[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Sun Mar 13 20:26:44 UTC 2011


You may be right, or it may be semantic hair splitting.

Dave

At 02:48 PM 3/13/2011, you wrote:
>I hadn't given that much thought (i.e. means or an end). I 
>definitely agree that we could classify the NFB philosophy as a 
>means rather than an end unto itself. But I wonder about other 
>cultures? Don't other cultures provide us a blueprint for how to 
>live our lives as well? Would they then also be a means to living 
>rather than an end unto themselves?
>
>Respectfully Submitted
>
>Original message:
>>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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>
>
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