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

Wed Apr 21 13:44:39 UTC 2010

Hi,

Ryan, I am pleased that this latest email from you is well thought out and
does not contain provocative language Which was the only point of my earlier
post.

I would, however like to address something you said in this latest email.
You stated, "...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".

I do not believe someone from the McCain camp not coming to your meeting
does not at all necessarily mean that attempts were not made to "reach out"
to the republican side of the aisle.  In fact, prominent federationists have
been quite visible in significant positions within the Republican party.
Several years ago one NFB member delivered one of the presidential seconding
speeches during a Republican convention.  Also, in past Republican
administrations the blind have fared well and have been heard as illustrated
by legislation which was passed and based on various appointments.

This past Republican administration, on the other hand, has not seemed to
listen, and that apparent lack of interest continued with the McCain
election campaign.  I cannot state for certain that there was no interest on
the part of Candidate McCain or his campaign staff, but I think there is
more evidence of a lack of interest than there was a lack of attempts on the
part of blind persons to reach out.

No matter which point of view is true, the bottom line is that there have
been way too many provocative comments which do no good and which have
served only to further divide the country.  Fear tactics and innuendos are
not what any of us need to promote healing and some form of unity.  We can
work together no matter what our political bent.  This can only happen if we
stop the one upsmanship and deal with the issues we all face.  In the case
of the blind I think that political differences do not need to be the gate
which determines our position.  Blindness goes across party lines.

Having a discussion forum is a good idea.  We should always allow ourselves
to listen, learn, evaluate and even sometimes modify our positions.

Mike Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
     “Speaking with Vision”
                 Michael Hingson, President
                         (415) 827-4084
                   info at michaelhingson.com
                   www.michaelhingson.com

for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of RyanO
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 5:36 PM
To: qubit; NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] New List for Blind Conservatives

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

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