Hingson's message: Difference is not the issue, inclusion is

Michael Hinton of Novato spoke at the Soroptimist International of Novato’s annual membership meeting the other day, drawing a crowd and receiving standing ovation.

A highly anticipated event because of who Michael is — a blind 9/11 World Trade Center survivor led down 78 flights of stairs by his guide dog, Roselle. This is a great story on the heels of the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks; an amazing feat by an unlikely team-in-life in one of the most tragic events in this country. Not to mention that a few days earlier his dog, Roselle, posthumously at the inaugural American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards.

Fully anticipating an hour’s worth of Michael talking about the horrors and heroes of this historical day, we were pleasantly surprised to hear the story Michael chose to tell. Woven into the amazing tale of surviving 9/11 by a blind man and a dog were the strong convictions that he lived with. He told us about the teachings he received early on and the beliefs which empowered him, the most unlikely one, to survive the tragic event and made him who he is today.

Michael, a Bel Marin Keys resident, spoke of the horrors and the heroes of 9/11. He talked about how his beloved dog and companion, Roselle, did what she was trained to do and stayed calm throughout. He mentioned the ‘tinkling’ waterfall of shattered glasses, the swaying and swinging of the tower, the millions of pieces of paper fluttering by, the immensity of the event by the thickness of the smoke in the air, the panic public, the generosity of a stranger who shared a precious bottle of water and the realization early on that they would get out of the tower in time due to the reaction and the trust he had on his true teammate, Roselle.

We learned in no uncertain terms that, to Michael, blindness is a blessing in disguise. He let us know that the enormous discipline and the survival skills he learned living with blindness and the trust he built with Roselle were all part of that blessing.

Michael told us that "Difference is not the Issue, Inclusion is the Issue," that being blind does not mean a person can’t see, because "To see is to perceive" and that true teamwork is one of the greatest blessings and tools a person can have to succeed.

Although he has been blind since he was an infant — one of the most feared disabilities for a human — Michael was never told he was different. Michael is able to live an extraordinary life with 9/11 being only a small part of that life. With parents who refused to send him to the facility for blind people, and included him in all activities from the very beginning, Michael essentially invalidated the misconception that being born blind, ‘disabled’ and ‘different’ can limit him in any way. To him, blind really has nothing to do with anything. Believing in oneself and being part of the whole made all the differences in life. Michael believes that inclusion makes a difference and that "Inclusion should be the way of life."

Michael said that: “Blindness is, in fact, not the handicap that the blind person has to endure. The real handicap consists of the misconceptions and sometimes the very incorrect attitudes that we have about ourselves and that others have about us.”

To him, 9/11 happened because "Someone who did not like us, who could not tolerate the differences between us and them, took this horrendous action to destroy the ones that are different and to send the message." On his survival of the event, on the bond between Roselle and him, Michael said he believes true teamwork is what made the difference. He said, "No one has ever accomplished anything without having assistance somewhere from someone else.”

As it is in life, we come and we expect; but along the way, something more profound and extraordinary happens, and we benefit.

Such is the case with Michael Hingson’s life and his speech. Michael’s life messages make one think, especially in this very difficult and intolerant climate we are in.

I wondered if Michael sensed the air move when we all stood and thanked him.