I'm Christopher Lighten, this is Open Source.

In the country of the blind where the writer Andrew Leeland is guiding our tour, they do

things differently.

They had their own identity riddles, their network of heroes and not-so-heroes.

They had their own sensors of beauty and of sexual interest.

They had their own source spots when sighted people speak of their disability.

They had their own Facebook pages and their own panic attacks, their own wacky humor

as well.

They had their own call of fame back to Homer among the ancients.

They have a sense of their modern selves as drivers, even adventurers, more than victims.

They argue fine points among themselves like whether Lady Justice in front of the courthouse

is ought to be blind.

And whether a male gaze persists among men who cannot see.

Andrew Leeland, thank you for opening these doors in your book and in person.

Would you give us your opening lines from the country of the blind?

Yes, thank you, Chris.

Introduction, the end begins.

I'm going blind as I write this.

It feels less dramatic than it sounds.

The words aren't disappearing as I type.

I'm sitting comfortably in the sunroom.

The sun is rising like it's supposed to.

...