[BlindTlk] Out Of Balance

[Alan Wheeler]

As important as guide dog issues are, and they are important, as are other issues, diversity and inclusion is just as important. This is my way of saying that they all deserve equal attention. Not one issue is more, or less important than any other.
 

If the direction of the NFB makes you unhappy, well...it wouldn't be the first time a group of disgruntled individuals left the NFB. Just saying. It just worries me that some people are actually bothered by the idea of diversity and inclusion. I assumed that was part and parcel of what the NFB was all about. Look back at our history, and our movement has huge parallels between itself and the civil rights movement. Obviously I am not saying to shelf issues such as poor treatment from guide dog schools, etc, but I think that ignoring diversity and inclusion is ignoring part of our roots. Those are just my thoughts at the moment.

"If you want to practice anything, practice knowing you can do whatever you set your complete mind to." Victor Wooten "The Music Lesson"

My blog: http://doingitdeeper.blogspot.com/

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 11, 2021, at 2:12 PM, Peter Donahue via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Good morning everyone,
> 
>    The current direction of the NFB plus many of our past interactions
> with members particularly those here in Texas relegated us to members at
> large and we like it that way! We've been hearing lots about the new code of
> conduct and dirversity and inclusion while a guide dog user's injustice and
> disgusting treatment by the Southeastern Guide Dog Foundation receives
> practically no attention from NAGDU and other fedderation officials. This is
> a situation that cannot be allowed to continue. Those effected by the
> actions or lack of actions by the federation are the most qualified to
> determine if the NfB has done right by them. They don't need others deciding
> it for them. This same thing happened when the NFB was in the thick of
> airline issues. Let us not repeat history and insure that no concern by NfB
> members and others in the blind community goes unaddressed. All the best.
> 
> Peter Donahue
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Alan Wheeler via
> BlindTlk
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2021 7:33 AM
> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Alan Wheeler <blindsticks at gmail.com>
> Subject: [BlindTlk] My outburst towards Raymond Foret.
> 
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I would like to apologize for my outburst towards Mr. Foret. I admit to
> speaking out of anger. While he is free to believe whatever he believes, I
> see his beliefs as antithetical to the philosophical foundation of the
> federation. Discrimination, whether towards someone who is blind, or who has
> a different skin color is inherently wrong. I wonder how people such as Mr.
> Foret feel when they are treated by people regarding their blindness in much
> the same way black and brown people are treated for the color of their skin.
> 
> How can they, reasonably, consider one form of bigotry and prejudice wrong,
> and another similar one perfectly fine? How do you reconcile these,
> apparently, differing beliefs? 
> 
> Yes, what Mr. Foret wrote deeply angered me, but it would probably have been
> best if I had gone to him privately instead of publicly chastizing him. For
> being so public I do apologize, but I do not apologize for my strong beliefs
> that all men are created equal, whether black or white, blind or sighted,
> male or female, straight or gay. Whether Mr. Foret likes it or not, that
> equality is what this country was founded on. I can only pray that he, and
> others like him, come to see that the inclusion for the blind they fight for
> must, by its nature, include those of color.
> 
> Alan Wheeler
> 
> 
> 
> "If you want to practice anything, practice knowing you can do whatever you
> set your complete mind to." Victor Wooten "The Music Lesson"
> 
> My blog: http://doingitdeeper.blogspot.com/
> 
> Sent from my iPad
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