[nfbmi-talk] A Little Birdi Told Me...

Wed May 25 17:30:25 UTC 2011

Hi, Joe,

My intention was not at all political. I've attended a huge number of 
convention and have seen wonderful things happen to people, most of 
it not involving a  monetary transaction like the one I described; 
rather, I wanted to illustrate the strong bond that being part of the 
NFB creates among its member--and sometimes nonmember.

Cordially,

Evelyn

At 01:24 PM 5/25/2011, you wrote:
>Great story. It does go to an issue that often is ascribed to the 
>left of the political spectrum, but in a word is called, "Solidarity."
>
>Thanks for the true stories.
>
>Peace with Justice,
>
>Joe
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Evelyn Weckerly" <weckerly at i2k.com>
>To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 1:07 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] A Little Birdi Told Me...
>
>
>>Hi, All,
>>
>>I joined this list last week; this is my first post.
>>
>>I'm glad for Christine also, and Mary, you are absolutely right.
>>
>>Back in 1968 I became what was known in the Federation as th4e 
>>Weckerly case. I (and another teacher shortly after me) had to 
>>fight for tenure. The whole thing lasted five years before it 
>>finally ended in victory. During that time, my family expected I 
>>would lose--no support there. Year after year at convention Dr. 
>>Jernigan stated emphatically in his presidential report that we 
>>would win. Only the NFB backed and encouraged me! Of course, we did 
>>win it. Oftentimes, I am sure, no one else understands when you are 
>>being discriminated against or treated badly because of blindness. 
>>We do indeed walk alone and march together. While we're on the 
>>subject of supporting one another, I'd like to retell what happened 
>>in Chicago one year at convention--just in case there are people on 
>>this list who were not there.
>>
>>A man wanted to work as an auto mechanic. While in Chicago, he got 
>>an interview and then wasa hired. His new employer told him to 
>>report Saturday morning (day after convention ended). There was one 
>>catch: he had to bring his own tools which at that time would cost 
>>him $1200. Rehab told him that getting those tools for him would 
>>take three months. We solved that one in a hurry! The hat was 
>>passed for a collection, and he got his tools as a no interest loan 
>>from us. You should have hear the cheering! Now that's a dramatic 
>>example of supporting one another.
>>
>>Cordially,
>>
>>Evelyn
>>
>>At 12:43 PM 5/25/2011, you wrote:
>>>Dear Joe and Dave,
>>>
>>>I compliment both of you on your messages, well said.  Dr. Jernigan was so
>>>right to  teach us to fight only for issues which directly concern blind
>>>Americans because of the diversity of political and other kinds of opinion
>>>and beliefs held by NFB's members.
>>>When I heard the news yesterday about our sister, Christine, I first cheered
>>>and the cried.  Remember, Many of us marched out in the cold lat s  t Winter
>>>for the unjust treatment of Dave and Christine, and also our blind venders
>>>and agency clients who have, and are receiving horrific service by the
>>>agency given our tax payer money to help us find jobs.
>>>It is so sweet to have a victory, as I often feel despair settling in upon
>>>me when change comes so slowly.  Yet we remain committed to our cause of
>>>obtaining first class treatment for all blind people.  When one of us is
>>>weighed down by these injustices, we have others by our side to lean on till
>>>we can stand upright again.  That is why we choose to act as an organized
>>>blind movement and not just as individuals.
>>>
>>>No, we differ on some views, but we love one another as a family when one
>>>blind person is treated horrendously.
>>>Go Christine, go Dave!  We stand with you as long as it takes!
>>>
>>>Mary Wurtzel
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>On Behalf Of joe harcz Comcast
>>>Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 7:37 AM
>>>To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
>>>Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] A Little Birdi Told Me...
>>>
>>>Dear Ray,
>>>
>>>I've refrained from commenting up until now because your message conflicts
>>>me deeply. One reason it conflicts me is that while I personally agree with
>>>many elements of your message it detracts from a great victory against
>>>injustice. Ray, I am well left of center as you know and I think most on
>>>this list know that too.  Part of being so self-labeled we are by nature for
>>>
>>>the organizational rights of workers including public sector employees. And
>>>certainly we agree that at a minimum public sector employees need to have
>>>the protections against arbitrary and capricious abuses of bosses
>>>established not only through collective bargaining, but also civil service,
>>>and other due process protections.
>>>
>>>Here, Christine and Dave Robinson before her showed that Patrick D. Cannon
>>>the so-called liberal Democrat knight in white armor, protector of civil
>>>rights, and of public sector employees was directly the opposite. He is a
>>>venal, abusive hypocrite. That is not just an allegation, but totally
>>>documented in these two cases alone and there have been others not mentioned
>>>
>>>on this list.
>>>
>>>Cannon is a self-serving autocrat who doesn't give a fig about the civil
>>>rights of people let alone those of blind employees or consumers.
>>>
>>>Christine was greatly wronged. but, more important than the personal abuse
>>>and subsequent victory is that this shows a pattern and practice of
>>>injustice under the reign of terror of Cannon against Michigan's blind
>>>citizens over years. Thus, this vindication of Christine is also a
>>>vindication of what advocates such as myself have been fighting about over
>>>the years too. It is a victory for all of those consumers abused over years
>>>too.
>>>
>>>One might not be totally fulfilled by belated justice, but, my brother it
>>>does taste sweet. I relish the flavor in my mouth today.
>>>
>>>Again Ray I share your concerns about other issues and the anti-government
>>>fever for lack of better words. But, corrupt government actors do us no
>>>favors. I fight against the corruption in the system to save the system if
>>>you catch my drift. If we don't do so the "radical right" for lack of better
>>>
>>>words will point to the abuses as an excuse for shutting down programs like
>>>Vocational Rehabilitation programs.
>>>
>>>This said, I too wish to say, "Congratulations Christine!" And I also wish
>>>to say, "Congratulations to all those who seek justice in our lifetime."
>>>
>>>Peace with Justice,
>>>
>>>Joe
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Raymond Roberson" <rayrroberson at gmail.com>
>>>To: "Marcus Simmons" <MarcusSimmons at comcast.net>; "NFB of Michigan Internet
>>>Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 7:20 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] A Little Birdi Told Me...
>>>
>>>
>>> > good for christine boone. however the national federation of 
>>> the blind > of
>>> > michigan was stopped in its goal with the support of the national
>>> > headquarters in proceding toward a lawsuit in the state of 
>>> michigan > when
>>> > larry posont had to agree to not bring legal action against 
>>> the > michigan
>>> > commission for the blind as a condition to governor rick 
>>> synder > appointing
>>>
>>> > larry to the commission board. the little birdie told me and so larry
>>> > posont stopped the federation in michigan in its legal pursuits.
>>> > republicans have a national agenda and that is small governent 
>>> by > getting
>>> > rid of social programs such as social security, medicare, 
>>> medicaid, > taxing
>>>
>>> > the middle class, giving tax breaks to corporations which does 
>>> not > create
>>> > jobs in michigan or any where in the united states, and ship 
>>> jobs out > side
>>>
>>> > of the united states to other countries like china, india, mexico, ect.
>>> > the nfb of michigan was sold out, including state programs such 
>>> as > school
>>> > districts, violation of our state constitution by creating a state law
>>> > with out public hearing, the emergency financial manager. working on
>>> > collective bargaining rights of labor union who have a history 
>>> of > creating
>>>
>>> > safe work conditions,and other benefits such as decent wages, creating
>>> > child labor law so that children are not forced to work. now there is
>>> > started recall rick synder petitions in circulation in michigan 
>>> synder > is
>>> > no friend of the middle class or the poor. ray roberson
>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>> > From: "Marcus Simmons" <MarcusSimmons at comcast.net>
>>> > To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> > Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 6:36 PM
>>> > Subject: [nfbmi-talk] A Little Birdi Told Me...
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> Christine won her case. I am not surprise.
>>> >> _______________________________________________
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>>> >
>>> >
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>>>
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