[Nfbmt] A ridiculous Question

[Rebecca Stewart]

Hi Rick.   I'm looking forward to the D. C. trip.  We will all learn so much
while we are out there.  Of all the issues I have become aware of, the one
that is most agregious in my mind is the issue of fair wages.  The federal
minimum wage was put in place to prevent anyone from being paid less than a
"fair" wage,and to pick an entire group of Americans and pass a law that
says that this particular group of people isn't worthy of the same fair wage
as everyone else is just sickening.  I have been disabled since I was 12
years old and I never knew this was going on and I suspect that average
Americans don't realize it's going on either because if they did, I think
they would rise up and change it.  So, HR 831 is by far my passion on this
trip.  If we fail to get it passed, I think we should focus on a campaign of
educating our fellow voters on the issue for our future battles in this
regard.  
I'm looking forward to seeing you and everyone else in D. C. in three weeks.

Becca 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rik James
Sent: Sunday, January 5, 2014 10:55 AM
To: NFB of Montana Discussion List
Cc: James Karen
Subject: Re: [Nfbmt] A ridiculous Question

I am appreciating what the NFB legislative team is doing. I am looking
forward to our trip to Washington, to be part of a collective voice to
express our dismay and disgust at what is, and has been going on for much
too long for our fellow blind persons.

What we will ask them, the Congressional representatives to do is important.

For us, together and for each of individually, I guess I feel like I need to
get my head together and be informed.

And to be able to boil it down into a few concise and understandable sound
bytes. Because that is what we will have in the way of time.

Go around the room, if you please, now, fellow Fedearationists.

Speak your mind now amongst ourselves.

Sing the Dress Rehearsal Rag.
(Oops, sorry! I drifted in to my music world for a moment, with that Leonard
Cohen song title.)

What do you each know about the history of the minimum wage in America?
In the general sense, I think this is valuable to understand.

What are the big bullet points of that history, that have led us to right
now in time?

History. All around us. Surrounding us.
And the role we play, today, in that history.
The future and the present. Unraveling all of it.
That is what occupies part of my mind, as I try and see about what I would
like to be a part of in Washington at the end of this month.

I wish I felt more optimistic. I have been following our Congress with
horror and dismay in the years since last I went on this advocacy
pilgrimage.
And so it makes me rather a grim conversationalist, when sitting around
talking. Because I worry that we are all of us, sighted, blind and whatever
in a very rough patch for democratic principles, and anyone without a huge
money sack of lobby professionals, controlling the pie slicing in America.

But I let that rest. Are you glad?

But here is the next little thing I have to say. That beyond those few
moments with a congressmen or one of their staff, there will be time with
one another, us in the National Federation of the Blind, from Montana, and
other state affiliate members around the nation, once again. Anything is
possible. Especially when we remain as we are, and continue to evolve and to
work together.

And that is also precious. Don't you think?

I just am hoping now that by that time the weather will cooperate with us,
too. For our travel needs. It will be what it will be. But I wish for it to
be smooth sailing, smooth flying, and a waltz on concrete that is not so
dreadfully slippery as it is here today in my home town.

Peace Love Joy.
And man the barricades. We will not go back.
As Doctor Jernigan and others have chanted lo these decades now for our
rights for equality and justice, and a fair shake at everything anyone with
complete normal eyesight has.

Rik


. 


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