Given the fact that this blog is called “Planet of the Blind” you might suppose that all blind people know one another, the way all the people in Iceland are rather openly related. But such is not the case and yet we at POTB are cheering for Scott MacIntyre who we haven’t met as if he was the guy next door. Let’s be clear: it isn’t every day that a gifted musician who happens to be blind turns up as a finalist on one of the nation’s most widely viewed television talent contests. Though the groundbreaking aspect of Scott MacIntyre’s accomplishment on the show are obvious to all who are interested in the subject of people with disabilities its surely worth pointing out that Mr. MacIntyre has classical music training and he is bringing a keen intelligence as well as his considerable ardor to bear on his Idol quest. And so we are cheering for him as an artist who is in love with his art and whose passion is captivating.
I hope to meet Scott one of these days. His form of blindness, a genetic disease called Lebers Congenital Amaurosis is being researched right here at the University of Iowa and I know for certain that people with LCA have a good likelihood of being in another winner’s circle as a cure for this form of blindness is going to happen in our time.
The twin passions of the arts and the sciences are alive and well in this place and this time. There’s a lot to be applauding.
S.K.
Planet of the Blind 