Blind people who could make this world a better place: The best vocalist of all time, a talented ballerina and others

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In the film directed by Mark Brest "The Smell of a Woman" the main character Frank Slade - a blind man (who was superbly played by the unsurpassed Al Pacino) was able to describe a woman's appearance only by smell! But this is a movie, but in reality? It turns out that there are people on the globe who, for various reasons, have lost the ability to see the world with healthy eyes, but have not lost the ability to live and even create!

Vision is one of the most important human senses. With our eyes we contemplate the world around us, see, evaluate, choose and even “feel”. Through our eyes, we read information that helps us live. Therefore, vision loss is considered a disability. But there are and have been people in the world who, despite the “eternal darkness”, found meaning and learned to live within the boundaries of physical blindness. Moreover, they brought benefit to the world, made sensational discoveries and achievements. Poor eyesight or blindness did not become an obstacle for them on the way to achieving heights.

Helen Keller

In 1880, a girl was born in the city of Tuscambia (USA), who was named Helen. She could have grown up as a healthy child if tragedy had not happened to her at 11 months. Helen suffered from meningitis and lost her sight and hearing. In order to somehow “smooth out” the daughter's unforeseen disability, the parents tried to indulge and pity her in everything. The “cuddled” Helen grew up as a pampered and completely uncommunicative person until almost 6 years old.

The sad beginning of Helen Keller's life has a continuation that destroys all the stereotypes of that time about blind children. Then they were literally hidden at home or sent to an orphanage. But Helen learned from home, thanks to her teacher Annie Sullivan, who became her companion until her death.

Later, Helen Keller wrote that the difference between sighted and blind people "is not in the number of available senses, but in how we use them." Despite the complete loss of sight and hearing, Helen was active: she became a writer and political activist and is considered one of the most famous women in the world.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder was born blind, but this was not the reason to become a famous composer and musician. At the age of 8, Stevie had already mastered playing the harmonica, percussion instruments, organ and piano, and at 11 he signed his first contract with Motown Records. To this day, blind Stevie Wonder is one of the best vocalists of all time. He is a twenty-five time Grammy Award winner - a record number! And has released over thirty successful albums. By the way, it was Stevie Wonder who became the founder of the soul music genre.

David Clarke

One hundred forty-four matches and one hundred twenty-eight goals scored! And this is all the "handiwork" of the blind football player David Clarke. The nine-time Paralympic champion was born completely blind, but that did not stop him on his way to success.

He has 35 world records and six gold medals. Today David Clark is the chairman of one of the committees of the British Paralympic Association and a successful banker. Clarke believes that "diversity is not what we see, it is what is within us," and that this way of looking at life reveals talents.

Pete Eckert

The story of this man in general seems fabulous. How can a blind person become a world famous photographer? It turns out that nothing is impossible, and Pete Eckert proved this with his photographs. The man lost his sight due to illness: he suffered from retinitis pigmentosa. Pete admitted that, oddly enough, it was after the misfortune that happened to him that he fell in love with photography more. Pete Eckert says that his imagination helps him to shoot on camera.

David Blunkett

In 1987, for the first time in the history of Great Britain, the main Home Office of the government became a completely blind man - David Blankett. He himself believes that he achieved such heights thanks to the correct upbringing of his parents. The mother and father taught the son, who was blind from birth, to believe in his own strength, and that if he himself wants, he can achieve what he wants.

This is exactly what David did. He graduated with honors from the course of political and social sciences and confidently went up the career ladder. First a member of the Sheffield city council, then a member of parliament, and the tip of the iceberg was his appointment as minister.

Jack Birkett

Jack Birkett is a renowned actor and artist. He completely lost his sight when he was 32 years old. But before this age, he learned acting and dance. Blindness did not stop Birkett and he continued his creative activity. Most of his most famous works were done when he was completely blind.

Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli is known to the world as a wonderful Italian singer. Pavarotti himself was delighted with his talent. Andrea went blind at a young age. Until the age of twelve, the boy had vision problems and underwent more than a dozen eye surgeries. But nothing helped.

Bocelli's favorite pastime was to sing. And although he studied to be a lawyer, he did not work a day in his profession. The famous Italian tenor Franco Corelli took him under his patronage. To pay for his singing lessons, Andrea Bocelli worked in restaurants in the evenings. In the 90s, Bocelli was invited by Pavarotti himself as a participant in a music festival. This is how the successful career of the Italian singer began, who even had a chance to perform in front of the Pope.

Lina Poe

In 1918, the beautiful and talented ballerina Polina Gorenstein performed on the stage under the pseudonym Lina Po. But the girl was not destined to continue her career due to illness. Polina suffered from encephalitis and became blind. But this tragedy did not break Lina Po, but opened her new talents. She starts modeling. Now her work can be seen in the Tretyakov Gallery and other countries of the world. People who at least once saw the works of Lina Po did not believe that their creator was a completely blind sculptor.

The activities of all these people once again prove that life can be wonderful, even if you completely lose your sight. You can always find an opportunity to prove yourself and make the world happy.