnic differences.  I am one 
>>that embraces diversity within our community and believes strongly 
>>that we all have something to contribute to the larger world as a 
>>whole regardless of our race, ethnicity, disability, or other 
>>diversity.  In short, diversity is what makes life worth living and 
>>provides variety within our community.  It is what makes our 
>>society challenging and worth living in.  Again, I apologize to 
>>anyone who may have felt discriminated against or offended by my 
>>thread.  I assure you, it was not intended to offend you at all! I 
>>am sad and disappointed that I didn?t make my written communication 
>>more concise to avoid people feeling as if I was racist or 
>>discriminatory against my professor and/or perhaps any of 
>>you.  Please accept my sincere apology and hope we can continue to 
>>share our experiences an
>>d suggestions as students with visual impairments, as I have 
>>learned quite a bit from all of you and honestly respect all of our 
>>different opinions.
>>
>>      Best Regards,
>>
>>      Alicia
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>---------
>>      _______________________________________________
>>      nabs mailing list
>>      nabs at acb.org
>>      http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>-----------
>>    _______________________________________________
>>    nabs mailing list
>>    nabs at acb.org
>>    http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>-----------
>>    _______________________________________________
>>    nabs mailing list
>>    nabs at acb.org
>>    http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>-------------
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  nabs mailing list
>>  nabs at acb.org
>>  http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>-------------
>>
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  nabs mailing list
>>  nabs at acb.org
>>  http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>-------------- next part --------------
>>An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
>>URL: 
>><http://www.acb.org/pipermail/nabs/attachments/20110823/de9dab1b/> 
>>attachment-0001.html
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Message: 3
>>Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:54:42 -0500
>>From: "Starner, Alicia M." <astarner at charter.net
>>To: "'Discussion list for NABS,    National Alliance of Blind Students.'"
>><nabs at acb.org
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>Message-ID: <000601cc61b5$5b297440$117c5cc0$@net
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>>Hello,
>>
>>
>>
>>Point of clarification.  I never implied this professor is 
>>black.  As I am totally blind, I am not even completely sure if he 
>>is a black man or a white man, I do know he is from Africa.  I 
>>never implied, nor did I state that he was black.  As we all know, 
>>there are white and black people from Africa, and I am not certain 
>>if he is a black man from Africa or a white man from Africa; 
>>however, he has a very hard to understand thick African accent.
>>
>>
>>
>>For those of you who are interested in the solution and closing of 
>>this problem, I did speak with the professor yesterday and he was 
>>very receptive.  He is a very nice man and has encountered this 
>>problem before.  I will be getting notes on his lectures and will 
>>be able to work one on one with a person from the class.  He also 
>>told me that I could call him at any time if I run into 
>>trouble.  These accommodations were put into affect by my 
>>universities access office, as
>>
>>the councelor felt his accent impedes my ability to learn.  She 
>>feels it is related to my blindness, because he does rely on power 
>>point and has it on the screen word for word for sighted students 
>>to read.  The sighted students in the class are able to read the 
>>screen if they are ever in doubt of what he is saying, but I am not 
>>able to do that; therefore, it was written down as a blindness 
>>related accommodation.
>>This will be my last posting to this subject, as the problem has 
>>been cleared up and a positive solution has been reached.  Thank 
>>you all for your input and suggestions of what course of action I 
>>should take on my pursuit of a positive outcome.  I believe that 
>>one has been reached and one we, my classmates, professor, and I, 
>>can all handle, so let the learning begin.
>>
>>
>>
>>Alicia
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>From: nabs-bounces at acb.org [mailto:nabs-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf 
>>Of Tara Prakash
>>Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 11:20 AM
>>To: Discussion list for NABS, National Alliance of Blind Students.
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>
>>
>>Ashley.  There is no point beating the dead horse.  But in one of 
>>her emails the original emailer identified the professor as 
>>Black.  That was unnecessary.  But I wish people would allow this 
>>matter not as a blindness related issue, it does not apply 
>>specifically to the blind.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>
>>From: bookwormahb at earthlink.net
>>
>>To: Discussion list for <mailto:nabs at acb.org>  NABS,National 
>>Alliance of Blind Students.
>>
>>Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 5:16 PM
>>
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>
>>
>>Since we do not know the professor?s race, race had nothing to do 
>>with this.  If you cannot understand a professor, it impedes  your 
>>learning.  It doesn?t matter where they are from.  I hope the 
>>situation can be worked out.  I took classes with professors who 
>>had mild accents.  What helped me was repetition either in class as 
>>I asked for clarification or in office hours and I sat up front.
>>
>>But if a professor had a thick accent, I doubt I?d be able to cope with it.
>>
>>Ashley
>>
>>
>>
>>From: Leena and <mailto:leena.salim at gmail.com>  Charity
>>
>>Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 3:52 PM
>>
>>To: Discussion list for <mailto:nabs at acb.org>  NABS,National 
>>Alliance of Blind Students.
>>
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>
>>
>>I did too.  I also think a lot of people over react to things if 
>>they even sound like there might be a hint of racism.
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>
>>From: bookwormahb at earthlink.net
>>
>>To: Discussion <mailto:nabs at acb.org>  list for NABS,National 
>>Alliance of Blind Students.
>>
>>Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:41 PM
>>
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>
>>
>>Christine, You meant to say Alicia, not Ashley, I think.  Anyway, I 
>>thought her posts were perfectly fine and not judgemental.
>>
>>Ashley
>>
>>
>>
>>From: Christine Szostak <mailto:szostak.1 at osu.edu>
>>Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:56 PM
>>
>>To: Discussion list for <mailto:nabs at acb.org>  NABS,National 
>>Alliance of Blind Students.
>>
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>
>>
>>Hi Ashley and All,
>>
>>  I do not think it is necessarily your posts that Sarah was 
>> referring too.  Your questions, at lease to me came across as 
>> intended.  I think there may be a little name-mixing up on the 
>> list that may be occurring which may be why you feel targeted.
>>
>>Many thanks,
>>
>>Christine
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>M.  Szostak
>>Doctoral Candidate
>>Language Perception Laboratory
>>Department of Psychology, Cognitive Area
>>The Ohio State University
>>Columbus, Ohio
>>szostak.1 at osu.edu
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>
>>From: Starner, Alicia <mailto:astarner at charter.net>  M.
>>
>>To: 'Discussion <mailto:nabs at acb.org>  list for NABS, National 
>>Alliance of Blind Students.'
>>
>>Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:41 PM
>>
>>Subject: [nabs] My Apologies
>>
>>
>>
>>Hello All,
>>
>>
>>
>>I would like to apologize to anyone who may have been offended by 
>>the thread started by me titled ?foreign Professors?.  I believe 
>>there was a misunderstanding in the original intent of the thread, 
>>which was not to discriminate against my professor in any way for 
>>any reason.  The inquiry was simply about what you have all done to 
>>overcome communication barriers due to a thick accent, a lisp, or 
>>other communication barrier that makes understanding difficult or 
>>impossible for you as a student.  While oral and written 
>>communication skills is extremely important for anyone who is 
>>providing a service, I am not one that believes that one should be 
>>perfect with these skills.  On the other hand, I do believe that if 
>>a service provider including but not limited to teachers, doctors, 
>>social workers, councelors, and psychologists have a thick accent, 
>>lisp, or other communication barrier that may impede their ability 
>>to be understood, they should work with those individuals to ensure they ha
>>ve the information they need.  This thread was in no way a punch to 
>>his race, because I never mentioned his race on list, nor was it a 
>>blow to him as a person with ethnic differences.  I am one that 
>>embraces diversity within our community and believes strongly that 
>>we all have something to contribute to the larger world as a whole 
>>regardless of our race, ethnicity, disability, or other 
>>diversity.  In short, diversity is what makes life worth living and 
>>provides variety within our community.  It is what makes our 
>>society challenging and worth living in.  Again, I apologize to 
>>anyone who may have felt discriminated against or offended by my 
>>thread.  I assure you, it was not intended to offend you at all! I 
>>am sad and disappointed that I didn?t make my written communication 
>>more concise to avoid people feeling as if I was racist or 
>>discriminatory against my professor and/or perhaps any of 
>>you.  Please accept my sincere apology and hope we can continue to 
>>share our experiences and sugg
>>estions as students with visual impairments, as I have learned 
>>quite a bit from all of you and honestly respect all of our different opinions.
>>
>>Best Regards,
>>
>>Alicia
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  _____
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nabs mailing list
>>nabs at acb.org
>>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>  _____
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nabs mailing list
>>nabs at acb.org
>>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>  _____
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nabs mailing list
>>nabs at acb.org
>>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>  _____
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nabs mailing list
>>nabs at acb.org
>>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>  _____
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nabs mailing list
>>nabs at acb.org
>>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>-------------- next part --------------
>>An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
>>URL: 
>><http://www.acb.org/pipermail/nabs/attachments/20110823/28149ac1/> 
>>attachment.html
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nabs mailing list
>>nabs at acb.org
>>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>>
>>
>>End of nabs Digest, Vol 23, Issue 105
>>*************************************
>>_______________________________________________
>>nabs mailing list
>>nabs at acb.org
>>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>
>
>--
>
>Take care,
>Ty
>my website:
>http://tds-solutions.net
>my blog:
>http://tds-solutions.net/blog
>skype: st8amnd127
>My programs don't have bugs; they're randomly added features!
>
>_______________________________________________
>nabs mailing list
>nabs at acb.org
>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs



More information about the nabs mailing list