[Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies andconstitutional requirements

[Holly]

Please remember the reason for the original message that Sherri sent out. We, the NFB, has a president who drives. They have enough vision to have a valid license even if they cannot drive at night (restricted). 


Sent from my iPhone

> On May 4, 2014, at 11:24 PM, Brian Norton <benorton at samobile.net> wrote:
> 
> The NFB rule prohibiting dual membership apparently is still controversial from the numerous emails recently discussing  this topic. I believe that this exclusionary membership rule  has an additional  problem, at least with regard to  its impact on the blind community of my small southern city of ‘Tallahassee. Unfortunately, here the chapter membership in the two blind organizations are divided primarily along separate rracial lines. Although I do not believe that either group has any purposeful discriminatory intent in their membership recruitment,and I have no knowledge of the historical roots which caused this result, from the viewpoint of a newcomer to these two beneficial and well intentioned associations, I was surprised to encounter such apparent racial segregation still in existence.
> I was involved in civil rights litigation in North Florida 30 years ago when purposeful racial discrimination was more prevalent. Although the conservate Supreme Court has recently eroded some of the legal principals of discrimination, I believe that this NFB rule of exclusion may have a discriminatory effect and impact,  possibly in violation of Title 7, of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Further, this exclusionary rule  creates an unnecessary barrier for these two admirable Quasi-public blind organizations progressing towards more eventual intergration of their social/politcal goals, purposes, and activities. The exclusionary rule disallowing dual membership will perpetuate existing de facto segregation of the Tallahassee blind community, and does not promote any rational purpose.
> I hope that the NFB will re-evaluate its rule in light of this obviously racially discriminatory impact which penalizes blind persons choosing to socially interact with both of these diverse groups for a common harmonious purpose. In fact, there might be substantial benefits if dual membership was encouraged. Obviously, many countries easily manage legitimate dual citizenship without much problem, and I am certain the NFB can similarly reasonably accomodate dual membership without jeopardy. The NFB and the FCB should promote sharing, caring, and diversity as well as independence,, equality, and freedom, and eliminate rules which inhibit achievement of these goals.
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbf-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/hbeanie%40gmail.com