[nfbmi-talk] Cannon's reaction to Jernigan's 1971 comments.

[Larry Posont]

 I have some ideas, but I would like to hear your ideas about how to react 
to Pat Cannon's  statements. Below is my message that I sent to him.



From: Larry Posont [mailto:president.nfb.mi at gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 9:43 PM

To: Cannon, Patrick (DELEG)

Subject: Fw: 1971 Speech from Kenneth Jernigan





Pat Cannon, read this.



In 1971 the leader of the organized blind movement in the United States

sent a message to the agencies serving the blind. This is what he said:



If you tell us that you are important and necessary to our lives, we reply: 
It is true. But tear down every agency for the blind in the nation, destroy 
every workshop, and burn every professional journal; and we can build them 
all back if they are needed. But take away the blind, and your journals will 
go dusty on the shelves. Your counselors will walk the streets for work, and 
your broomcorn will mold and rot in your sheltered shops. Yes, we need you; 
but you need us, too. We intend to have a voice in your operation and your 
decisions since what you do affects our lives. We intend to have 
representation on your boards, and we intend for you to recognize our 
organizations and treat us as equals. We are not your wards, and there is no 
way for you to make us your wards. The only question

Left to be answered is whether you will accept the new conditions and work 
with

us in peace and partnership or whether we must drag you kicking and

screaming into the new era. But enter the new era you will, like it or not.



Kenneth Jernigan delivered that emphatic message at the 1971

convention of the National Federation of the Blind



From: "Cannon, Patrick (DELEG)" <cannonp at michigan.gov

To: "Larry Posont" <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com

Cc: "Luzenski, Sue (DELEG)" <LuzenskiS at michigan.gov; "Jo Ann Pilarski"

<pilarskij at charter.net

Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 6:10 AM

Subject: Let's Talk Soon





Thank you very much, Larry, for sharing these comments by Dr. Jernigan.

I appreciate it and agree that agencies serving the blind must work in

partnership with the blind.



May I conclude that your sharing this message with me now signals a

willingness on your part to resume our conversations and meetings?  I

sincerely hope so, Larry, and request again that you consider regular

meetings between the two of us, either in person or by telephone.

You've not responded to several attempts we've made to establish some

dates and times to do so and hope that you will either call our office,

toll-free at 800-292-4200, to speak with Sue and identify some possible

times, or propose some dates and times, via email to both sue and me,

luzenskis at michigan.gov and cannonp at michigan.gov.



We are clearly overdue for these conversations, Larry, and I sincerely

hope that we may connect soon.



Best always,



Pat