[nabs-l] Ending the NFB/ACB feud

Tue May 19 10:24:51 UTC 2009

Dave and all,
ACB is generally made up of older folks for the most part. Although when I 
was living in Utah the UCB did have a pretty strongly organized student 
affiliate. Of which I was involved in.
Jessica
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 12:24 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Ending the NFB/ACB feud


> As I said in another message, we offered in early 90's, they refused.
>
> I was at the ACB national convention a couple years ago, and it was 
> sparsely attended -- when compared to NFB convention, some of the meetings 
> I attended were not well organized, exhibits were not strong and not 
> staffed by companies strongest people, and I heard my share of ranting 
> against NFB, and why ACB was better.  Finally, there were very few 
> students and young people noticeably so.  About all the ACB has is 
> opposition to the NFB, and it doesn't mean anything to younger 
> generations, so they aren't attracting members.
>
> Dave
>
> At 11:18 PM 5/17/2009, you wrote:
>>Jedi,
>>I understand the historical problems between the two organizations,
>>but I still do not understand why some NFB members are unwilling to
>>try this out.
>>
>>This may be a far fetched example, but here goes nothing. Blind people
>>were once put away because we were different, never saw the classroom,
>>or the work force. Someone wanted to change that, so he made Braille
>>for all of us to read, from there things picked up, and even now we
>>make progress. There is a long history betwenen blind and sighted
>>individuals, philosophically, politically and others, and yet, we
>>strive to make ammends, teach, compromise, understand and be
>>understood. If we can do this with the sighted, why not attempt to
>>with our own kind... other blind individuals?
>>
>>It does not hurt to try.
>>
>>Aziza
>>P.S. Thank you for that explanation, it did answer some of my
>>questions about the fued it self.
>>
>>On 5/17/09, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>> > Jim,
>> >
>> > There is some long history between the NfB and ACB. It's not just about
>> > disagreements on philosophy even though philosophical differences
>> > certainly set the two organizations culturally apart.
>> >
>> > The first members of the ACB split from the NFB mostly because of
>> > political banter. said individuals thought that Jacobus tenBroek and
>> > others were dominating the organization. Certainly, they had a right to
>> > their views, and they certainly had a right to leave. Unfortunately,
>> > these individuals went about voicing their opinions in all the wrong
>> > ways possible including undermining the organizational structure and
>> > creating a lot of bad feelings between people who would otherwise be
>> > friends.
>> >
>> > In the sixties and seventies, the NFB was under siege by agencies
>> > serving the blind. these agencies were staffed by well-connected people
>> > with a lot of money and a lot of power, but not a lot of positive
>> > philosophies and knowledge about the blind. These agencies often
>> > subordinated the blind through threats and bad dealings. The NFB called
>> > these folks out, and the agencies used the ACB like an ever-loving meat
>> > shield to say "See Federation! Not all blind people agree with you!"
>> > Naturally, it was much easier for the aCB just to go along with things
>> > because they were still angry with the NfB over past political issues.
>> > And certainly, they weren't going to put themselves in the line of 
>> > fire.
>> >
>> > Fast-forward to NAC. I don't know what you know about NAC, but it was
>> > bad bombin'. Once again, the aCB never called NAC out, but we did. Once
>> > again, NAC spoke of professionalism in services to the blind. Instead,
>> > blind folks got left with a raw deal, threats to their livelihoods and
>> > well-being (even their health in some cases), and all kinds of things.
>> > A couple folks from ACB and a few other folks with a grudge against Dr.
>> > Jernigan even brought the FBI to the Jernigans' and Maurers' doors on
>> > trumped up charges of keeping weapons and possibly starting some kind
>> > of military effort. It was insane. People were getting death threats
>> > and the whole bit. Remind me to tell the story of my own state
>> > affiliate's frustrations with the ACB sometime.
>> >
>> > This isn't to say that the ACB is all evil and the NFB perfectly
>> > innocent. I wasn't there to know everything. But from what I read and
>> > have observed in current ACB/NFB behavior, there's good reason for a
>> > split in the organizations. At this point, we can certainly say that
>> > there are key factors in philosopy that separate the organizations to
>> > the point where nothing good would ever get done because the two
>> > parties would be constantly feuding. Better live and let live. Both
>> > organizations have compiled their versions of history if you want these
>> > facts for yourself.
>> >
>> > Respectfully,
>> > Jedi
>> > Original message:
>> >> Terri and Arielle,
>> >
>> >> I just wanted to let you both know that one of the members of MABS is
>> >> also VP of the National Student Division of the ACB. He is adamatly
>> >> opposed to the (bordering on childish) feud that exist beteen the two
>> >> organizations.
>> >
>> >> I am wondering if we can't use this oppertunity to somehow begin
>> >> bringing the two organizations back together. After all, we will be
>> >> then next generation leading these two organizations, and if we can
>> >> sieze this oppertunity, maybe we students can set the example for the
>> >> "adults" within the two national organizations.
>> >
>> >> I wonder if a join NABS/ACB student convention would be just the
>> >> solution to begin ending this conflict?
>> >
>> >> Thoughts?
>> >> Jim
>> >
>> >> 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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