2. This semester you will be participating in the Senior 20 program which will have you exploring your passions, inspirations, and aspirations. Analyze Hingson in terms of his passions, inspirations, and aspirations.
Through merely writing his memoir, Hingson demonstrated his passion for educating others about what it really means to have a disability. While his blindness has impacted his life greatly, it is just a piece of who he is; in writing his book, he sought to explain that disabilities do affect people, but are not the only aspect of them. Hingson explains that many people saw his blindness as an impassable obstacle; he was once told that because he was blind, he would be unable to pursue an advanced degree in physics. To these people who doubted his abilities, he posed the question Why not?: “Those two words are my secret, the secret behind blind power. Why not? Why not ride a bike or drive a car or play darts or earn a PhD in physics? Why not try it all, just to see if I can do it?” (Hingson 82). Hingson displays a passion for proving to others that disabilities such as blindness are not an impassable obstacle but instead a challenge to overcome; all people face challenges, and blindness is just one challenge that some have to face. This theme is carried out throughout the entire novel, shaping all of the anecdotes that he shares, from how he learned to ride a bike to driving a car to going to college. Through sharing his story with the world, Hingson hopes that others will be the ones asking “Why not?”
I agree that Hingson's "why not?" principle is a major aspect of his inspirations for many of his endeavors. I think this principle was always part of his life, but his experience on 9/11 only strengthened his beliefs. He had always been searching for his purpose in life and when he survived an event that he, theoretically, should not have been able to survive, he found what he truly had a passion for and pursued public speaking.
Hingson's question of "why not?" also stuck out to me. He is right that there is no harm in trying to do something. He should not just pass by opportunities because he is blind and other people believe he will not be able to do whatever it may be. Some people probably thought he would not be able to make it through college, but he did that. His attitude definitely helps him accomplish these goals.
If I had to say one of the things from the book that stayed with me the most was absolutely the "why not?" Throughout his life, this simple question was the gateway to many opportunities Mike was able to have and this question always inspired him to fight for what he believed in. The wonderful thing about the "why not?" is that it helped Mike's life so much and allowed him to live a life like everyone else and it also serves as a model for anyone who seems like they are being restrained from doing anything that they want to do.
Hingson is a man of many passions; when he realizes a goal he wishes to accomplish, he perseveres through all possible difficulties in order to achieve the end result. Throughout his life, one of his main goals to was to be able to do anything a sighted person could, so that he could live his life as normally as possible. Although he was blinded from a young age, he never lost his faith in himself and the world around him. He knew, even though his life would be hard, he would be an unstoppable force. When he was young and wanted to ride his bicycle, he was told it was impossible. He proved all of the naysayers wrong when he managed to figured out echolocation by himself and use sound to better understand obstacles around him. Even as an adult, he never lost that youthful enthusiasm. He aspired to live a full life, not separated from the rest of the world. He attended university, got a successful job, and was married, in spite of his inability to see. However, his ultimate aspiration is not merely an individual goal--it is a universal one. He wants blind people to be more socially integrated, to not feel like an outsider among sighted people. He wants to be able to know that “people are interested in [him] because of something [he] accomplish[es] rather than some routine task that appears daunting just because I am blind” (171). Hingson desires, more than anything, for blind people to be treated equally to sighted people; he wants neither to be treated like he is lesser nor to be given special treatment. He is a small but significant part of this goal, as he proves that his dream is completely attainable. Hingson is a man that does not just dream about his goals, he wholeheartedly seeks to accomplish them.
Michael Hingson is a man who knows what he wants and has many passions, inspirations, and aspirations. Something Michael aspired to do as a child and adult was to lead a normal life. His blindness is not a disability. He can do anything that any other person that can see can do. His parents always made sure that this was possible for him. This is due to the fact that Michael's father was one of his inspirations. Michael says, "My father's can-do attitude was a huge influence on me" (Hingson 38). Michael's father would try and educate their neighbors about Michael and his blindness. It does not and should not limit him and Michael would always try and do the same thing to other people he met. His father's attitude has served as an inspiration to him when facing adversity in the world. Michael's aspirations to be treated normally became one of his passions. He wants to give blind people the opportunity to do the same things as people that can see and also make sure they do not face discrimination. He tells the readers, "One of my passions is helping put the latest, most powerful, and most easy-to-use technology in the hands of blind people" (75). He wants to make the world accsesible to the blind population. They should have a right to be able to look up information as quickly as any other person can. Michael makes a point of saying that he has many other descriptions besides being blind such as, "husband, friend, son..., humorist, book lover, man of prayer..." (99-100). His hope is that being blind does not define him as a person. He believes it is a minor detail in the long list of qualities. Michael sets out to accomplish these goals and passions he has for himself and most of the time his attitude, empathy, and determination get it done.
Throughout his life, Hingson (and the blind community for that matter) was always told that he could not do certain things because he had a disability. Others' ignorance and disapproval was a major motivator for pursuing a normal, mainstreamed life. He was told he couldn't ride a bike, but he did anyway. He was told he could not read or write, but he did. He was told he couldn't climb down the several flights of stairs on 9/11 alone, but he did. He always proved the doubters wrong. He, first and foremost, believes in himself and has internal inspiration to do amazing things. He never wants people to think that since he is blind he will "rely unnecessarily on other people, and...play the blind card" (46). Prior to the 9/11 attacks, he was working a steady job and had a routine that he followed everyday. After that fateful day, he realized he was not happy where he was in his career and wanted to discover his purpose in life. He had almost always been involved in a job that revolved around helping the blind. However he wanted to take his support for the blind to the next level. He quit his job and began speaking to groups about his life experiences. He wanted to speak out to help people understand the relationship between a person and a guide dog and empower the blind community.
I am glad you included the portion about his life after 9/11, because I think that it is important for us to realize how dedicated Hingson was to helping others understand his disability. I am sure he feels much more satisfied with his new role as an orator for blind empowerment.
Michael Hingson has many passions that factor into his life. As a child, Hingson had a collection of tapes of old radio shows. This passion of his greatly influenced his personality and sense of humor; his tendency to use comedy to lighten tense situations is likely attributed to this childhood love of his. In college, Hingson discovered his true love for physics and his “quest for beauty and for understanding how the world works” (Hingson 70). This quest guided him throughout his entire college experience as he worked to eventually earn his PhD, even though many tried to dissuade him and convince him that a blind man cannot have such a degree. This leads to his greatest passions and aspirations which are the NFB and his hope for equality. Throughout the novel, Hingson alludes to his interest in technological advancements that assist blind people in various ways, from his K-NFB reader to his hope of one day being able to drive a car. These devices would allow blind people to have the same opportunities as sighted people. In addition, Hingson is also a very clear advocate of guide dogs; a guide dog saved his life after all. He demonstrates his support of guide dogs on many occasions and stresses that the law itself allows blind people to have guide dogs wherever they go; he only hopes people will learn and respect the law as he knows it. Ultimately, Hingson hopes for a future where people will not view him as a blind person, but “a person who happens to be blind” (192). He does not want to be defined by his blindness because it is such a miniscule part of his being. Michael Hingson is so much more than his inability to see.
Michael Hingson is passionate about his faith, inspired by other blind people who accomplished great things, and has always aspired to be a normal man in a light-dependent world. First off, Hingson is extremely passionate about his relationship with God. He studied Christianity with his father when he was young. He realized that faith is always about having a connection and friendship with God, not only going to Sunday sermons; as Brother Lawrence said, “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.” (113) Furthermore, Michael found that even though there are hard times God has a plan for him and in the end he will be “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (112). Also, Michael is passionate about sharing his story in order to inspire others as others have inspired him to keep going “Forward”. Hingson looks up others who are blind and have accomplished much in their life. For example, Sharon Gold (first blind person that Michael got to know well) taught Michael that he should not let his blindness consume his whole life. Sharon was out of her house, engaged in the community, and teached; and Michael thought, “If she can do it, then I can do it.” (21) From then on Michael continued to move forward and not let his limitation become a huge hindrance on his life. Lastly, Michael aspired to be seen as normal as he could in the world where the majority of people had sight. Michael went to college, got a degree in physics, and worked in a high-level business position in a company; he accomplished the same things that any person with functioning eyes could do, his blindness did not stop him. An example when Michael was truly seen as a normal person was when he was having dinner with his brother’s wife and she took the whole evening to realize that he was blind. Michael said that he had a great time with, “just three people having a wonderful dinner and enjoying each other’s company,” without any concern over Michael’s eyes (100). Therefore, Hingson did not let his blindness, nor his traumatic experience of 9/11 shed any permanent gloom over his life. Furthermore, he taught us all to not, “let [our] sight get in the way of [our] vision.” (178).
Michael Hingson is a man who does not shy away from his goals. He does not allow his blindness to slow him down, and oftentimes, he strives to do things simply because others think he cannot. In his memoir, the reader is continually seeing that Hingson is always challenging himself and pushing himself to achieve his goals. This was taught to him from an early age, as his parents had treated him as if not handicapped and he was expected to fend for himself just like his brother. He wasn’t babied or sheltered into thinking that he was different. He wasn’t taught that he could only do things that were specifically made for him. So, he learned to live and cope with his lack of eyesight just like anyone might live and cope with being tone deaf or having flat feet; he didn’t see his ailment as a handicap. It could even be said that Hingson’s inability to see made him work even harder to be successful. Hingson’s accomplishments are greater than even sighted people could hope for: he earned his PhD; he was a high-paid employee and leader in a big firm; he has a loving wife and family; he even survives 9/11. These are just a few of his accomplishments; the list could go on. Therefore, Michael Hingson would be a man to emulate if looking for a role model. He does not let his own inhibitions stop him. He is passionate, inspiring, and aspires to push boundaries.
I agree that Hingson's parents had a huge role in how he grew to embrace his disability. Without them he probably would not have turned out t be the amazing man he is. Parents play a huge rule in the development of a child and his raised him right.
Michael Hingson wants to prove to society that blindness is not a disability and he does so by writing his memoir and by defying prejustices and stereotypes in his everyday life. Hingson's life is driven by his passions, inspirations, and aspirations.
A strong passion of Michaels’ was his education. Michael found an interest in physics. This deep love for physics drove his want to receive his phD. Michael may have given up and might not of ever earned his degree if he hadn’t loved physics as much as he did. Since he overcame the obstacles that were the way of his PhD, it made him a stronger person and proved that he could achieve any goals he wanted to.
One of Hingson's many inspirations were his guide dogs. Like Michael they had to overcome obstacles to get where they were. His guide dogs were going through the same things that Michael was and to have a companion with him along the way helped inspire him to keep going. When Michael was in the tower he was scared since he had no idea of what had happened and couldn't see anything going on around him. He was grateful to have Roselle there with him and knew that she must have been nervous too but Roselle didn’t stop and never panicked. Michael knew that is must have been difficult for Roselle in this situation, “While dog training has prepared Roselle to confront new and dangerous situations, there is no way any dog could ever be prepared for something like this” (Hingson 64). Roselle and all of Michael’s guide dogs were inspirations of his and helped encouraged the idea that he could do anything or go anyway that he set his mind to. An aspiration Michael has is to have society recognize the fact that blind people are the same as people who have sight. They can do the same things and do them just has well if not better. By writing his memoir Michael reached out to people from all around and proved to them that being blind is not a disability. Michael does not want to be pitied for his blindness because he does not see it as something that is bad. Hingson is able to ride a bike, drive a car, go to college, work in New York City, and even fly a plane, all while being blind, which is more than most people with sight can do.
Michael Hingson, author of Thunder Dog, has many aspirations, inspirations, and passions. He displays these in his novel, and the novel itself is an example of one of his passions. Hingson used his novel to educate people on his disability. He has a passion for education and he explains in his novel that that passion stemmed from his persistence in the classroom. During his high school years Hingson never shied from a challenge, even if it meant teaching his math teacher how to teach him. He excelled in every subject and never let his blindness deter him. Hingson also had a passion for being independent. He would learn new ways around his town until he had a complete map of his neighborhood within his mind. After completing this mental map Hingson tested his sense of direction by riding a bike all by himself. Although this brought many worried phone calls to the Hingson household it never stopped him. Michael loved to challenge himself and continued to do things like this, without ever letting his disability get the best of him. Towards the end of the novel a clear inspiration of Hingson’s was his loyal guide dog Roselle. She inspired him to work hard to be calm during the most stressful times. During his descent down the 72 flights of stairs within the world trade center it was important for Hingson to exercise patience and self-control. He needed to keep calm for Roselle’s sake and it was even easier for him because of how calm Roselle was. Roselle was a very inspirational character because of her reserve and her dedication to her job. Even when she was dehydrated and exhausted she kept going because she had a job to do and would not stop until it was completed. Roselle will always be an inspiration to Hingson because she got him through the toughest experience he had ever been through. Hingson’s aspirations went hand in hand with his passions. He aspired to be independent and this was clear when he did not accept the help of a fireman and continued down the steps with only the help of his guide dog. His independence became stronger when he learned to use his other sense to help him “see”. By completing the descent down the world trade center he proved that he could have the independence he wanted. He completed his task and could then aspire to be so much more.
Do you all think that if Micheal Hingson's parents raised him differently he would be less inclined to embrace his disability? Do you think that he would be where he is today?
I think the fact that his parents mainstreamed him and sent him to public school set him up to see himself as any other normal kid. Mainstreaming him never gave Michael the idea that he was different from the other kids so he naturally believed that he could do anything just as people with sight did. I also think that his parents supported him throughout everything he did in life and never said that he couldn't do anything because of his blindness. The way his parents raised him is a huge reason of why he is where is he today and helped to build the foundation of his character. Also I think that the point of his memoir was to prove to people that he doesn't see blindness as a disability and doesn't want others to view him as a disabled person. So I don't think he is embracing his disability per say I think that he accepts that blindness is just part of him and challenge that he has to face but is able to overcome.
At a young age, Michael Hingson found that science had piqued his intellectual curiosity. Michael accredits an early onset introduction to technology to his father for allowing Michael to work with him repairing televisions. Michael excelled in math and science, despite being blind. As a freshman in high school, Michael was in a senior physics class. He put great effort when studying physics at UC Irvine that allowed him to make the dean’s list every quarter and graduate with highest honor. This later would results in him aiming to earn a Phd in physics. When Michael had told the physics department at UC Irvine, the department sent him a letter, “‘A blind person cannot do the high level work necessary for an advanced degree in physics(76).’” This did not stop him from earning the degree and pursuing his passion. Michael never allowed his disability become an excuse, as demonstrated in multiple instance in the novel. Michael played darts, drove cars, flew an airplane, took the train and worked in the World Trade Center. He even uses his passion for science to fulfill another passion, a passion for helping other blind people overcome their situation which he states, “..one of my passions is helping to put the latest, most powerful, and most easy-to-use technology in the hands of blind people(75).” I found it interesting how he was able to merge this two passions.
This is interesting. Hingson emphasizes how he was able to use his blindness as an asset rather than a disability. He showed this through his ability to sell computer systems as well as sell the fact that blindness is not a disability to society.
In terms of his passions, inspirations, and aspirations, Mike always had the passion of helping as many people as he could understand what it is truly like to be blind and that it is not nearly as bad as it is portrayed to be. Throughout his adulthood, Mike participated and involved himself with numerous organizations to facilitate life for blind people so that they could live just as comfortable a life as people who can see. Mike also gave talks to people about his life with the point of explaining his take on being blind. In the book it seemed like through his childhood and adolescence he was inspired by his family who would never take no for an answer if their son were to be left of something that all the other kids were doing. His parents worked hard to make their son like everyone else and later on his own, this inspired make to the same with his life. Mike would never stand for small or large injustices that were held against without a fight because all he wanted was to be treated as if he weren't blind. This transitions into his aspirations which as he mentions in the book is for people to be so comfortable with him to the point where they forget that he is blind. He aspired to be part of a culture that will not look down upon or pity people with disabilities.
In terms of his passions, inspirations, and aspirations, Mike always had the passion of helping as many people as he could understand what it is truly like to be blind and that it is not nearly as bad as it is portrayed to be. Throughout his adulthood, Mike participated and involved himself with numerous organizations to facilitate life for blind people so that they could live just as comfortable a life as people who can see. Mike also gave talks to people about his life with the point of explaining his take on being blind. In the book it seemed like through his childhood and adolescence he was inspired by his family who would never take no for an answer if their son were to be left of something that all the other kids were doing. His parents worked hard to make their son like everyone else and later on his own, this inspired make to the same with his life. Mike would never stand for small or large injustices that were held against without a fight because all he wanted was to be treated as if he weren't blind. This transitions into his aspirations which as he mentions in the book is for people to be so comfortable with him to the point where they forget that he is blind. He aspired to be part of a culture that will not look down upon or pity people with disabilities.
Analyze Hingson in terms of his passions, inspirations, and aspirations. Hingston never let being blind stop him from what he wanted to do, even when everyone told him differently. His parents instilled this belief into him from a young age; he was not put into a school for the blind, nor was he restricted in many aspects due to his blindness. They gave him the foundation to grow into a tenacious and inspiring person. His dedication to his faith gave him the courage to pursue many facets of life that he did. He had faith that he would be able to escape the tower on 9/11, just as he had faith that he could safely drive a car around campus. This attitude of perserverence is an overarching theme in his life. He is also passionate about teaching the future, and telling his story to better the world. As a blind man, obviously human rights of the blind is an issue that is important to him. He works to educate people from all over about the challenges that the blind community faces, and what they can do to make a difference. It is precisely this attitude that makes him such a remarkable person.
Michael Hingson has demonstrated that he is most passionate about not only overcoming his disability and proving wrong those who have doubted him, but teaching others about blindness. He wants to educate people about his disability, which ties directly into the aspirations category, because h aspires to get rid of the stigma attached to blindness. People assume blind people are incapable of things when oftentimes they are quite capable of being independent. Hingson aspires to educate people so they become more aware that blind people are equal to sighted people, and not less significant to the world in any way. He also mentions making everyday tasks easier for blind people, with special gadgets for translating text documents to braille, and giving silent electric cars a small whirring sound so it will be safer for blind people to cross the street. Hingson truly aspires to make a significant impact in the lives of blind people across the globe. After reading Thunder Dog, I found that Michael Hingson's biggest inspiration was his guide dog, Roselle. In the times that Hingson was afraid or unaware of what was going on (ie. his experience on September 11th) Roselle stayed calm for him. She saved his life, and the story of Thunder Dog is truly inspiring to those who read it, but probably especially inspiring to Hingson. Roselle taught him that no matter what situation he finds himself in, he can make it through and be successful regardless of his disability.
Through merely writing his memoir, Hingson demonstrated his passion for educating others about what it really means to have a disability. While his blindness has impacted his life greatly, it is just a piece of who he is; in writing his book, he sought to explain that disabilities do affect people, but are not the only aspect of them. Hingson explains that many people saw his blindness as an impassable obstacle; he was once told that because he was blind, he would be unable to pursue an advanced degree in physics. To these people who doubted his abilities, he posed the question Why not?: “Those two words are my secret, the secret behind blind power. Why not? Why not ride a bike or drive a car or play darts or earn a PhD in physics? Why not try it all, just to see if I can do it?” (Hingson 82). Hingson displays a passion for proving to others that disabilities such as blindness are not an impassable obstacle but instead a challenge to overcome; all people face challenges, and blindness is just one challenge that some have to face. This theme is carried out throughout the entire novel, shaping all of the anecdotes that he shares, from how he learned to ride a bike to driving a car to going to college. Through sharing his story with the world, Hingson hopes that others will be the ones asking “Why not?”
ReplyDeleteI agree that Hingson's "why not?" principle is a major aspect of his inspirations for many of his endeavors. I think this principle was always part of his life, but his experience on 9/11 only strengthened his beliefs. He had always been searching for his purpose in life and when he survived an event that he, theoretically, should not have been able to survive, he found what he truly had a passion for and pursued public speaking.
DeleteHingson's question of "why not?" also stuck out to me. He is right that there is no harm in trying to do something. He should not just pass by opportunities because he is blind and other people believe he will not be able to do whatever it may be. Some people probably thought he would not be able to make it through college, but he did that. His attitude definitely helps him accomplish these goals.
DeleteIf I had to say one of the things from the book that stayed with me the most was absolutely the "why not?" Throughout his life, this simple question was the gateway to many opportunities Mike was able to have and this question always inspired him to fight for what he believed in. The wonderful thing about the "why not?" is that it helped Mike's life so much and allowed him to live a life like everyone else and it also serves as a model for anyone who seems like they are being restrained from doing anything that they want to do.
DeleteHingson is a man of many passions; when he realizes a goal he wishes to accomplish, he perseveres through all possible difficulties in order to achieve the end result. Throughout his life, one of his main goals to was to be able to do anything a sighted person could, so that he could live his life as normally as possible. Although he was blinded from a young age, he never lost his faith in himself and the world around him. He knew, even though his life would be hard, he would be an unstoppable force. When he was young and wanted to ride his bicycle, he was told it was impossible. He proved all of the naysayers wrong when he managed to figured out echolocation by himself and use sound to better understand obstacles around him. Even as an adult, he never lost that youthful enthusiasm. He aspired to live a full life, not separated from the rest of the world. He attended university, got a successful job, and was married, in spite of his inability to see. However, his ultimate aspiration is not merely an individual goal--it is a universal one. He wants blind people to be more socially integrated, to not feel like an outsider among sighted people. He wants to be able to know that “people are interested in [him] because of something [he] accomplish[es] rather than some routine task that appears daunting just because I am blind” (171). Hingson desires, more than anything, for blind people to be treated equally to sighted people; he wants neither to be treated like he is lesser nor to be given special treatment. He is a small but significant part of this goal, as he proves that his dream is completely attainable. Hingson is a man that does not just dream about his goals, he wholeheartedly seeks to accomplish them.
ReplyDeleteMichael Hingson is a man who knows what he wants and has many passions, inspirations, and aspirations. Something Michael aspired to do as a child and adult was to lead a normal life. His blindness is not a disability. He can do anything that any other person that can see can do. His parents always made sure that this was possible for him. This is due to the fact that Michael's father was one of his inspirations. Michael says, "My father's can-do attitude was a huge influence on me" (Hingson 38). Michael's father would try and educate their neighbors about Michael and his blindness. It does not and should not limit him and Michael would always try and do the same thing to other people he met. His father's attitude has served as an inspiration to him when facing adversity in the world. Michael's aspirations to be treated normally became one of his passions. He wants to give blind people the opportunity to do the same things as people that can see and also make sure they do not face discrimination. He tells the readers, "One of my passions is helping put the latest, most powerful, and most easy-to-use technology in the hands of blind people" (75). He wants to make the world accsesible to the blind population. They should have a right to be able to look up information as quickly as any other person can. Michael makes a point of saying that he has many other descriptions besides being blind such as, "husband, friend, son..., humorist, book lover, man of prayer..." (99-100). His hope is that being blind does not define him as a person. He believes it is a minor detail in the long list of qualities. Michael sets out to accomplish these goals and passions he has for himself and most of the time his attitude, empathy, and determination get it done.
ReplyDeleteThroughout his life, Hingson (and the blind community for that matter) was always told that he could not do certain things because he had a disability. Others' ignorance and disapproval was a major motivator for pursuing a normal, mainstreamed life. He was told he couldn't ride a bike, but he did anyway. He was told he could not read or write, but he did. He was told he couldn't climb down the several flights of stairs on 9/11 alone, but he did. He always proved the doubters wrong. He, first and foremost, believes in himself and has internal inspiration to do amazing things. He never wants people to think that since he is blind he will "rely unnecessarily on other people, and...play the blind card" (46). Prior to the 9/11 attacks, he was working a steady job and had a routine that he followed everyday. After that fateful day, he realized he was not happy where he was in his career and wanted to discover his purpose in life. He had almost always been involved in a job that revolved around helping the blind. However he wanted to take his support for the blind to the next level. He quit his job and began speaking to groups about his life experiences. He wanted to speak out to help people understand the relationship between a person and a guide dog and empower the blind community.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you included the portion about his life after 9/11, because I think that it is important for us to realize how dedicated Hingson was to helping others understand his disability. I am sure he feels much more satisfied with his new role as an orator for blind empowerment.
DeleteMichael Hingson has many passions that factor into his life. As a child, Hingson had a collection of tapes of old radio shows. This passion of his greatly influenced his personality and sense of humor; his tendency to use comedy to lighten tense situations is likely attributed to this childhood love of his. In college, Hingson discovered his true love for physics and his “quest for beauty and for understanding how the world works” (Hingson 70). This quest guided him throughout his entire college experience as he worked to eventually earn his PhD, even though many tried to dissuade him and convince him that a blind man cannot have such a degree. This leads to his greatest passions and aspirations which are the NFB and his hope for equality. Throughout the novel, Hingson alludes to his interest in technological advancements that assist blind people in various ways, from his K-NFB reader to his hope of one day being able to drive a car. These devices would allow blind people to have the same opportunities as sighted people. In addition, Hingson is also a very clear advocate of guide dogs; a guide dog saved his life after all. He demonstrates his support of guide dogs on many occasions and stresses that the law itself allows blind people to have guide dogs wherever they go; he only hopes people will learn and respect the law as he knows it. Ultimately, Hingson hopes for a future where people will not view him as a blind person, but “a person who happens to be blind” (192). He does not want to be defined by his blindness because it is such a miniscule part of his being. Michael Hingson is so much more than his inability to see.
ReplyDeleteMichael Hingson is passionate about his faith, inspired by other blind people who accomplished great things, and has always aspired to be a normal man in a light-dependent world. First off, Hingson is extremely passionate about his relationship with God. He studied Christianity with his father when he was young. He realized that faith is always about having a connection and friendship with God, not only going to Sunday sermons; as Brother Lawrence said, “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.” (113) Furthermore, Michael found that even though there are hard times God has a plan for him and in the end he will be “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (112). Also, Michael is passionate about sharing his story in order to inspire others as others have inspired him to keep going “Forward”. Hingson looks up others who are blind and have accomplished much in their life. For example, Sharon Gold (first blind person that Michael got to know well) taught Michael that he should not let his blindness consume his whole life. Sharon was out of her house, engaged in the community, and teached; and Michael thought, “If she can do it, then I can do it.” (21) From then on Michael continued to move forward and not let his limitation become a huge hindrance on his life. Lastly, Michael aspired to be seen as normal as he could in the world where the majority of people had sight. Michael went to college, got a degree in physics, and worked in a high-level business position in a company; he accomplished the same things that any person with functioning eyes could do, his blindness did not stop him. An example when Michael was truly seen as a normal person was when he was having dinner with his brother’s wife and she took the whole evening to realize that he was blind. Michael said that he had a great time with, “just three people having a wonderful dinner and enjoying each other’s company,” without any concern over Michael’s eyes (100). Therefore, Hingson did not let his blindness, nor his traumatic experience of 9/11 shed any permanent gloom over his life. Furthermore, he taught us all to not, “let [our] sight get in the way of [our] vision.” (178).
ReplyDeleteMichael Hingson is a man who does not shy away from his goals. He does not allow his blindness to slow him down, and oftentimes, he strives to do things simply because others think he cannot. In his memoir, the reader is continually seeing that Hingson is always challenging himself and pushing himself to achieve his goals. This was taught to him from an early age, as his parents had treated him as if not handicapped and he was expected to fend for himself just like his brother. He wasn’t babied or sheltered into thinking that he was different. He wasn’t taught that he could only do things that were specifically made for him. So, he learned to live and cope with his lack of eyesight just like anyone might live and cope with being tone deaf or having flat feet; he didn’t see his ailment as a handicap. It could even be said that Hingson’s inability to see made him work even harder to be successful. Hingson’s accomplishments are greater than even sighted people could hope for: he earned his PhD; he was a high-paid employee and leader in a big firm; he has a loving wife and family; he even survives 9/11. These are just a few of his accomplishments; the list could go on. Therefore, Michael Hingson would be a man to emulate if looking for a role model. He does not let his own inhibitions stop him. He is passionate, inspiring, and aspires to push boundaries.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Hingson's parents had a huge role in how he grew to embrace his disability. Without them he probably would not have turned out t be the amazing man he is. Parents play a huge rule in the development of a child and his raised him right.
DeleteMichael Hingson wants to prove to society that blindness is not a disability and he does so by writing his memoir and by defying prejustices and stereotypes in his everyday life. Hingson's life is driven by his passions, inspirations, and aspirations.
ReplyDeleteA strong passion of Michaels’ was his education. Michael found an interest in physics. This deep love for physics drove his want to receive his phD. Michael may have given up and might not of ever earned his degree if he hadn’t loved physics as much as he did. Since he overcame the obstacles that were the way of his PhD, it made him a stronger person and proved that he could achieve any goals he wanted to.
One of Hingson's many inspirations were his guide dogs. Like Michael they had to overcome obstacles to get where they were. His guide dogs were going through the same things that Michael was and to have a companion with him along the way helped inspire him to keep going. When Michael was in the tower he was scared since he had no idea of what had happened and couldn't see anything going on around him. He was grateful to have Roselle there with him and knew that she must have been nervous too but Roselle didn’t stop and never panicked. Michael knew that is must have been difficult for Roselle in this situation, “While dog training has prepared Roselle to confront new and dangerous situations, there is no way any dog could ever be prepared for something like this” (Hingson 64). Roselle and all of Michael’s guide dogs were inspirations of his and helped encouraged the idea that he could do anything or go anyway that he set his mind to.
An aspiration Michael has is to have society recognize the fact that blind people are the same as people who have sight. They can do the same things and do them just has well if not better. By writing his memoir Michael reached out to people from all around and proved to them that being blind is not a disability. Michael does not want to be pitied for his blindness because he does not see it as something that is bad. Hingson is able to ride a bike, drive a car, go to college, work in New York City, and even fly a plane, all while being blind, which is more than most people with sight can do.
Michael Hingson, author of Thunder Dog, has many aspirations, inspirations, and passions. He displays these in his novel, and the novel itself is an example of one of his passions. Hingson used his novel to educate people on his disability. He has a passion for education and he explains in his novel that that passion stemmed from his persistence in the classroom. During his high school years Hingson never shied from a challenge, even if it meant teaching his math teacher how to teach him. He excelled in every subject and never let his blindness deter him. Hingson also had a passion for being independent. He would learn new ways around his town until he had a complete map of his neighborhood within his mind. After completing this mental map Hingson tested his sense of direction by riding a bike all by himself. Although this brought many worried phone calls to the Hingson household it never stopped him. Michael loved to challenge himself and continued to do things like this, without ever letting his disability get the best of him.
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of the novel a clear inspiration of Hingson’s was his loyal guide dog Roselle. She inspired him to work hard to be calm during the most stressful times. During his descent down the 72 flights of stairs within the world trade center it was important for Hingson to exercise patience and self-control. He needed to keep calm for Roselle’s sake and it was even easier for him because of how calm Roselle was. Roselle was a very inspirational character because of her reserve and her dedication to her job. Even when she was dehydrated and exhausted she kept going because she had a job to do and would not stop until it was completed. Roselle will always be an inspiration to Hingson because she got him through the toughest experience he had ever been through.
Hingson’s aspirations went hand in hand with his passions. He aspired to be independent and this was clear when he did not accept the help of a fireman and continued down the steps with only the help of his guide dog. His independence became stronger when he learned to use his other sense to help him “see”. By completing the descent down the world trade center he proved that he could have the independence he wanted. He completed his task and could then aspire to be so much more.
Do you all think that if Micheal Hingson's parents raised him differently he would be less inclined to embrace his disability? Do you think that he would be where he is today?
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that his parents mainstreamed him and sent him to public school set him up to see himself as any other normal kid. Mainstreaming him never gave Michael the idea that he was different from the other kids so he naturally believed that he could do anything just as people with sight did. I also think that his parents supported him throughout everything he did in life and never said that he couldn't do anything because of his blindness. The way his parents raised him is a huge reason of why he is where is he today and helped to build the foundation of his character. Also I think that the point of his memoir was to prove to people that he doesn't see blindness as a disability and doesn't want others to view him as a disabled person. So I don't think he is embracing his disability per say I think that he accepts that blindness is just part of him and challenge that he has to face but is able to overcome.
DeleteAt a young age, Michael Hingson found that science had piqued his intellectual curiosity. Michael accredits an early onset introduction to technology to his father for allowing Michael to work with him repairing televisions. Michael excelled in math and science, despite being blind. As a freshman in high school, Michael was in a senior physics class. He put great effort when studying physics at UC Irvine that allowed him to make the dean’s list every quarter and graduate with highest honor. This later would results in him aiming to earn a Phd in physics. When Michael had told the physics department at UC Irvine, the department sent him a letter, “‘A blind person cannot do the high level work necessary for an advanced degree in physics(76).’” This did not stop him from earning the degree and pursuing his passion. Michael never allowed his disability become an excuse, as demonstrated in multiple instance in the novel. Michael played darts, drove cars, flew an airplane, took the train and worked in the World Trade Center. He even uses his passion for science to fulfill another passion, a passion for helping other blind people overcome their situation which he states, “..one of my passions is helping to put the latest, most powerful, and most easy-to-use technology in the hands of blind people(75).” I found it interesting how he was able to merge this two passions.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting. Hingson emphasizes how he was able to use his blindness as an asset rather than a disability. He showed this through his ability to sell computer systems as well as sell the fact that blindness is not a disability to society.
DeleteIn terms of his passions, inspirations, and aspirations, Mike always had the passion of helping as many people as he could understand what it is truly like to be blind and that it is not nearly as bad as it is portrayed to be. Throughout his adulthood, Mike participated and involved himself with numerous organizations to facilitate life for blind people so that they could live just as comfortable a life as people who can see. Mike also gave talks to people about his life with the point of explaining his take on being blind. In the book it seemed like through his childhood and adolescence he was inspired by his family who would never take no for an answer if their son were to be left of something that all the other kids were doing. His parents worked hard to make their son like everyone else and later on his own, this inspired make to the same with his life. Mike would never stand for small or large injustices that were held against without a fight because all he wanted was to be treated as if he weren't blind. This transitions into his aspirations which as he mentions in the book is for people to be so comfortable with him to the point where they forget that he is blind. He aspired to be part of a culture that will not look down upon or pity people with disabilities.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of his passions, inspirations, and aspirations, Mike always had the passion of helping as many people as he could understand what it is truly like to be blind and that it is not nearly as bad as it is portrayed to be. Throughout his adulthood, Mike participated and involved himself with numerous organizations to facilitate life for blind people so that they could live just as comfortable a life as people who can see. Mike also gave talks to people about his life with the point of explaining his take on being blind. In the book it seemed like through his childhood and adolescence he was inspired by his family who would never take no for an answer if their son were to be left of something that all the other kids were doing. His parents worked hard to make their son like everyone else and later on his own, this inspired make to the same with his life. Mike would never stand for small or large injustices that were held against without a fight because all he wanted was to be treated as if he weren't blind. This transitions into his aspirations which as he mentions in the book is for people to be so comfortable with him to the point where they forget that he is blind. He aspired to be part of a culture that will not look down upon or pity people with disabilities.
ReplyDeleteAnalyze Hingson in terms of his passions, inspirations, and aspirations.
ReplyDeleteHingston never let being blind stop him from what he wanted to do, even when everyone told him differently. His parents instilled this belief into him from a young age; he was not put into a school for the blind, nor was he restricted in many aspects due to his blindness. They gave him the foundation to grow into a tenacious and inspiring person. His dedication to his faith gave him the courage to pursue many facets of life that he did. He had faith that he would be able to escape the tower on 9/11, just as he had faith that he could safely drive a car around campus. This attitude of perserverence is an overarching theme in his life. He is also passionate about teaching the future, and telling his story to better the world. As a blind man, obviously human rights of the blind is an issue that is important to him. He works to educate people from all over about the challenges that the blind community faces, and what they can do to make a difference. It is precisely this attitude that makes him such a remarkable person.
Michael Hingson has demonstrated that he is most passionate about not only overcoming his disability and proving wrong those who have doubted him, but teaching others about blindness. He wants to educate people about his disability, which ties directly into the aspirations category, because h aspires to get rid of the stigma attached to blindness. People assume blind people are incapable of things when oftentimes they are quite capable of being independent. Hingson aspires to educate people so they become more aware that blind people are equal to sighted people, and not less significant to the world in any way. He also mentions making everyday tasks easier for blind people, with special gadgets for translating text documents to braille, and giving silent electric cars a small whirring sound so it will be safer for blind people to cross the street. Hingson truly aspires to make a significant impact in the lives of blind people across the globe.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Thunder Dog, I found that Michael Hingson's biggest inspiration was his guide dog, Roselle. In the times that Hingson was afraid or unaware of what was going on (ie. his experience on September 11th) Roselle stayed calm for him. She saved his life, and the story of Thunder Dog is truly inspiring to those who read it, but probably especially inspiring to Hingson. Roselle taught him that no matter what situation he finds himself in, he can make it through and be successful regardless of his disability.