From Erik's E-mail

From Erik's E-mail

The Braille Monitor

May, 2002

(back)

(next) (contents)

From Erik's E-mail

From

the Editor: During the course of his preparing for and executing the climbs

of Ama Dablam and Mt. Everest, I got to know Erik Weihenmayer and members of

his team pretty well. As the world has come to know, they are remarkable people,

and they have done a great deal to inspire blind and sighted people alike. I

shake my head in bemusement when I read comments from the disenchanted handful

who grumble that as blind people they are tired of hearing about Erik Weihenmayer

because now people will expect them to climb mountains, or, if they are sighted,

they resent the possibility that blind people will begin demanding that they

be allowed to endanger themselves and everybody else doing silly stunts or generally

trying to do things that everyone knows a blind person can't do.

Because

Erik has gotten to know me, he has occasionally passed along an e-mail plea

for help that he thinks the NFB can give. I then write to the person and put

him or her in touch with NFB members in the area and see to it that appropriate

literature is sent. I know firsthand just how much good Erik continues to do

with his message of hope and his outreach to the world.

Last

November Erik's father sent me a different sort of e-mail letter that he thought

I would be interested in reading. It too demonstrates the impact Erik has on

the lives of Americans and, I suspect, people around the world. Here is the

letter:

November 8, 2001

Dear Erik,

My name is Zachary, and I am eight

years old. In school I had to do a speech on my hero, and I picked you. We did

our speeches as a human wax museum. I had to do my speech as if I were you.

I picked you because, when my family went to Disneyland in July, I saw you climb

the Matterhorn with Mickey Mouse, and I had to learn more about your climbs.

When I started researching all that you had done, I began to be inspired by

you. You have done more in your life than anyone can imagine. You are my hero

because you didn't let anything stand in your way. You knew what you wanted,

and you went for it. I hope when I grow up I can have the same strength that

you have. I may not be blind, but I can still use strength.

Thank you for everything,

Zachary

(back)

(next) (contents)