Why would I be offended?
On 2016-05-21 03:40 PM, Mark Martin wrote:
Thanks Steve, your point is well taken, and I apologize to Karen and Kalan or_me! After all, I shared the same campus with him! Better yet, I was in the
anyone else if I have offended in any way.
Mark Martin, 73.
----- Original Message -----
FROM: Steve
TO: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
SENT: Saturday, May 21, 2016 11:28 AM
SUBJECT: [msb-alumni] Re: Celebrity and Schools for the Blind
Larry,
Personally, you expressed my thoughts. I don't think, nor would I expect
Stevie to be as attached to the school as we were because most of the time
he was out on the road performing and with his tutor Ted Hull. Because of
his early success, the school was more of an enabler for him by being able
to contract with Hull to educate Stevie while he was on the road. I think
that MSB took advantage of this in some form of self-aggrandizement, more
than Stevie giving of himself back to the school. Yes, he did give
performances there and participated in a Christmas play, and occasionally,
he was at the school for short stretches when he wasn't touring.
In this sense, Stevie was much different than Ronnie Milsap at the North
Carolina School, Ray Charles at the Florida School, or Clarence Carter at
the Alabama School for the Blind, all of whom didn't have the career or
notoriety when they were students.
I did a Nexis search in the past using the Lexis/Nexis service. From what I
recall, MSB did more identification with Stevie than the other way around.
If you compare this to, say, Clarence Carter or Ray Charles, I think they
had a lot more tied into their early education at their respective blind
schools than Stevie did.
I think that leads to my opinion that he isn't particularly a strong
supporter of MSB; although in my mind, that really doesn't matter now since
there is no MSB to really support, except the institution that lives on in
our minds.
This is separate and distinct from my opinion of what Steve does for
humanity. You couldn't find a stronger advocate for humanitarian causes;
and certainly not for integrating products for the blind to use than Steve
or Mike May.
Now, let me become a bit more unpopular...
What was stated by some listers that he wasn't supportive of the school is
not really character assassination. Character assassination requires that
the fact be untrue and that it be stated with the motive of running down the
other person's reputation. In this case, there was no such motive; just an
opinion.
I'm frankly disappointed in two things having to do with this.
First, I think some people jumped on others for expressing how they felt.
That's disappointing. There was a lot of defensiveness and demeaning in
some of this, very disappointed in that. As Donald Trump would say
"OKAY???"
Second, the organization behind this supposed Birthday Party. If they are
using this as a means of fund-raising, they are purporting a fraud on the
public. I'm sure they knew, or reasonably should have known, that Stevie
would not be appearing as such a function. To attempt to tie into his
birthday and conducting the event at the former Gym of MSB, to me reeks of
deceit and deception.
Steve
Class of '72
----- Original Message -----
FROM: lkeeler@xxxxxxxxxxx
TO: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
SENT: Saturday, May 21, 2016 6:22 AM
SUBJECT: [msb-alumni] Re: Celebrity and Schools for the Blind
Hey Marrk, I heard that Stevie was on the road a lot while at the school.
I've also heard that he offered free tickets to his concerts to MSB and
noone took them. I only mention that because I wonder if the bond between
him and the school was different than ours.
FROM: Mark Martin
SENT: Saturday, May 21, 2016 1:11 AM
TO: MSB Alumni
SUBJECT: [msb-alumni] Celebrity and Schools for the Blind
I got to thinking about how many schools for the blind can boast of an
alumnus as well known as Stevie? I can think of a couple of others, Ronnie
Milsap from the Governor Morehead School in North Carolina, and Ray Charles
from Florida. How supportive have they been? Personally I don't know.
Those of you who apparently track these things could perhaps fill us in!
Maybe this would give you the satisfaction in knowing they have been more
supportive of their schools, or maybe they have done no better. We here in
Michigan have nothing left to support. I actually don't know the status of
Florida and North Carolina. We have two Christmas concerts with Stevie
singing solos. How many schools for the blind can lay claim to that, and
how about Stevie writing one of his best known songs right there on our
campus! "My Cherie Amour" reached the number 4 position on the national
Billboard charts in 1969. What is behind this anyway? Envy? Jealousy? Why
hasn't Stevie obtained a car for
Mark Martin, 73.
