20241119 - Tuesday Topics - Three topics including, If you could have full vision for just a few minutes only once in your life, what would you want to see.

Two weeks ago we, as we often seem to, only completed one of the two elements we had proposed. Interestingly enough, during our last program our guest raised the same issue when talking about a science fiction novella he had written. Essentially what we asked two weeks ago was, "If you could have full vision for just a few minutes only once in your life, what would you want to see?" We wonder if the answers from folks who are totally blind would be different than those that people with some vision would offer. Would people who had never seen want to see anything? Might it be more abstract and general? We hope that lots of you will come and share the answer to this question. My answer is a little strange, I think but, of course, I won't tell you what it is till we are together next Tuesday!

Folks who are deaf have managed to develop a detailed and effective form of communication called in this country, American Sign Language. Many deaf people can also read lips! Some have learned to speak fairly well! If deafness is their only disability, folks with that issue can drive, can see to get around, can read regular print, and, in lots of ways, can be more independent than we as people who cannot see are! If you had a choice, would you want to be deaf or blind? Tell us why! There was a survey done well over twenty years ago where both deaf folks and blind people were asked. Would our results be the same?

Just in case these two questions aren't sufficient, I would like us to explore an assertion I have heard quite often. People who are blind have never had it so good as we do today! Is that true? Defend your position, please! For what it's worth, I am not sure what the right answer is!