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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Hey’ll,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>While I can’t speak for Justin, just like neither Justin nor I can speak for you or anyone else when push comes to shove, what Justin said is derived from NFB official documents and pledges. The reason this conversation has become rather long and complex, is because it is a more complex issue than what meets the eye. Justin and I have been involved in a lot of NFB related functions and institutions, like the Louisiana Center for the Blind. This does not make our opinions any more relevant than yours; but we have gotten a good sense of NFB policy and philosophy. The NFB philosophy is central to the organization’s actions. The NFB does indeed seek to help those in need; but in this case, Justin and I believe the action here is not the most effective means of offering help, both for the family, and for the blind as a whole. This thinking is very much derived from our exposure to NFB philosophy. As many a blind person knows, sometimes what seems helpful can actually do much damage. With this said, none of us wish to intrude on efforts to help this child with vision problems. It is simply requested we do not make this an NFB issue for reasons stated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> The NFB has a long history of turning down requests for assistance from blind people. Federationist and blind lawyer Scott Labarre brought this up after the mock trial at the National Convention. Sometimes blind people do something foolish, or they hurt themselves as a result of lack of mobility skills. Then they come to the NFB lawyers for defense or to file a law suit. This obviously isn’t quite what we’re talking about with this child and family; but it goes to show how the Federation conducts its business based on our knowledge of the equal potential of blind people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Best to ya,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Trevor A <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Sandee Kush<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 16, 2013 9:14 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Connecticut Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> [Ct-nfb] \blind Babies and the NFB<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am concerned and confused by the long statement that Justin wrote.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I do not know who the "we" represents, just that it does not represent my thinking and others.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Reference is made to Dr Mauer and other leadership political positions, were these people contacted or these "manifestos" interviewed or investigated prior to including them in such a grandiose point of view statement?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have learned to keep things simple. Perhaps if the following questions were answered in a sentence or two, I might have some clue.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NFB should not get involved in a humane effort to improve the quality of a baby's life, due to the resources the U.S. has available because…..<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How are the efforts to communicate the message of the NFB regarding the mission of individual independence and society's consciousness raising been reduced significantly because of a humane desire to publicize the plight of a baby by involving a dedicated political representative?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How does brining this situation into an internal NFB controversy benefit anyone in any way?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I applaud and am proud to be associated with Beth Rival's and immediate team's efforts!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>