[Blindtlk] Adjustment to Blindness Training, NFB Centers or Not?

[David Andrews]

Well, I think, like with all things we should strive for balance.  We 
should be aware of this phenomenon, but not obsess about it either.

Dave

At 03:26 PM 3/22/2013, you wrote:
>That may be true, bu if you walk around and think about that and live like
>that then you drive yourself crazy.  I prefer to give myself a brake.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David
>Andrews
>Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2013 3:59 PM
>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Adjustment to Blindness Training, NFB Centers or
>Not?
>
>I think the point is that to everyone who regards you as a minority, for
>whatever characteristic, blindness, skin color, ethnic heritage, etc., you
>will be representing everyone with that characteristic.  The human tendency
>is to generalize the individual to the group, if you only know one or a few
>persons in that group.
>
>So, whether or not we want too, each of us represents all blind persons,
>much of the time.
>
>Dave
>
>At 11:01 PM 3/22/2013, you wrote:
> >I've been to both NFB and non-NFB training centers. Truthfully, I
> >didn't really enjoy either of them. I cook, clean, travel and use my
> >computer quite well and have done it my way.
> >
> >Having said that, and this is kind of veering into the other topic
> >discussed here about organizations, their philosophies and such, one of
> >my biggest problems with the NFB is that at the particular center I was
> >at, and maybe not every NFB'er believes this? was that I was told
> >repeatedly that when I stepped outside, I represented ALL blind people.
> >I'm half Mexican and half white. I won't be representing ALL Mexicans
> >or ALL white folks any time soon. I was born with a Tessier Cleft. I
> >was one of eight when I was born in the entire world with it, now I'm
> >one of between 50  and 56 people. I won't be representing every person
> >with a Tessier Cleft either. Do I represent ALL NIRVANA fans? ALL
> >NONPOINT fans?  ALL SEETHER fans? No. Why? Because I'm one person, an
> >individual. I represent my beliefs, my ideas, my thoughts, feelings,
> >emotions, my experiences, not my Dad's or my sister's or anybody else's
> >on this list. So how can I possibly represent ALL blind people?
> >
> >As I said, this is what I learned. Correct me or explain the NFB
> >definition of representing ALL blind people if I'm off base and there
> >is one.
> >Michelle
>