#seeing blind

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Seeing in The New York Times the photograph of Helen Keller in the Observation Tower of the Empire State Building, I [Dr. John H. Finley] wrote her asking her what she really “saw” from that height. This remarkable letter written by her came in answer and was published in The New York Times Magazine. It will be agreed by all who read it that, as she said, she “beheld a brighter prospect than my friends with two good eyes.”

January 13, 1932 Dear Dr. Finley:

After many days and many tribulations which are inseparable from existence here below, I sit down to the pleasure of writing to you and answering your delightful question, “What Did You Think ‘of the Sight’ When You Were on the Top of the Empire Building?”

Frankly, I was so entranced “seeing” that I did not think about the sight. If there was a subconscious thought of it, it was in the nature of gratitude to God for having given the blind seeing minds. As I now recall the view I had from the Empire Tower, I am convinced that, until we have looked into darkness, we cannot know what a divine thing vision is.

Perhaps I beheld a brighter prospect than my companions with two good eyes. Anyway, a blind friend gave me the best description I had of the Empire Building until I saw it myself.

Do I hear you reply, “I suppose to you it is a reasonable thesis that the universe is all a dream, and that the blind only are awake?” Y—es—no doubt I shall be left at the Last Day on the other bank defending the incredible prodigies of the unseen world, and, more incredible still, the strange grass and skies the blind behold are greener grass and bluer skies than ordinary eyes see. I will concede that my guides saw a thousand things that escaped me from the top of the Empire Building, but I am not envious. For imagination creates distances and horizons that reach to the end of the world. It is as easy for the mind to think in stars as in cobble-stones. Sightless Milton dreamed visions no one else could see. Radiant with an inward light, he sent forth rays by which mankind beholds the realms of Paradise.

But what of the Empire Building? It was a thrilling experience to be whizzed in a “lift” a quarter of a mile heavenward, and to see New York spread out like a marvellous tapestry beneath us. There was the Hudson—more like the flash of a sword-blade than a noble river. The little island of Manhattan, set like a jewel in its nest of rainbow waters, stared up into my face, and the solar system circled about my head! Why, I thought, the sun and the stars are suburbs of New York, and I never knew it! I had a sort of wild desire to invest in a bit of real estate on one of the planets. All sense of depression and hard times vanished, I felt like being frivolous with the stars. But that was only for a moment. I am too static to feel quite natural in a Star View cottage on the Milky Way, which must be something of a merry-go-round even on quiet days.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Empire Building so poetical. From everyone except my blind friend I had received an impression of sordid materialism—the piling up of one steel honeycomb upon another with no real purpose but to satisfy the American craving for the superlative in everything. A Frenchman has said, in his exalted moments the American fancies himself a demigod, nay, a god; for only gods never tire of the prodigious. The highest, the largest, the most costly is the breath of his vanity.

Well, I see in the Empire Building something else—passionate skill, arduous and fearless idealism. The tallest building is a victory of imagination. Instead of crouching close to earth like a beast, the spirit of man soars to higher regions, and from this new point of vantage he looks upon the impossible with fortified courage and dreams yet more magnificent enterprises.

What did I “see and hear” from the Empire Tower? As I stood there ’twixt earth and sky, I saw a romantic structure wrought by human brains and hands that is to the burning eye of the sun a rival luminary. I saw it stand erect and serene in the midst of storm and the tumult of elemental commotion. I heard the hammer of Thor ring when the shaft began to rise upward. I saw the unconquerable steel, the flash of testing flames, the sword-like rivets. I heard the steam drills in pandemonium. I saw countless skilled workers welding together that mighty symmetry. I looked upon the marvel of frail, yet indomitable hands that lifted the tower to its dominating height.

Let cynics and supersensitive souls say what they will about American materialism and machine civilization. Beneath the surface are poetry, mysticism and inspiration that the Empire Building somehow symbolizes. In that giant shaft I see a groping toward beauty and spiritual vision. I am one of those who see and yet believe.

I hope I have not wearied you with my “screed” about sight and seeing. The length of this letter is a sign of long, long thoughts that bring me happiness.

I am, with every good wish for the New Year,

Sincerely yours, Helen Keller

Top photo: Times Wide World Photos/Letters of Note Bottom photo: Associated Press

[apureniallsource]

Niall performing Seeing Blind in Hollywood - 05/29

[highladyofterrasen7]

I want Niall to play seeing blind

[dailymothanon]

I can’t believe he so totally inherited his mama Ravage’s cat eyes 😌 the half blindness was just because I could honestly (purely experimental I doubt this is the face I’d keep for him exactly); but if you were to squint you could say that his intense hearing/telepathy from the intense and constant inputs caused migraines (or from the stress of all the inputs) that caused it to go blind (yes migraines can do that), Or simply he had damaged his optic way long ago and having been on the streets And near insanity it simply was left untreated 😌

But I have heard that bats when they use their vision (at least for shorter distances) instead of echolocation they do actually tend to crash more frequently cuz the visual inputs mess up their audial information… figured it could be the same for Soundwave, where being half blind actually makes him feel more comfortable since he hears so intensely

Also I wasn’t sure how a cybertronian’s eye would get cloudy so. I did one way here the pupil would just fade severely/just about offline completely, and another referencing actual animal blind cat eyes

[wimble-thimble]

if latula and mituna get to skateboard its only fair for terezi and sollux to rollerblade right

[marenmorrisx]

Seeing Blind by Maren Morris & Niall Horan

[pukicho]

pukicho, i think ur so awesome and cool. can u tell me how to get bitches (lovingly) bc im lonely

Are you really in any position to call women bitches if you can't even bag a single one? Maybe you can stop itemizing their existence and instead pursue the act of dating as a real means for connection - rather than a method to score metaphorical points, like you're in some sorta fucking video game.

[pearlore]

@eydilily 's gempearl designs r so gorgeous i had to draw........ also a swap?? ft. some nzsl bc i was briefly possessed by the spirit of. hands.

[the-inner-musings-of-a-worm]

jeremy does not like neil. neil came to visit jean and jean came back spiraling. neil knows things about jean that jeremy does not. he is a short, suspicious, menace of a man. all of this to say that it is the funniest thing on earth to both the foxes and the trojans that jeremy knox, captain sunshine and rainbows, gets along better with andrew minyard than neil josten.

[puppppppppy]

who is your favorite AA character? 👁️👁️

ziska… I hope capcom brings her back someday

[maplebitts]

There both taking this very seriously

[apureniallsource]

Niall performing Seeing Blind in Tampa - 05/31

[kelkilou]

I didn't take part in Summer Vees Week, and all the art was super cute - but whenever I saw the group drawn at an earth-like beach this is honestly all I could think about-

[wormsical]

tiresias no

[drulalovescas]

Dean carried Cas' body to the cabin.

Alone.

Dean prepared Cas' body for the Hunter's Funeral.

Alone.

Dean lifted Cas' body onto the pyre.

Alone.

Dean collected Cas' ashes.

Alone.

Dean spread Cas' ashes by the Windmill.

Alone.

Because Cas was DEAN'S.

He did all that and people still say he didn't love Cas back.