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

[John G. Heim]

There's nothing intrinsically hypocritical about being blind and a 
conservative. Whoever said that should be ashamed of themselves.

On the other hand, its a very, very tough line to draw. I know people who 
criticize programs that they themselves benefitted from at one time. I'm on 
another list where  a guy declared that the government shouldn't be in the 
business of providing health care while he, himself, was on Medicaide at the 
time.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RyanO" <ryano218 at comcast.net>
To: "qubit" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>; "NFB Talk Mailing List" 
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 7:36 PM
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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