Page 20 - Unlikely Stories 2

Blind Faith

incomplete understanding of the elephant, owing to the acuity of the
other senses provided by the compensation for blindness. Even the
rare synesthetic cannot do this, experiencing a mélange different or
greater than the parts contributing to the brain’s experience, but their
sightedness will inevitably leave them with lesser levels of the other
senses with which to concoct that admixture. The blind can report
poetically, musically even, their response to what they cannot see,
based on other sense data and their imagination; but the sighted, even
temporarily blinded by ambient darkness, cannot take those reports
without processing them through their visual memory, immediately
reducing the impact of other sensations.”
“I agree,” said Rodrigo. “The audience will be deprived, not
enriched; and to the extent of that awareness of loss, their
receptiveness to your great theme will be reduced. They will nod off,
become nervous, stumble over their neighbors to leave the theatre. I
am certain it is far better for a blind artist’s work to be enjoyed or
criticized no differently than that of the sighted. Otherwise, it is a
freak show.”
The impresario looked from one man to the other, hoping for
some sign that he had at least piqued their curiosity. But no.
“Your faith in our ability to overcome these blind spots in human
nature is touching, Señor,” said Borges, “but it amounts to no more
than faith healing. The conception may look good on paper:
nevertheless, your eyes have deceived you.”

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