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Dear Lions and Ladies:
I suppose you have heard the legend that represents opportunity
as a capricious lady, who knocks at every door but once,
and if the door isn't opened quickly, she passes on, never
to return. And that is as it should be. Lovely, desirable
ladies won't wait. You have to go out and grab 'em.
I am your opportunity. I am knocking at your door. I want
to be adopted. The legend doesn't say what you are to do
when several beautiful opportunities present themselves
at the same door. I guess you have to choose the one you
love best. I hope you will adopt me. I am the youngest here,
and what I offer you is full of splendid opportunities for
service.
The American Foundation for the Blind is only four years
old. It grew out of the imperative needs of the blind, and
was called into existence by the sightless themselves. It
is national and international in scope and in importance.
It represents the best and most enlightened thought on our
subject that has been reached so far. Its object is to make
the lives of the blind more worthwhile everywhere by increasing
their economic value and giving them the joy of normal activity.
Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly
stricken blind today. Picture yourself stumbling and groping
at noonday as in the night; your work, your independence,
gone. In that dark world wouldn't you be glad if a friend
took you by the hand and said, "Come with me and I
will teach you how to do some of the things you used to
do when you could see"? That is just the kind of friend
the American Foundation is going to be to all the blind
in this country if seeing people will give it the support
it must have.
You have heard how through a little word dropped from the
fingers of another, a ray of light from another soul touched
the darkness of my mind and I found myself, found the world,
found God. It is because my teacher learned about me and
broke through the dark, silent imprisonment which held me
that I am able to work for myself and for others. It is
the caring we want more than money. The gift without the
sympathy and interest of the giver is empty. If you care,
if we can make the people of this great country care, the
blind will indeed triumph over blindness.
The opportunity I bring to you, Lions, is this: To foster
and sponsor the work of the American Foundation for the
Blind. Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall
be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child
untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you
Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are
strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves
Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?
I thank you. |
