[nfbmi-talk] Excerpt From "To Man The Barricades"

Mon Feb 27 16:07:11 UTC 2012

Hi Donna,

I am sorry if that is what you think I meant.  I didn't.  For some people
getting to a chapter meeting and voting on a motion is all they can manage,
for others it is attending national Conventions being leaders in state and
national divisions of the Federation and being on the PAC plan to give
financially and spiritually.  I believe Dr. Jernigan was speaking to those
who stand on the sidelines and criticize or make catcalls about our efforts.
His words included an open invitation and an understanding that we will do
all we can do for even them, despite their willingness or excuses for not
joining with us.

In my 40 plus years in this outfit, I have known a lot of people.  Some of
them were like the woman in the Bible who could only put a penny on the
alter.  That person was doing all she could do.  For her it was a 100%
effort.  For others it is jetting around the country raising funds building
buildings giving out scholarships and much more.  Everyone's effort matters
and is not to be trifled. I object to the disingenuous claim of being too
busy, too far away, or the myriad of other excuses some people make for not
lending a hand, no matter how humble that may be.  And humility is, to me,
very important.  None of is above any other of us.  I firmly believe in the
saying "that to whom much is given, much is expected."  We are only where we
are through grace and we all ought to realize that.  

We want and, especially in this time of trial, need every willing person to
do what they can to help.  None of us can do what needs to be done, alone.
Even making a call to another person to remind them of a meeting is
something valuable. Most of us can find a little time to do something like
that.

 So, I was not pointing fingers at anyone who is already involved.  I was
reflecting Dr. Jernigans pointed invitation to those outside the Federation
to get involved. We want and need everyone we can find to continue to create
an environment where blind people can flourish and where we can all achieve
first-class citizenship.

Warmest Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Donna Posont
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 12:02 AM
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Excerpt From "To Man The Barricades"

Hey Fred, I get your point with the speech, but if you push the all or
nothing attitude then you do push some people away. There should be room in
the Federation for those who can only make it to a chapter meeting and are
learning to be comfortable in their skin as a blind person. I see what you
are trying to say, but it leaves no room for having other priorities at any
given moment and leads to more judgement and condemnation of one another. 
Not every one is cut from the same mold and I say that it would be a boring
place if we were. Thanks for listening, Donna
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at att.net>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2012 11:29 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Excerpt From "To Man The Barricades"

> Hello,
>
>
>
> As I reread "To Man The Barricades" a speech which I first read in the 
> early '70's just after it was delivered, I was put in mind of some of 
> the recent traffic on this list.  Dr. Jernigan clearly set the bar for 
> all blind people and put our obligations to one another in plain 
> English.  Given the nature of our present situation, there is no 
> excuse for staying on the sidelines and catcalling every time those of 
> us who actually are trying to make a difference do something that is 
> objectionable, even though the catcallers did not lift a finger to 
> help.  Here is what Dr. Jernigan has to say about that.
>
>
>
>
>
> Next, I want to say something to those blind persons who are aware of 
> our
>
> movement and who have had an opportunity to join it but who have not 
> seen
>
> fit
>
>
>
> to do so. In this category I also place those blind persons who are 
> among us
>
>
> but not really of us, who (technically speaking) hold membership in 
> the
>
> Federation
>
>
>
> but are not really part of the movement. The non-Federation and the
>
> noncommitted blind are a strange phenomenon. Some of them are 
> successful in
>
> business
>
>
>
> or the professions. I have heard them say, "I really don't need the
>
> Federation. Of course, if I could do anything to help you people, I 
> would be
>
>
> glad to
>
>
>
> do it, but I am independent. I have made it on my own." I have heard 
> them
>
> say:
>
>
>
> "You really can't expect me to go down to that local meeting of the blind.
>
> Nobody goes there except a few old people, who sit around and drink 
> coffee
>
> and
>
>
>
> plan Christmas parties. I am a successful lawyer, or businessman, or 
> judge;
>
> and I am busy. Besides, they never get anything done. They just talk 
> and
>
> argue."
>
>
>
> I have heard them say: "I don't know that I necessarily have anything 
> in
>
> common with other blind people just because I'm blind. Almost all my 
> friends
>
>
> are
>
>
>
> sighted. My life is busy with bowling, hiking, reading, or my business 
> or
>
> profession." I have heard them say: "You people in the Federation are 
> too
>
> aggressive.
>
>
>
> You are always in a fight with somebody, or bickering among 
> yourselves. I am
>
>
> an individualist and never was much of a joiner."
>
>
>
> I have heard some of them say: "I am an employee of a governmental or
>
> private agency doing work with the blind, and I think it would destroy 
> my
>
> professional
>
>
>
> relationship with my clients if I were to work actively in the Federation.
>
> Anyway, we all have a common concern, the betterment of blind people; 
> so
>
> I'll
>
>
>
> make my contribution by working as a 'professional' in the field. 
> Besides,
>
> not all blind people agree with you or want to join your organization, 
> and
>
> as
>
>
>
> a 'professional' I have to represent and work with all blind people."
>
>
>
> I have heard them say all of these things, and to such blind persons I 
> say
>
> this: You are patsies! Not only that but you are also deceiving 
> yourselves
>
> and
>
>
>
> failing to act in your own best interest. Further, you are profiting 
> from
>
> the labor and sacrifice, and are riding on the backs, of the blind who 
> have
>
> joined
>
>
>
> the movement and worked to make it possible for you to have what you have.
>
> Some of you feel superior to many of the blind who belong to the 
> Federation
>
>
>
> (especially those who work in the sheltered shops or draw welfare), 
> but your
>
>
> feelings of superiority are misplaced; for collectively these people 
> have
>
>
>
> clothed you and fed you. They have made it possible for you to have 
> such
>
> equality in society and such opportunity as you now enjoy. Resent what 
> I say
>
>
> if
>
>
>
> you will, but it is the truth, whether you like it or not and whether 
> you
>
> admit it or not. It is true for those of you who work in the agencies 
> as
>
> well
>
>
>
> as for those of you who work in private endeavor.
>
>
>
> If you think this movement should be better or that it should be of 
> higher
>
> caliber, then join us and help make it that way. If you think the 
> local
>
> meetings
>
>
>
> or the State conventions are dull or uninspiring, then do your part to 
> make
>
> them different. Even animals in the jungle have sense enough to hunt 
> in
>
> packs.
>
>
>
> The blind ought to be at least as intelligent.
>
>
>
> We need you, and we want you as active participants in the movement; 
> but
>
> until you will join, we must do the best we can without you. We must 
> carry
>
> you
>
>
>
> on our backs and do your work for you, and we will do it. The fact 
> that we
>
> say you are patsies does not mean that we resent you. Far from it. You 
> are
>
> our
>
>
>
> brothers, and we will continue to look upon you as such, regardless of 
> how
>
> irresponsibly you behave. We are trying to get you to think about the
>
> implications
>
>
>
> of your actions. We are trying to get you to join with us to help make
>
> things better for other blind people and for yourselves. We are trying 
> to
>
> get you
>
>
>
> to stop being patsies.
>
>
>
>
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
>
>
> Fred
>
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