[nabs-l] Ending the NFB/ACB feud

Tue May 19 16:47:25 UTC 2009

Hi David,
How do we solve the problems you discussed?
----- 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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