[nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] New List for Blind Conservatives

[RyanO]

Hi all. First, I want to publicly thank Dave Andrews for going out on a limb 
and posting my message to this and other lists about my discussion forum. 
Honestly, I didn't think he'd do it and based on a few of the public and 
private messages I've received, I can see why.

I acknowledge that the NFB is not a partisan organization and that issues 
involving blindness should remain at our core. If those issues happen to 
intersect with the political process in this country (and they often do), 
then we should approach them in the same bipartisan manner as we do with 
every other issue.

The debate over various socio/political causes being incorporated into 
divisions and committees in the federation has been discussed since the 
'70's, and possibly before. Dr. Jernigan and other leaders have been very 
wise to keep the focus solely on issues involving blindness as it affects us 
all in this country. I don't disagree, and that's why I want to reinforce 
the point that my list is not an official NFB list. The creation of my list 
was my idea alone and does not come at the behest of any leader of the NFB. 
Dave simply allowed me to use these NFB lists as a vehicle to make others 
aware of the existence of my forum.

Judging by the response I've received, I did the right thing in creating my 
list. A few people have written to me and said that such a list is not 
necessary and that I should keep my eye on the ball of blindness, as it 
were. Others have chided me for being a hypocrite for being a blind 
conservative in the first place. Still others have taken shots at the 
Republican party in general. This aside, the overwhelming response to my 
announcement thus far has been positive. There has been a common theme 
running through the messages of support and requests to join that I have 
received. People are continuously telling me that they thought they were 
alone and that they didn't realize there were other likeminded blind people 
out there who believe as they do. If my forum serves as a network for 
support and nothing else, its worth my time and effort.

We can wish all day long for the blind from all political perspectives to 
put aside their political differences and come together to work for the 
common good. Personally, I don't believe this is any more realistic than 
expecting the NFB and ACb to join forces. We have an inherent conflict of 
visions in this country, whether we are Federation or Council, conservative 
or liberal, Republican or Democrat. The Federation has been successful 
because we've achieved a common focus, but the fact remains that an official 
from the McCain campaign declined an invitation to come speak at our meeting 
in 2008 because they felt that Obama was ahead on the issues of 
disabilities. That tells me that, whether intentional or not, the NFB failed 
to reach out to both sides of the political aisle. We could blame our 
leadership or we could blame the Republicans, but I choose to move forward 
and see that such a thing does not happen again in the current election 
cycle, in the 2012 election or in any political election of consequence in 
the future. My list is certainly not a cure-all for the problem, but it may 
be a beginning. If we blind conservatives want an equal voice in the 
political arena, we have to work for it.

Finally, let me reassert that anyone is welcome on my list, no matter what 
their political orientation. The discussion will be civil and respectful, if 
not spirited. If you would like more information, please Email me privately 
and I'll be glad to talk with you.

Thank you for reading this.


RyanO