[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

[David Andrews]

Probably so.  One of the things that the NFB teaches us is how to 
think of ourselves as blind persons, how to relate to the sighted 
public, how to handle those things that happen to us as blind persons 
-- on a daily basis, etc.  In addition, there are shared values, 
approaches, and just how we do things in the NFB.  I suppose all of 
that is a culture.  But, for most of us, it is a means to an end, not 
the end itself.  If we are to active in elevating it to a culture, 
then maybe it becomes the end itself.

Dave

At 01:51 PM 3/13/2011, you wrote:
>David,
>
>Is it possible to have our cake and eat it too? In other words, do 
>you think it's possible to have an NFB culture and still integrate 
>into the greater society?
>
>Respectfully,
>Jedi
>
>Original message:
>>  From what I know, many people in the deaf community believe there is
>>a "deaf culture" and are active in nurturing and protecting it.  In
>>the NFB, one of our goals is to integrate blind persons into society,
>>so we are consequently going to be less interested in creating,
>>nurturing, or protecting a blind culture.  It may or may not exist --
>>it depends on how you define it, and who you ask.
>
>>David Andrews
>
>>At 01:30 PM 3/13/2011, you wrote:
>>>Kirt,
>
>
>
>>>I don't think you miss the mark at all, and I think to dismiss your
>>>eminently reasonable point of view with some blanket statements about
>>>culture is a bit presumptuous. I am not at all familiar with the
>>>anthropological body of work on the question, but I would be willing to bet
>>>that there are at least some respected opinions in opposition to those which
>>>Jedi has put forth. I couldn't tell you  a damn thing about
>>>intersectionality, but I can tell you that it is by no means an accepted
>>>fact that there is an "NFB culture." I, frankly, don't even believe that
>>>there is such a thing as a blindness culture, though that is perhaps a
>>>somewhat easier proposition for which to argue.
>
>
>
>>>NFB is just an organization of individuals, with their own individual
>>>opinions, that must reach common statements of policy and position. Yes,
>>>there are some core beliefs that most members build their own personal
>>>philosophies around, and, yes, that is, to my mind, a good thing. But the
>>>idea that NFB membership is either such a central component of, or so
>>>all-encompassingly pertinent to, my life and life goals that I identify
>>>fellow members as people with whom I share a common culture simply doesn't
>>>hold true. And that is coming from an individual who happens to spend a lot
>>>of time and effort on the NFB. Do I share a culture with those who share my
>>>commitment to social justice? Proponents of religious pluralism and
>>>tolerance? Disabled folks in general? Green Bay Packer fans? University of
>>>Wisconsin graduates? Lawyers and wanna be lawyers? I don't think so. Common
>>>values alone do not entail common cultures. Nor do common beliefs,
>>>traditions, or interests.
>
>
>
>>>Again, when I use the word "culture' I use it in the commonly understood and
>>>widely accepted sense of the word. I don't dispute that there may exist some
>>>anthropological or sociological conceptions of culture that might be so
>>>broad as to include NFB membership as a culturally defining characteristic.
>>>I would just posit that those definitions are not terribly useful in talking
>>>about the real world, and would be curious as to how many distinct cultures
>>>one can belong to without severely limiting the threshold of importance or
>>>prominence in one's life a "cultural identity" must reach to be considered
>>>in any way instructive about a person.
>
>
>
>>>All the best,
>
>
>
>>>Sean
>
>
>
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