[il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition September 30

Wed Oct 2 16:29:25 UTC 2013

I think these have been great sentiments that people have shared.  In truth,
when I read the Ziegler reader's comments, I found them to be poorly
articulated and without much substance.  He really didn't comment much on
the relevance or power of the organized blind movement, so much as he did on
his own personal frustrations with perceived slights from his chapter's
president and and what he considers to be the entrenched nature of the
leadership structure.  It was more of a personal rant, that doesn't much
square with objective reality.  I don't know much about the Council, but as
for NFB, it's hard to accept the notion that's it's failing to attract young
members when it has thriving student divisions across the nation,
youth-oriented training enrichment programs at each of its three training
centers, affords multitudinous scholarships each year between the national
and state levels, etc.  Obviously, I don't know who this gentleman is or to
which chapter he belongs, and so I must acknowledge that it's possible that
his chapter president is a condescending jerk who has been putting him down
for the last 30 years.  Anything's possible.  But I doubt many
Federationists would recognize that kind of behavior in our elected leaders;
it sure hasn't been my experience.

Blindness being the relatively low-incidence disability that it is, there
are relatively few blind people throughout the general populace with the
power and moxy to improve popular perceptions of our talents and
capabilities.  Thus, the notion that a blind individual can't assume
leadership or make a difference because NFB has some sort of impermeable
"glass ceiling" seems pretty ridiculous to me.  There simply aren't enough
powerful blind leaders to be able to construct a glass ceiling, even if they
wanted to.  The extent to which blind people, individually or collectively,
can take action, set good examples and affect social change is limited only
by time, energy, and determination.

Just my two pennies worth.

Cheers,
Andrew

-----Original Message-----
From: il-talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jemal Powell
Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 11:05 AM
To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition September
30

I find that a lot of the people who write letters in the reader's form out
of Ziglo Magazine either tended to be bitter or uncomfortable with
themselves because of their blindness and it is sad.  Instead of people
trying to criticize consumer groups for what they're not doing, they need to
get involved and help the process instead of crying about what we supposedly
don't ****.  A lot of these people seem to be historically bankrupt and
don't seem to get the concept that without that without **** we as white
people will be way, way worse off than we are.

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> Original Message:
> ---------------------------------
> 
> From: Denise Avant <dravant at ameritech.net>
> Sent: October 2, 2013 8:03:25 AM
> To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition 
> September 30
> 
> Good morning all,
> 
> I have not traveled to other states and been involved in other NFB related
events. But I can say without a doubt, there is definitely a need for the
National Federation Of The Blind. We have not arrived yet. Most people don't
think we live full lives and when you get right down to it, really don't
believe we have something significant to contribute to society.
> 
> I was traveling to church last Sunday, and a woman I was riding with said
she was talking to someone, and saying how intelligent she thought I was
etc, even though I was blind. Well actually she said visually impaired
because you see she does not use the word blind. I expressed that there is
nothing wrong with saying I am blind because I am. She said, "No I don't
like to use that word." The driver responded I just say visually impaired. 
> Most of us who are comfortable in our skins have no problem with people
noting that we are blind. And in fact, I as the blind person should be able
to say whether the term is offensive.
> On another day, I went to a store, and asked for help. So the young lady
called on the radio to her manager and said, I have a blind customer who
needs my assistance, can you send someone to cover. Her manager told her,
don't use that term. I  said to her that you are perfectly fine to say
blind. There was no derogatory  tone, and nothing politically incorrect
about it.
> I have gone into an Apple store, and been stopped, obviously knowing right
where I am going up the stairs, and the person says hey, "don't you want to
take the elevator." No, I say, the stairs are just fine. But they insist on
getting on the elevator.
> 
> I had this very thing happen while Debbie, Steve and myself were looking
for the escalator at O'Hare airport. When an attendant saw us, she asked
"don't you want the elevator." We told her no, on at least three occasions.
finally, someone did come over and offered some assistance without being
intrusive or insulting.
> 
> The individual is critical of the NFB for engaging in fund raising. But he
fails to answer the questions. How do we do the many programs we do if there
is no money? Does he think a program like BELL is important? How do we
litigate a case of discrimination if there is no money? Does he feel that
discrimination against blind people exist?
> 
> Well, misunderstanding , disrespect and discrimination as it relates to
blind people remains. 
> The federation has work to do.
> 
> Denise Avant
> dravant at ameritech.net
> 
> P.S.  Please give to the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 
> Annual Appeal by sending your tax deductible donation to NFBI c/o 
> Glenn Moore III, Treasurer P.O. Box 1065 Elgin, IL 60121.
> 
> On Oct 1, 2013, at 11:53 PM, "Cathy Randall" <chr47 at mchsi.com> wrote:
> 
> > I agree with Patti's comment in a later message.
> > 
> >

> > Cathy Please donate to the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
(NFBI) Annual Appeal by sending your tax deductible donation to Treasurer
Glenn Moore, PO Box 1065,  Elgin, IL 60121.  Thank you.
> > 
> > Cathy Randall
> > 217-243-3529
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Syed Yousufuddin" 
> > <syedy2003 at hotmail.com>
> > To: <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 1:16 PM
> > Subject: [il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition 
> > September 30
> > 
> > 
> >> Below, please find a submission from the reader's forum in this week's
Ziegler magazine.
> >> 
> >> I, being a NFB member, find it intrusive, and yet thought provoking.
> >> 
> >> Any thoughts?
> >> 
> >> Disclaimer: this content does not reflect my views, this is the opinion
of Dave, a Ziegler reader.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> The second response to the reader's forum is about Bob Branco's input
on blindness organizations like ACB and NFB. I agree with him that they are
having trouble getting younger members. It's because of a few reasons, such
as long term office and board positions. Many people in both groups think
they are the only ones who can do anything concerning the blind. With the
economy being in the state it is in, things are pretty tight. I have had
many people tell me they are turned off by the NFB because it seems the NFB
wants and craves money, money, money. My local chapter is just that way,
it's like a social status: if you don't have fund raising skills or money
you don't fit in. The biggest problem with the NFB as far as getting younger
members is I think is they don't feel needed or appreciated when they do
join. I've seen many members in my local chapter come and join and attend a
couple of meetings then drop out, it's not for them, like Bob said, many
younger blind people really don't feel the need for membership in either the
ACB or the NFB because they are mainstreaming into the sighted world, the
ones who stay in the ACB or NFB have been there a long time to keep things
going, but what are we going to do when our current today's leaders die off
or drop out? The reason why blind people aren't joining is they can't take
over because of the ones that are in the ACB or NFB those leaders are afraid
to let newer younger people in. It is a power issue, there is a lot of
insecure blind people in the ACB and NFB who really don't know how to let go
and move on and let others learn and grow. I may drop out at the end of this
year because of the way the local chapter president treats some of us. I
don't need the stress, aggravation, criticizing and judgmental attitude
towards me or anyone else. I've put with it for 30 plus years. That's a lot
of why both groups are having trouble getting new and younger members.
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
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