[nabs-l] Ending the NFB/ACB feud

[T. Joseph Carter]

Aziza,

I had lunch with about five ACB members today.  Not much kind was 
said about Federation leadership, and the conversation inevitably 
went there.  They're good people, committed to serving the blind, and 
describe themselves as not really partisan.  The dialogue was 
friendly, but I had to hold my tongue a few times as people I respect 
were demonized, including Kenneth Jernigan and Carla McQuillan.

To be fair, I haven't always had the highest opinion of Carla, but I 
haven't always understood her.  I do now, and I respect her.  I 
respected the people I shared my table with, too.  I just don't see a 
lasting partnership working as long the conversation keeps coming 
back to sniping the NFB.

Granted, the most vocal guy at the table is old-guard ACB, there for 
the feud when there was serious feudin' goin' on.  I'll work with 
these guys again, but I'm not going to engage them in a dialogue 
about the future of the NFB and ACB.  I know where that conversation 
leads, and I've heard it before.

It's a place to start, at least.

Joseph


On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 10:00:22AM -0700, Aziza C wrote:
>Joesiph,
>I  am disappointed in your comment. Like I said, I expect things in
>the NFB because I believe in it, because I have seen the positive
>things positive energy can do. And, because it's reenforced my idea to
>not give up. When I've been discouraged, seeing comments, talking to
>other NFB members, reading about the NFB has always made me feel at
>least a little better. But now, so many people are saying it won't
>work, just not to try, because it's been done, and it hasn't worked,
>so it is sure to never work.
>You talk about people leaving the NFB because of what they hear from
>the ACB, their minds being changed. Well... I haven't even met an ACB
>member in person, much less an NFB hater, and I can honestly say I'm
>disappointed. I'm loyal, but very disappointed.
>Aziza
>
>On 5/20/09, T. Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Aziza,
>>
>> Cooperation and trust are two-way streets.  You've had those who are
>> willing, but some of us have extended our hand in friendship only to
>> have it bitten off at the shoulder.  Most of those aren't willing to
>> experience that again willingly unless something has changed.  It's
>> been just a year since I tried, so I doubt that much has.
>>
>> Joseph
>>
>>
>> On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 08:49:37PM -0700, Aziza C wrote:
>>>Joesiph,
>>>I expect things from the NFB because I believe in it.
>>>
>>>I don't expect anything from the ACB, at least not yet. I don't know
>>>them well enough to make those observations. However, I have seen what
>>>the NFB is capable of, and I don't think sitting here and fuming over
>>>the fact that the ACB "hates," us is a productive way to spend my time
>>>as an NFB member. I'd much rather try to resolve it, and do something
>>>about it. I expect things from the NFB because i know it can happen if
>>>people would stop making excuses and actually try to think of
>>>productive ways to make things work.
>>>Aziza
>>>
>>>On 5/19/09, T. Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> To the ACB's credit, the people running their student list when I was
>>>> on it would not tolerate attacks on the NFB on that list.  The other
>>>> lists were another story, but the student list was free of that kind
>>>> of thing for the most part and the moderators worked to keep it that
>>>> way.
>>>>
>>>> Joseph
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 06:45:37PM -0400, Ashley  Bramlett wrote:
>>>>> Hi Tina,
>>>>> I've not heard it from nfb members.  But from ACB members.
>>>>> I've heard and experienced the differences and attacks.  At local ACB
>>>>> meetings it comes  up; occassional attacks but most often just a
>>>>> different set of philosophies and priorities.  Additional as someone
>>>>> pointed out, I've heard the NFB villified on ACB-L the list serve for
>>>>> ACB
>>>>> similar to NFB's nfb-talk.
>>>>> That is what I meant by hating each other.  Sadly there is too much
>>>>> friction and attack.  More often its from older members.  ACB students
>>>>> and young adults are more open.  However ACB has a majority of older
>>>>> foks.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ashley
>>>>
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