thanks every one for appreciating! I found this article on google, and liked it very much after reading. that's why shared on the list. I too feel every one should read it at least once!
On 12/30/15, avinash shahi <shahi88avin...@gmail.com> wrote: > Excellent piece indeed. We all should read it. > > On 12/29/15, Misbah <jnu.mis...@gmail.com> wrote: >> An excillent peace. thanks for sharing.. >> >> On 12/29/15, Shweta Mishra <shweta.mishra...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions >>> by Kenneth Jernigan >>> >>> When an individual becomes blind, he faces two major problems: First, >>> he must learn the skills and techniques which will enable him to carry >>> on as a normal, productive citizen in the community; and second, he >>> must become aware of and learn to cope with public attitudes and >>> misconceptions about blindness—attitudes and misconceptions which go >>> to the very roots of our culture and permeate every aspect of social >>> behavior and thinking. >>> The first of these problems is far easier to solve than the second. >>> For it is no longer theory but established fact that, with proper >>> training and opportunity, the average blind person can do the average >>> job in the average place of business—and do it as well as his sighted >>> neighbor. The blind can function as scientists, farmers, electricians, >>> factory workers, and skilled technicians. They can perform as >>> housewives, lawyers, teachers, or laborers. The skills of independent >>> mobility, communication, and the activities of daily living are known, >>> available, and acquirable. Likewise, the achievement of vocational >>> competence poses no insurmountable barrier. >>> In other words the real problem of blindness is not the blindness >>> itself—not the acquisition of skills or techniques or competence. The >>> real problem is the lack of understanding and the misconceptions which >>> exist. It is no accident that the word "blind" carries with it >>> connotations of inferiority and helplessness. The concept undoubtedly >>> goes back to primitive times when existence was at an extremely >>> elemental level. Eyesight and the power to see were equated with >>> light, and light (whether daylight or firelight) meant security and >>> safety. Blindness was equated with darkness, and darkness meant danger >>> and evil. The blind person could not hunt effectively or dodge a >>> spear. In our day society and social values have changed. In civilized >>> countries there is now no great premium on dodging a spear, and >>> hunting has dwindled to the status of an occasional pastime. The blind >>> are able to compete on terms of equality in the full current of active >>> life. The primitive conditions of jungle and cave are gone, but the >>> primitive attitudes about blindness remain. The blind are thought to >>> live in a world of "darkness," and darkness is equated with evil, >>> stupidity, sin, and inferiority. Do I exaggerate? I would that it were >>> so. Consider the very definition of the word "blind," the reflection >>> of what it means in the language, its subtle shades and connotations. >>> The 1962 printing of the World Publishing Company's college edition of >>> Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language defines >>> "blind" as follows: "without the power of sight; sightless; eyeless. >>> lacking insight or understanding done without adequate directions or >>> knowledge: as, blind search. reckless; unreasonable. not controlled by >>> intelligence: as, blind destiny. insensible. drunk. illegible; >>> indistinct. In architecture, false. walled up: as, a blind window." >>> The 1960 edition of Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary says: "blind. >>> Sightless. Lacking discernment; unable or unwilling to understand or >>> judge; as, a blind choice. Apart from intelligent direction or >>> control; as, blind chance. Insensible; as, a blind stupor; hence, >>> drunk. For sightless persons; as, a blind asylum. Unintelligible; >>> illegible; as, blind writing." There are a number of reasons why it is >>> extremely difficult to change public attitudes about blindness. For >>> one thing, despite the fact that many achievements are being made by >>> the blind and that a good deal of constructive publicity is being >>> given to these achievements, there are strong counter-currents of >>> uninformed and regressive publicity and propaganda. It is hard to >>> realize, for instance, that anyone still exists who actually believes >>> the blind are especially gifted in music or that they are particularly >>> suited to weaving or wickerwork. It is hard to realize that any >>> well-educated person today believes that blind people are compensated >>> for their loss of sight by special gifts and talents. Yet, I call your >>> attention to a section on blindness appearing in a book on government >>> and citizenship which is in current use in many public high schools >>> throughout our country. Not in some bygone generation, but today, >>> hundreds of thousands of ninth-grade students will study this passage: >>> Caring for the Handicapped >>> The blind, the deaf, the dumb, the crippled, and the insane and the >>> feeble-minded are sometimes known collectively as the defective—people >>> who are lacking some normal faculty or power. Such people often need >>> to be placed in some special institution in order to receive proper >>> attention. >>> Many blind, deaf, and crippled people can do a considerable amount of >>> work. The blind have remarkable talent in piano-tuning, weaving, >>> wickerwork, and the like. The deaf and dumb are still less handicapped >>> because they can engage in anything that does not require taking or >>> giving orders by voice.1 >>> I confess to being surprised when I learned that the book containing >>> the foregoing passage was in general use. It occurred to me to wonder >>> whether the text was unique or whether its "enlightened" views were >>> held by other authors in the field. The results of my investigation >>> were not reassuring. I call your attention to the selection on >>> blindness appearing in another text in common use throughout the high >>> schools of our nation. >>> The blind may receive aid from the states and the federal government, >>> if their families are not able to keep them from want. There are over >>> one hundred institutions for the blind in the United States, many of >>> which are supported wholly or partly by taxes. Sometimes it seems as >>> if blind people are partly compensated for their misfortune by having >>> some of their other talents developed with exceptional keenness. Blind >>> people can play musical instruments as well as most of those who can >>> see, and many activities where a keen touch of the fingers is needed >>> can be done by blind people wonderfully well. Schools for the blind >>> teach their pupils music and encourage them to take part in some of >>> the outdoor sports that other pupils enjoy.2 >>> If this is not enough to make the point, let me give you a quotation >>> from still another high school text in current use: >>> Kinds of Dependents. >>> There are many persons who do not take a regular part in community >>> life and its affairs, either because they cannot or will not. Those >>> who cannot, may be divided into the following classes—(l) 'The >>> physically handicapped': the blind, the deaf, and the crippled; (2) >>> the mentally handicapped the feeble-minded and the insane; (3) the >>> unemployed those incapable of work, the misfits, and the victims of >>> depression; and (4) the orphaned those children left in the care of >>> the state or in private institutions. The community should care for >>> these people or help them to care for themselves as much as possible. >>> Those who will not play their part in community life are the criminals >>> . . . schools have been established where the blind are taught to read >>> by the use of raised letters called the Braille system. They are also >>> taught to do other things such as to weave, make brushes, tune pianos, >>> mend and repair furniture, and to play musical instruments . . . It is >>> far better for the blind to attend these institutions than to remain >>> at home because here they can learn to contribute to their own >>> happiness.3 >>> In attempting to change public attitudes, not only must we overcome >>> the effects of Webster's dictionary and a host of textbooks, but we >>> must take into account another factor as well. Several years ago the >>> agency that I head was attempting to help a young woman find >>> employment as a secretary. She was a good typist, could fill out >>> forms, handle erasures, take dictation, and other-wise perform >>> competently. She was neat in her person and could travel independently >>> anywhere she wanted to go. She was also totally blind. I called the >>> manager of a firm which I knew had a secretarial opening and asked him >>> if he would consider interviewing the blind person in question. He >>> told me that he knew of the "wonderful work" which blind persons were >>> doing and that he was most "sympathetic" to our cause but that his >>> particular setup would not be suitable. As he put it, "Our work is >>> very demanding. Carbons must be used and forms must be filled out. >>> Speed is at a premium, and a great deal of work must be done each day. >>> Then, there is fact that our typewriters are quite a ways from the >>> bathroom, and we cannot afford to use the time of another girl to take >>> the blind person to the toilet." >>> At this stage I interrupted to tell him that during the past few years >>> new travel techniques had been developed and that the girl I had in >>> mind was quite expert in getting about, that she was able to go >>> anywhere she wished with ease and independence. He came back with an >>> interruption of his own. >>> "Oh, I know what a wonderful job the blind do in traveling about and >>> accomplishing things for themselves. You see I know a blind person. I >>> know Miss X, and I know what a good traveler she is and how >>> competent." I continued to try to persuade him, but I knew my case was >>> lost. For, you see, I also know Miss X, and she is one of the poorest >>> travelers and one of the most helpless blind people I have ever known. >>> There is a common joke among many blind persons that she gets lost in >>> her own bedroom, and I guess maybe she does. The man with whom I was >>> talking was not being insincere; far from it. He thought that the >>> ordinary blind person, by all reason and common sense, should be >>> completely helpless and unable to travel at all. He thought that it >>> was wonderful and remarkable that the woman he knew could do as well >>> as she did. When compared with what he thought could normally be >>> expected of the blind, her performance was outstanding. Therefore, >>> when I told him that the person that I had in mind could travel >>> independently, he thought that I meant the kind of travel he had seen >>> from Miss X. We were using the same words, and we were both sincere, >>> but our words meant different things to each of us. I tremble to think >>> what he thought I meant by "good typing" and "all-around competence." >>> When I go into a community to speak to a group and someone says to me, >>> "Oh I know exactly what you mean; I know what blind people can do, >>> because I know a blind person," I often cringe. I say to myself, "And >>> what kind of blind person do you know?" >>> This gives emphasis (if, indeed, emphasis is needed) to the constantly >>> observed truth that all blind people are judged by one. If a person >>> has known a blind man who is especially gifted as a musician, he is >>> likely to believe that all of the blind are good at music. Many of us >>> are living examples of the fallacy of that misconception. Some years >>> ago I knew a man who had hired a blind person in his place of >>> business. The blind man was, incidentally, fond of the bottle and >>> was(after, no doubt, a great deal of soul searching on the part of the >>> employer) fired. The employer still refuses to consider hiring another >>> blind person. As he puts it, "They simply drink too much." >>> Once I was attending a national convention made up largely of blind >>> people, and a waitress in the hotel dining room said to me, "I just >>> think it is wonderful how happy blind people are. I have been >>> observing you folks, and you all seem to be having such a good time!" >>> I said to the waitress, "But did you ever observe a group of sighted >>> conventioneers! When they get away from their homes and the routine of >>> daily life, they usually let their hair down and relax a bit. Blind >>> people are about as happy and about as unhappy as anybody else." >>> Not only is there a tendency to judge all blind people by one, but >>> there is also a tendency to judge all blind people by the least >>> effective and least competent members of the larger, sighted >>> population. In other words, if it can't done by a person with sight, a >>> "normal person," then, how can it possibly be done by a blind person? >>> One of the best illustrations of this point that I have ever seen >>> occurred some time ago when an attempt was being made to secure >>> employment for a blind man in a corn oil factory. The job involved the >>> operation of a press into which a large screw-type plunger fed corn. >>> Occasionally the press would jam, and it was necessary for the >>> operator to shut it off and clean it out before resuming the >>> operation. The employer had tentatively agreed to hire blind man, but >>> when we showed up to finalize the arrangements, the deal was off. The >>> employer explained that since our last visit, one of his sighted >>> employees had got his hand caught in the press, and the press had >>> chewed it off. It developed that the sighted employee had been >>> careless. When the press had jammed, he had not shut it off, but had >>> tried to clean it while it was still running. The employer said, "This >>> operation is dangerous! Why, even a sighted man got hurt doing it! I >>> simply couldn't think of hiring a blind man in this position!" It was >>> to no avail that we urged and reasoned. We might have told him (but >>> didn't)that if he intended to follow logic, perhaps he should have >>> refused to hire any more sighted people on the operation. After all it >>> wasn't a blind man who had made the mistake. There is still another >>> factor which makes it difficult to change the public attitudes about >>> blindness. All of us need to feel superior, and the problem is >>> compounded by the fact that almost everyone secretly feels a good deal >>> of insecurity and inadequacy—a good deal of doubt regarding status and >>> position. On more than one occasion people have come to the door of a >>> blind man to collect for the heart fund, cancer research, or some >>> other charity, and have then turned away in embarrassment when they >>> have found they were dealing with a blind person. Their comment is >>> usually to the effect, "Oh, I am sorry! I didn't know! I couldn't take >>> money from a blind person!" In many instances, I am happy to say, the >>> blind person has insisted on making a contribution. The implication is >>> clear and should not be allowed to go unchallenged. It is that the >>> blind are unable to participate in regular community life, that they >>> should not be expected to assume responsibilities, that they should >>> receive but not give as others do. >>> More than once I have seen confusion and embarrassment in a restaurant >>> when it came the blind person's turn to treat for coffee or similar >>> items. At the cash register there was an obvious feeling of >>> inappropriateness and shame on the part of the sighted members of the >>> group at having restaurant employees and others see a blind person pay >>> for their food. Something turns, of course, on the question of means; >>> and the blind person should certainly not pay all of the time; but he >>> should do his part like any other member of the group. Recently I >>> registered at a hotel, and the bellboy carried my bags to my room. >>> When I started to tip him (and it was a fairly generous tip), he moved >>> back out of the way with some embarrassment. He said, "Oh, no, I >>> couldn't! I am a gentleman!" When I persisted he said, "I am simply >>> not that hard up!" >>> It is of significance to note that he had an amputated hand and that >>> he was quite short of stature. What kind of salary he made I do not >>> know, but I would doubt that it was comparatively very high. His >>> manner and tone and the implication of his words said very clearly, "I >>> may be in a bad way and have it rough, but at least I am more >>> fortunate than you. I am grateful that my situation is not worse than >>> it is." There was certainly no ill intent. In fact, there were both >>> charity and kindness. But charity and kindness are sometimes >>> misplaced, and they are not always constructive forces. >>> Let me now say something about the agencies and organizations doing >>> work with the blind. Employees and administrators of such agencies are >>> members of the public, too, and are conditioned by the same forces >>> that affect other people in the total population. Some of them (in >>> fact, many)are enlightened individuals who thoroughly understand the >>> problems to be met and who work with vigor and imagination to erase >>> the stereotypes and propagate a new way of thought concerning >>> blindness and its problems; but some of them(unfortunately, far too >>> many) have all the misconceptions and erroneous ideas which >>> characterize the public at large. Regrettably there are still people >>> who go into work with the blind because they cannot be dominant in >>> their homes or social or business lives, and they feel (whether they >>> verbalize it or not) that at least they can dominate and patronize the >>> blind. This urge often expresses itself in charitable works and >>> dedicated sincerity, but this does not mitigate its unhealthy nature >>> or make it any less misguided or inappropriate. >>> Such agencies are usually characterized by a great deal of talk about >>> "professionalism" and by much high-flown jargon. They believe that >>> blindness is more than the loss of eyesight; that it involves multiple >>> and mysterious personality alterations. Many of them believe that the >>> newly blinded person requires the assistance of a psychiatrist in >>> making the adjustment to blindness, and, indeed, that the psychiatrist >>> and psychotherapy should play an important part in the training >>> programs for the blind. They believe that the blind are a dependent >>> class and that the agencies must take care of them throughout their >>> entire lives. But let some of these people speak for themselves. One >>> agency administrator has said: "After he is once trained and placed, >>> the average disabled person can fend for himself. In the case of the >>> blind, it has been found necessary to set up a special state service >>> agency which will supply them not only rehabilitation training but >>> other services for the rest of their lives." The agencies "keep in >>> constant contact with them as long as they live." >>> This is not an isolated comment. An agency psychiatrist has this to >>> say: "All visible deformities require special study. Blindness is a >>> visible deformity and all blind persons follow a pattern of >>> dependency." Or consider this by the author of a well-known book on >>> blindness: "With many persons, there was an expectation in the >>> establishment of the early schools . . . that the blind in general >>> would thereby be rendered capable of earning their own support—a view >>> that even at the present is shared in some quarters. It would have >>> been much better if such a hope had never been entertained, or if it >>> had existed in a greatly modified form. A limited acquaintance of a >>> practical nature with the blind as a whole and their capabilities has >>> usually been sufficient to demonstrate the weakness of this >>> conception." 4 >>> It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the foregoing quotations >>> represent individual instances and not the total judgment of the >>> agencies and organizations doing work with the blind. Opinions and >>> approaches vary as much with the agencies as with the general public. >>> I would merely make the point here that being a professional worker in >>> the field does not insure one against the false notions and erroneous >>> stereo-types which characterize the public at large. For that matter, >>> being a blind person is no passport to infallibility either. Public >>> attitudes about the blind too often become the attitudes of the blind. >>> The blind are part of the general public. They tend to see themselves >>> as others see them. They too often accept the public view of their >>> limitations and thus do much to make those limitations a reality. >>> There is probably not a single blind person in the world today >>> (present company included) who has not sold himself short at one time >>> or another. >>> At one time in my life I ran a furniture shop, making and selling the >>> furniture myself. I designed and put together tables, smoke stands, >>> lamps, and similar items. I sawed and planed, drilled and measured, >>> fitted and sanded. I did every single operation except the final >>> finish work, the staining and varnishing. After all, as I thought, one >>> must be reasonable and realistic. If anyone had come to me at that >>> time and said that I was selling myself short, that I should not >>> automatically assume that a blind person could not do varnishing, I >>> think I would have resented it very much. I think I would have said >>> something to this effect: "I have been blind all my life, and I think >>> I know what a blind person can do; you have to use common sense. You >>> can't expect a blind person to drive a truck, and you can't expect him >>> to varnish furniture either." >>> Later when I went to California to teach in the State's Orientation >>> Center for the Blind, I saw blind people doing varnishing as a matter >>> of course. By and by I did it myself. I can tell you that the >>> experience caused me to do a great deal of serious thinking. It was >>> not the fact that I had hired someone else to do the varnishing in >>> those earlier days in my shop. Perhaps it would have been more >>> efficient, under any circumstances, for me to have hired this >>> particular operation done so that I could spend my time more >>> profitably. It was the fact that I had automatically assumed that a >>> blind person could not do the work, that I had sold myself short >>> without realizing it, all the while believing myself to be a living >>> exemplification of progressive faith in the competence of the blind—a >>> most deflating experience. It made me wonder then, as it does today: >>> How many things that I take for granted as being beyond the competence >>> of the blind are easily within reach? How many things that I now >>> regard as requiring eyesight really require only insight, an insight >>> which I do not possess because of the conditioning I have received >>> from my culture, and because of the limitations of my imagination? >>> There is also the temptation to have our cake and eat it too, the >>> temptation to accept the special privileges or shirk the >>> responsibility when it suits us and then to demand equal treatment >>> when we want it. Some years ago when Boss Ed Crump was supreme in >>> Memphis, an interesting event occurred each year. There was an annual >>> football game, which was called the "ball game for the blind." >>> Incidentally, Mr. Crump also conducted an annual watermelon-slicing >>> for the Negro. With respect to the "ball game for the blind," Mr. >>> Crump's friends went about contacting the general public and all of >>> the businesses of the area soliciting donations and purchases of >>> tickets. Probably a good deal of arm-twisting and shaming were done >>> when necessary. The total take was truly impressive. In the >>> neighborhood of one hundred thousand dollars was raised each year. The >>> money was then equally divided among all known blind persons in the >>> county, and a check was sent to each. It usually amounted to about one >>> hundred dollars and was known as the "Christmas bonus for the blind." >>> Most of the blind whom I knew from Shelby County gladly received these >>> checks, and most of the rest of us in the State(either secretly or >>> openly) envied them their great good fortune. How short sighted we all >>> were! The blind people of Memphis were not being done a favor! They >>> were being robbed of a birthright. As they gave their money and bought >>> their tickets, how many businessmen closed their minds (although >>> without conscious thought) to the possibility of a blind employee? How >>> many blind people traded equal status in the community, social and >>> civic acceptance, and productive and remunerative employment for one >>> hundred dollars a year? What a bargain! >>> As I said in the beginning, the real problem of blindness is not the >>> loss of eyesight but the misconceptions and misunderstandings which >>> exist. The public (whether it be the general public, the agencies, or >>> the blind themselves) has created the problem and must accept the >>> responsibility for solving it. In fact, great strides are being made >>> in this direction. >>> First must come awareness, awareness on the part of the blind >>> themselves, and a thorough consistency of philosophy and dedication of >>> purpose; an increasing program of public education must be waged; >>> vigilance must be maintained to see that the agencies for the blind >>> are staffed with the right kind of people; with the right kind of >>> philosophy; and the movement of self-organization of the blind must be >>> encouraged and strengthened. This last is a cardinal point, for any >>> disadvantaged group must be heard with its own voice, must lead in the >>> achievement of its own salvation. Accomplishments are made of dreams >>> and drudgeries, of hope and hard work. The blind of the nation are now >>> moving toward a destiny, a destiny of full equality and full >>> participation in community life. That destiny will be achieved when >>> the day comes on which we can say with pleasure and satisfaction what >>> we must now say with concern and consternation: "Public attitudes >>> about the blind become the attitudes of the blind. The blind see >>> themselves as others see them." >>> 1. Building Citizenship, McCrocklin, James (1961, Allyn and Bacon, >>> Inc., pub.; Boston) p. 244. >>> 2. Good Citizenship, Hughes, R. 0. (1949, Allyn and Bacon, pub.; Boston) >>> p. >>> 55. >>> 3. Fundamentals of Citizenship, Blough, G. L., and David S. Switzer, >>> and Jack T. Johnson (Laidlow Brothers, pub.; Chicago) pp. 164-167. >>> 4. From an address entitled "Within the Grace of God" by Professor >>> Jacobus ten Broek, delivered at the 1956 Convention of the National >>> Federation of the Blind in San Francisco. >>> https://static.cmptch.com/v/lib/mng.html?131#180#360 >>> >>> >>> -- >>> efforts may fail but don't fail to make efforts. >>> >>> >>> >>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >>> of >>> mobile phones / Tabs on: >>> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >>> >>> Search for old postings at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >>> >>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>> >>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>> please >>> visit the list home page at >>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >>> >>> Disclaimer: >>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >>> the >>> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >>> >>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>> mails >>> sent through this mailing list.. >>> >> >> >> -- >> with regards >> Misbah >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please >> visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the >> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > -- > Avinash Shahi > Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > -- efforts may fail but don't fail to make efforts. Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..