[nabs-l] NFB/ACB

Tue May 19 02:01:02 UTC 2009

Jim,

If a joint student meeting, a national meeting, is a step to solving the 
problem, then it is the thing that will get you in the direction to solve 
it.

Thus, if a meeting is the first step to solving the problem, then it will by 
simple logic solve it.

If only it were this simple. Imagine the reasonable members of the National 
Association of blind Students meeting in conjunction with those reasonable 
members of the National Alliance of Blind Students.

Inevitably, both groups will mut much effort into recruiting from the other 
side. Each organization will try to sound and to be better than the other. 
There might be an organized debate to settle or talk about the differences, 
and each group will come out thinking that it won the debate.

Where would the meeting be held, and when? Who would fund it? Our NABS 
board, with hard-earned NFB money?

Who would organize it, and what would be the theme? Harmony? Well, harmony 
can be the theme now, but like it or not, there is much history, and 
difference of thought even between members of both NABS.

I belong to this NABS, and I know why. I don't engage in little fruitless 
mud-slinging of any kind. That said, I would point out that I gain much 
value from the National Association of Blind Students, and not much from The 
Alliance of Blind Students.

Listserv traffic on the other NABS is a small fraction of this one, and 
though I recognize the good that Alliance members find in their 
organization, I enjoy much just from reading this list.

In some seminar or another I heard Dr. Maurer talk about an attempt to have 
a joint ACB NFB convention. I think ACB bauked at that  idea, but if I am 
wrong about it, you should write to him and ask.

There are other ways to be civil, cordial, and colaborative, but a joint 
NABS meeting is unlikely.

Antonio Guimaraes

If an infinite number of rednecks riding in an infinite number of pickup 
trucks fire an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an infinite number of 
highway signs, they will eventually produce all the world's great literary 
works in Braille.

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Reed" <jim275_2 at yahoo.com>
To: "NABS mail list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 2:23 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] NFB/ACB

Aziza,

Well said. The older folks currently running these organizations have it 
ingrained in them to hate the other division. There is no need for that. All 
it really does is waste time, money, resources, and energy fighting amongt 
ourselfs, when that time, energy, money and resources could be better spent 
fighting discrimination or working to better the lives of blind people.

It is widely recognized by sociologist and governemts that if government 
wants to impart change in society, the best place to start is with the 
children, as they will internalize what they learn, then pass it along to 
their parents. Consider "Smokey the Bear", Smokey certianly isn't trying to 
teach adults about forest fires.

Additionally, student organization have a better chance of bridging the gap 
because we don't have the baggage preventing us from working with the other 
side. Furthermore, there are new members such as myself who have no history 
in this conflict, thus no reason to prepetuate it. I have no affiliation 
with the ACB, but if I am in a conversation, and the conversation turns 
anti-ACB, I will remove myself from that conversation. There is no reason 
for me to listen to that and no reason for me to develop an unwarranted bias 
against a group of individuals I have never met.

I am not saying a joint student convention will solve any or all of our 
issues, but it could eb a good first step. If it goes well, we students let 
time (and the circle of life) remove the baggage between these 
organizations, and we atart anew. Unlike the current leadership, time is on 
our side.

Last, the NFB is not innocent in prepetuating this conflict. The fact that 
Dave Anderws said, "The ACB exists to do things differently from the NFB. If 
you take that away from them, there isn't much left." speaks volumes to me 
about the nature of this conflict; because the ACB is different, they are 
inferior? Isn't that the same type of biggotry that we are trying to fight 
in society regarding blindness?

Just a thought
Jim

I agree with Jim. And I think that some need to stop saying that it
just won't happen if one doesn't give up. It isn't about who is right
and who is wrong, it's about who is willing to set aside our
differences, come together and work together. We are all blind
afterall. Besides, those who started the ACB, are not going to be
running the ACB in the future. Us students, in both groups, will be in
charge in the future. Students can relate to each other, and can be
open minded if they choose to be. The older generation tends to stick
to their ways. Although a joint student meeting will not resolve the
problems, it "could," be the step to resolving the problems. Jim never
said it would work, simply that it could, and I think it is worth a
try.
Aziza

Jim, I was personally thinking of doing something similar with my
small student group from the Channel Islands Chapter, I would be
interested in your ideas.

Homer Simpson's brain: "Use reverse psychology."
 Homer: "Oh, that sounds too complicated."
 Homer's brain: "Okay, don't use reverse psychology."
 Homer: "Okay, I will!"

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