[nfbmi-talk] Why Be a Part of the NFB?

[David Robinson]

Elizabeth,

  First, I want to thank you for expressing your frustrations and asking
your questions. These are important points and real feelings and they are to
be respected.  I suppose that the NFB is just an organization of people who
have come together for a common interest. We have a philosophy to live by
and to guide us,and we have a place were we want all blind people to be in
this world.  However, we are foremost, just people with all the good and bad
that comes with that statement.

    Secondly, as a Federationist for over 45 years, I know of the rejection
and the the hurtful comments from other members.  It is not the way we
should be and it is not what we as Federationists want it to be.  Each of us
struggle for our own place in the world and our place within the Federation.
Often it results in disappointment, but sometimes it results in satisfaction
and a sense of accomplishment. I think that the world is just like that in
all things.

   You have worked hard and you have contributed much, perhaps more then
many of us,and I as sorry that you did not recieve more from it then what
you have given.  You may have fallen short at times,and I to have fallen
short.  In fact, I am sure I have many more times then I care to think
about.  It is my hope that fellow Federationists will forgive me when I fall
short,and help me to do better. It is also important that I recognize the
problem and pray that I will do better next time.  When you fall short, we
need to forgive, when you do well, we need to give you thanks , but If we
don't give you thanks, I hope you will forgive us. Sometimes we are caught
up in our own world and do not give gratitude when we should.

   Believe me when I say, you are not discounted. You are not unwelcomed.
In fact, you are vital and much needed. We the organized blind need you to
be partof us.  We are just a group of blind people trying to help others,and
we always have more to do then we have people.  I want to look for the good
things in people that want to be my brothers and sisters in the movement,
and I will continue to do that even though I see things that may not be
good.  I take from many for my role models,and I reject from the very same
the things that I may not like, and so I hope you can do the same.

   I am part of the Federation because I can succeed in helping our efforts
to equality and I can also feel good about what I do, who I can  count as
friends,and to feel as part of a common cause, a family that has a purpose
and living the life with them through all the ups and downs. Remember, The
Federation purpose is a good one, and only  the people's shortcomings are
what cloud the results.

Dave
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Mohnke via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 4:09 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Why Be a Part of the NFB?


> Hello List,
>
> Perhaps I should not be posting this in such a public forum, but I have so
> many questions about the NFB that I can never really seem to answer.
> Trying
> to find the answers to these questions has only led to more frustration
> and
> confusion. So I am just wondering, what the heck is the point of being a
> part of the NFB? Why should someone try to become a part of the NFB? And
> what good comes out of trying to be a part of the NFB?
>
> My overall experience with the NFB has been less than positive. I have
> been
> trying to become a part of the NFB for about fifteen years now, and I have
> always felt as though I am somehow always on the outside looking in
> wishing
> I could truly be a part of things but never really being a part of things.
> During these years I have worked really hard to be a part of the NFB, but
> I
> feel as though all of my hard work was all for nothing given the way I am
> constantly being treated by people within the NFB. For the most part, the
> only real thing I have receive from the NFB is a lot of criticism
> rejection,
> and negativity..
>
> When I first tried to join the NFB, I was told that the NFB was a great
> source of hope, encouragement, and inspiration for people like me who were
> losing their eyesight. I was also told that there were so many great role
> models within the NFB who could serve as mentors who would be willing to
> help support and guide people like me along their path in life. However,
> the
> NFB has never really been any of these things for me, and I feel as though
> I
> was led to believe in something that really does not exist.
>
> So what exactly is the NFB all about? Is it about all the bickering that
> goes on to see who can throw the worse insults at each other? Is it about
> forming special cliques that only keep others out? Is it about rejecting
> people from serving on a project because they have yet to become the
> perfect
> blind person? Is it about tearing each other down with harsh words of
> criticism and insults? Is it about being the biggest man or woman in the
> room which justifiably gives you some reason to treat everyone else as if
> they are somehow less than you?
>
> This is what the NFB is to me. I think this is rather sad because I do not
> believe this is what the NFB is supposed to be. If you believe the NFB
> should not be this way either then I would encourage you to take a good
> hard
> look at the way the NFB treats all of its members. I have been deeply hurt
> by all of the criticism and rejection I have received by the NFB, but as
> someone who has been shunned and ostracized from this organization, I am
> not
> quite sure what more I can do to change the way NFB treats some of its
> members. The NFB should be willing to accept anyone who wants to be a part
> of it, and maybe by posting this message, someday this might actually
> become
> a reality.
>
> Warm regards,
> Elizabeth
>
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