[nabs-l] Ending the NFB/ACB feud

[T. Joseph Carter]

Antonio,

Not a debate per se.  I don't believe there's enough common ground 
for such a debate yet.  What I suggest is that one or more 
representative from each NFB and ACB contribute to a list of topics 
upon which we feel we should speak about our own organization.  Those 
topics both NFB and ACB feel are appropriate make the list.  (I'm 
pretty open, if I'm representing the Federation..)

Given this list of topics, representatives will provide a brief 
statement of what their organization's position is on the issue in 
question.  One might be governance structure.  The NFB position would 
likely focus on the strength of the cohesive nature of our hierarchy 
structure, and the ACB position would likely discuss the value of 
term limits and how its more loose associations protect the will of 
the minority.

There ought to be some agreement on a word limit or similar for each 
such discussion area.  We blind people tend to ramble, and pithy 
statements are to the advantage of both organizations if they are to 
serve as a comparison point.

The resulting statements as they are could be published somewhere for 
people to read and consider on the merits of the positions contained 
in them.  Many people ask for an objective comparison of the NFB and 
ACB.  I don't think that's possible because anybody who understands 
the various issues will have a viewpoint on them.  That viewpoint 
would color any comparison.  Instead, I propose to offer two 
diverging viewpoints and let people make the comparisons themselves.

A more traditional debate is likely to wind up with representatives 
screaming at each other.  I'm not so interested in that.

Joseph


On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 08:36:34PM -0400, Antonio M. Guimaraes wrote:
> Joseph,
>
> You propose a debate about how the NFB and ACB are different. This will 
> not end any feud, but create more divisions.
>
> How about we get the leadership on both camps to agree to disagree on 
> what we already know are differences, even structure some sort of debate 
> about these issues at some joint venue, and actually get together to 
> accomplish something on the issues we do agree upon?
>
> At this point, with at least 86 messages in this thread, I don't know how 
> we can go on without creating tentions.
>
> It would not be such a bad idea for the board to talk about this, even  
> before handing off the division, so we can develop some policy in the  
> matter. That's what the board is here for, and while we can go on and on  
> about it on list, I think leadership needs to take the lead from the 
> great majority, and ACB NABS willingness to join effort, if not forces.
>
> Most cordially,
>
> 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: "T. Joseph Carter" 
> <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"  
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Ending the NFB/ACB feud
>
>
>> Dave,
>>
>> My offer to begin dialogue by having a thoughtful ACBer and I offer  
>> position statements of our own organization on a series of agreed upon  
>> issues, to be offered as the most objective comparison of what the two  
>> organizations are and believe you'll ever find.
>>
>> It stems from Sarah's request for an objective comparison, which I do 
>> not believe any one person could provide.  Two or more, speaking for 
>> their own respective organizations, putting together a single statement 
>> for each, could be pretty darned objective when placed side by side for 
>> readers to judge strengths and weaknesses of each.
>>
>> Joseph