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

Wed Jan 21 04:19:06 UTC 2015

Well Mary Ann, you have met the perfect person, me! I make perfectly good 
mistakes! I also think part of our issues are that when we haven't been in 
the organization long or started younge we have to build up a base of 
connections. For example, I've only been a Federationist for a few years. A 
lot of people knew me before I was but now they are beginning to take me 
more seriously because I've been getting involved in things. However, I have 
not been around long enough to devope a reputation. Ok, maybe that preceeds 
me! Again, the best we can do is keep reaching out and making connections 
and strengthening them.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Ann Robinson via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "David Robinson" <drob1946 at gmail.com>; "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing 
List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Why Be a Part of the NFB?


> Elizabeth,
>
> I also want to commend you for writing to the list.  Expressing your
> feelings took a great deal of courage.
>
> I have been a member of the NFB for more than 40 years.  There were many
> years when I wasn't very active.  In recent years, I have increased my
> activity exponentially.
>
> The NFB philosophy is sound, makes sense to me  and reflects my values. 
> In the
> more than 60 years that I have lived on this earth, many things have
> improved for blind people.  However, there are many
> areas that still leave much to be desired for us.
> I am not perfect and I have yet to meet the perfect person.
> In the NFB, there are as many opinions as there are people.  Some amount 
> of disagreement
> or conflict is healthy.  If someone disagrees with us, that does not mean 
> they dislike us.
> Exposure to different opportunities, thoughts,
> ideas, perspectives and points of view is a strength.  For me, the NFB is 
> a safe haven where I can express my joys, frustrations, pain and 
> accomplishments and be accepted.  I am among people who, like me, live 
> with
> their blindness everyday and truly understand me. They also give me the 
> support and encouragement to persevere when I might give up otherwise; and
> they challenge me to be the best person I can be.
>
> Knowledge is power and there is power in numbers.  I can accomplish much 
> more as a member of our movement than I ever could alone. I look to the 
> organization to help effect change, but I also look inward to see what I 
> need to change within me.
>
> You have contributed much in many ways and you have worked very hard.  I 
> believe you can contribute still more. To echo Dave's sentiments, there is 
> much work that needs to be done and we need more people to do it.  The 
> road to equality and living the life we want can be a long one. I hope 
> that you continue to pursue your hopes and dreams and may you find the 
> answers to your questions about the Federation and inner peace as you 
> continue on your journey.
>
> Mary Ann
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Robinson via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: "Elizabeth Mohnke" <lizmohnke at hotmail.com>; "NFB of Michigan Internet
> Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 7:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Why Be a Part of the NFB?
>
>
>> 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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>>
>>
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