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

Wed Oct 2 18:05:57 UTC 2013

Honestly. What was the point of the article?

Sent from my Virgin Mobile phone.

Andrew Webb <awebb2168 at gmail.com> wrote:

>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.
>
>Jemal Powell sent you this voice-to-text generated email using Voice on the
>Go.
>To listen, click on the voice message link or open the attachment.
>https://vemail.whitelabelapp.net:443/enterprise/Recordings/PRjhnCQi-20131002
>-1157.wav
>
>
>> 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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