Hearts in the right place, heads up their asses
Yet another report from the Department of Symbolism Means More Than Action.
The U.S. Mint, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, is issuing a silver dollar with Braille on it. Ooooh! Aaaaah! "This is going to put Braille in front of people in a very dramatic way," according to Chris Danielson, a spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind.
No offense, Mr. Danielson, but how? This is a silver dollar and as such, it will only be purchased by coin collectors who are NEVER GOING TO TOUCH IT. It's not going to put Braille in front of anyone but numismatic nerds.
According to Associated Press: On the back of the coin, the Braille code for the word Braille -- or "Brl" -- is inscribed, above a depiction of a school-age boy reading a Braille book with a cane resting on his arm. Behind him is a bookshelf bearing the word "Independence."
"It really expresses the hopes, the dreams and the independent spirit," NFB Executive Director Mark Riccobono said of the design.
I want to have a feel good moment like these guys are having, but this is just symbolism masquerading as something meaningful.What would put Braille and the concerns of the blind in front of the American public is an actual dollar coin in circulation with Braille on it. Oh, and how about changing all the fricking paper money so that the bills are readily distinguishable by a blind person? All the spiffy colors and patterns, guess what? No help to a blind person.
To help the blind gain more independence, America could do what most countries do and manufacture bills of different sizes to allow the sightless to tell which bill is which. That way they don't have to depend on someone else to tell them--truthfully, one hopes--that this is a twenty, this is a ten, this is a five.
Comments
You're so right about this --- never actually gave it any thought, but yeah, I agree. The silver dollar thing is just plain stupid.
It seems like our government is always trying to do something to make it appear like it's something meaningful, but in reality, it's just useless. (or worse, a waste of good money that could have been put to much better use.)
And another irony here about giving them a commemorative coin is that the blind are the only ones who can truly appreciate the feel and sizes of the coins we use everyday. We take our sight for granted of course and they have no choice but to embrace being able to know the difference between a quarter and dime just by touching it.
Is it possible to win the presidential nomination based solely on monetary policy? (Obviously, you can have the stupidest ideas possible about fiscal policy and still get "elected.") A platform of braille-perforated paper money--which will be made out of hemp--and elimination of the penny.