[Blindtlk] What is Federationism?

[Graves, Diane]

Hi Chris, (hugs)

Let me say again how glad I am to have you young people on the list. It's really refreshing. I just want to assure you that Dave or any of the other federation leaders don't screen messages. At least not in terms of opinions. As long as messages don't stray too far from the blindness related topics--for instance, we can't get on here and start having extensive conversations about American idol or the super bowl--and as long as the language isn't offensive and proper netiquette is used, you can express any opinion that you want too.

You do make some good points. You may know already--I'm not sure--that the discord between NFB and ACB stems in part from the "civil war" which took place back in the 1950s. We used to be one organization, and then went through a messy split. So, while old grudges and bitterness is never a good thing, that is where a lot of these feelings come from.  Believe me I've known just as many ACB members with these same feelings. We had some local ACB members get on our state NFB list a while back and try to make some trouble for the organization. I'll leave it at that, but I just want to be sure you do understand that the animosity goes both ways sometimes. 

You are right though. It isn't productive either way. We need to work together when we can, and agree to disagree when we can't. We are safe and secure in our philosophy, and we simply need to advocate for that philosophy, and when the ACB agrees maybe they will work with us, as I'm sure they will advocate their own philosophy when they don't. Now this doesn't mean that we should water down or change our philosophy because they may not like it. Do You know what I mean? But neither do we have to keep the war going by refusing to let the past die. 

You know it always amazes me that, when we get close to election time--not in the organization, of course, but in our American government--you hear all these ads and commercials spending their entire message talking about what the other party isn't doing and smearing the other parties name, instead of using that time to promote themselves. That isn't good at all. We, as federationists shouldn't do that either. We should know who we are and be proud of that, promote our philosophy,yet be respectful of others who may not agree. Does that make sense?

Diane Graves
Civil Rights Specialist
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
317-232-2647
 
"It is service that measures success."
George Washington Carver
 
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-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2011 6:15 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] What is Federationism?

I agree, Eric.  I don't understand all this political bickering 
between NFB and ACB, as if one organization is working to promote 
the independence of the blind and the other isn't.  In fact one 
of the NFB songs tells ACB to go straight to...  well, you get 
the point.  All the ACB is is another organization working for 
the common good of the blind.  They may have some different 
ideas, but neither is good nor bad.  I have always been kind of a 
reluctant member of the Federation.  By the way, I'm an at-large 
member of NFB-MD.  I completely agreed with the NFB's work for 
independence, but I didn't really like the dogmatic approach some 
Federationists take to issues: my way (the NFB way) is the only 
way, and ACB...  well, they're just wrong.  No, no, no! For a 
long time, I thought that this approach was part of the NFB 
philosophy, and therefore was reluctant to really be active in 
the Federation.  I didn't want to support that one-size-fits-all 
view of all things blindness.  Now that I've spent much time on 
the NFB site, listening to Dr.  Maurer and Dr.  Jernigan's words, 
I know this is not the real NFB philosophy, but only an extreme 
interpretation of it that some members take.  That's really why I 
want to become more active, now that I know that by doing so, I 
wouldn't also be supporting a one-size-fits-all, narrow-minded 
approach to everything related to blindness.  When I joined this 
list, I was a little afraid to talk about these opinions of the 
NFB approach to some issues, and their arguing with the ACB and 
AFB, being that this is an NFB list which supports the NFB 
philosophy, which I thought might mean the list members supported 
this dogmatic approach as well.  But I'm glad most of you have 
open minds and feel the same as me.  Now that I've said all of 
this, I wonder if this email will ever really get posted to the 
list, being that we're a monitored list, monitored by the NFB 
higher-ups.  So, do you approve this one...  huh, Dave? * Smile!

Chris Nusbaum

"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)

--- Sent from my Braille-Note

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Calhoun <eric at pmpmail.com
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 4 May 2011 14:08:32 -0500
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] What is Federationism?

Chris, like you, I have never been that active in the Federation, 
but I can
tell you some things I've learned:

** If you believe in a cause, try and collaborate in others, who 
share
it.

** Put your money, where your mouth is.  If you don't have a 
Chapter in
your area, please consider joining one.  If you do not have a 
Chapter in
your area, please consider (1) founding one, or (2) being an 
at-large
member.

** Membership has its privileges.  When I joined the San Fernando 
Valley
Chapter, I was able to interact with other Federationists, some 
of whom are
close friends of mine.  My privileges were: selling cookies, 
going to White
Cane Safety Day functions, and acquiring a First-Timers' 
scholarship to the
1997 New Orleans Convention.

Finally,

** It is okay to disagree with someone, but disagree agreeably.  
In my
struggles with NFB, I, myself, do agree, with the Federation on 
issues like
braille literacy, independence, and being an advocate for 
oneself.  But do
I need an NFB Training Center to further my skills?  No, I am 
capable with
the skills I have.

I, soon, will be an at-large member of my NFB-Calif.  affiliate, 
sometime
as early as June or July.  Do I think Federationism is bad?  No.  
Do I
think NFB and ACB can still work together?  Yes.

Eric
.. ..  Eric from Los Angeles with the baseball list: 
eric at pmpmail.com.
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