[nabs-l] Out of curiosity

[Mike Freeman]

Patrick:

If what we know about another organization causes us to believe that they
are somewhere between misguided and absolutely wrong, why not be proud of
our knowledge? Yes, we should be prepared for the possibility that we might
be mistaken. But we might not be also. And I dare say that FFB would have
little good to say about us, their whole focus being upon *fighting*
blindness. Ours is upon *living* with it.

AS for the dining in the dark nonsense, even if the wait staff is blind, the
sighted will *still* come out thinking that it's damned difficult eating
when one is blind and that the wait staff are living miracles -- so good, in
fact, that the participants almost forget they're blind. (har)

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Patrick Johnson
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 11:09 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Out of curiosity

Group,

    It's a little absurd to compare the NFB with the Foundation Fighting 
Blindness.  The two have distinct missions and attract different 
memberships.  The FFB focuses on the medical and scientific aspects of 
blindness.  Take a look at their web site and the web site of their upcoming

conference.

http://www.blindness.org/
http://www.blindness.org/visions/

    As for "Dining in the Dark", yes it is a fund raiser, but it is more 
than that.  The wait staff is completely blind and the food is served in the

dark.  It is also an opportunity to educate the public.  The wait staff 
instructs the diners on how to orient themselves to their place setting, 
locate, and identify their food and drink.

    To me this is educational and promotes the the vision that the blind are

capable of living independent and productive lives.

    It is wrong to make blanket comments about other blindness organizations

such as the FFB.  The NFB, FFB, ACB, and dozens of other organizations whoo 
advocate for the blind are all striving to improve our lives.  Whether you 
or I disagree with a specific policy or goal of a blindness organization is 
completely understandable.  But by making a blanket statement about an 
entire organization makes the speaker  sound uninformed and could alienate 
the listener.

$0.02 worth from someone who is afiliated with both the NFB and FFB.

Patrick



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