[nabs-l] Out of curiosity

Tue May 10 04:36:58 UTC 2011

Chris:

With respect, in an ideal world, what you say below would make sense. But
this isn't an ideal world so, in fact, no, it *doesn't* make sense.

Consider: while one shouldn't generalize about the character of the
Federation from only a few members -- after all, we're all different -- I
dare say that most members subscribe to most aspects of our philosophy else
they'd leave the NFB. And even if they *don't* like some aspects of NFB's
policies and programs but wish to stay in, they don't express their views in
public because they subscribe to the NFB Pledge which says, in effect, that
members *actively* promote the philosophy, policies and programs of NFB.

Also, although NFB leadership certainly may not share all characteristics of
the rank-and-file membership, I say it *does* represent the NFB and its
philosophy because (a) it was elected to do so and (b) the policies and
programs of the Federation are the result of resolutions passed at NFB
national conventions and the NFB constitution says that the national
convention is the *supreme* authority of the Federation. Moreover, given
that NFB aspires to nothing less than to change society's attitudes about
blindness and the blind, it causes reactions from incredulity to outright
hostility on the part of the general public and, sadly, often among agency
personnel who ostensibly also are trying to help the blind take their places
as first-class citizens. And NFB leaders are a symbol of the organization,
if only because they speak for it and represent it to the public. That's
just the way politics works.

If I might be so bold, I invite you to write me off-list to tell me what
policies or statements made you uneasy about NFB. I shall try to explain the
policies to you or we can agree to disagree.

Take care.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Chris Nusbaum
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 12:51 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Out of curiosity

Mike:

Because in an organization of thousands of people, you can't make 
generalizations about the whole organization from what you know 
about certain people in that organization, even if that person(s) 
is/are in a leadership role in that organization.  For example, 
ACB can't make any real generalisations (although they do) about 
all fifty thousand members of the NFB based on views (or 
interpretations of views) from certain people in the NFB, even if 
that person or people are leaders in the NFB (Dr.  Maurer, Dr.  
Jernigan, a state affiliate leader, etc.) Likewise, we can't make 
assumptions about the tens of thousands of ACB members from the 
views of certain people in the ACB.  That's exactly what happened 
to me, and why I posted the "what is Federationism" question.  As 
I had said in a prior post, I had always been a reluctant 
Federationists because I wasn't sure if the extrexe views I was 
hearing out of some NFB members (and leaders at that) represented 
the * entire * organization.  All fifty thousand of them! I did a 
little research and also asked my fellow listers, and decided 
that those views didn't represent the idea of Federationism 
itself, and I decided I liked the philosophy and joined the 
Federation.  Does this make sense?

Chris Nusbaum

"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)

--- Sent from my Braille-Note

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com
To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 8 May 2011 14:16:53 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Out of curiosity

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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