[nabs-l] Partisanship on list

Fri Sep 16 22:19:02 UTC 2011

Hi Bridgit,

You're absolutely right, and I appologize if I misspoke in my 
earlier post.  What I was implying was the can of worms that was 
opened when I posted that article from the Forum.  But you're 
right, and I think debates on Federation philosophy are much more 
productive than those like the one we had before (thank God that 
died down,) so long as they don't go into name-calling or bashing 
people or groups of people.

Chris

 Chris Nusbaum

"The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The 
real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that 
exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and 
opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical 
nuisance." -- Kenneth Jernigan (President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, 1968-1986.)

  Visit the I C.A.N.  Foundation online at: 
www.icanfoundation.info for
information on our foundation and how it helps blind and visually
impaired children in MD say "I can!"

Sent from my BrailleNote

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com
To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:29:49 -0500
Subject: [nabs-l] Partisanship on list

Chris,

First, allowing Federation ideas and concepts is of course 
allowed
because it's a Federation list.  Though not all NABS members and
participants subscribe to Federation philosophy or ideas, the 
Federation
itself has specific ideals and views that aren't debated as a
collective.  And I will point out that we've discussed, plenty,
Federation philosophy, some disagreeing.

With secular politics, though, we are not a list specific to one 
side
over another, nor does the NFB associate with one political group 
over
another.  So it stands to reason that we wouldn't follow or 
debate
specific political agendas.  And in light of current threads, 
nothing
constructive has stemmed from such "partisan" discussions.  If a
listserve existed solely to discuss varying political views and 
provide
information, there'd be more appropriateness for such 
back-and-forth.

I'm not against sharing and debating politics, but for a general
membership focusing on education, partisan political views 
doesn't
always lend itself to productive discussions.  Again, as observed 
from
current threads, individual political agendas have not been 
received
well here, and all it has accomplished is arguments many aren't
comfortable with, name-calling and clearly no one has been 
willing to
concede ideas.

If this was a listserve started and generated by, let's say, the 
T
party, it would stand to reason that their political views would 
be
primarily discussed, and debating liberal ideas would most likely 
not
lead to healthy, productive debates, but deteriorate into heated, 
angry
threads, as happened here recently.

True, not everyone on this list is an NFB member, and not 
everyone,
including NFB members, agrees with all things NFB, but the 
listserve
itself is NFB so naturally, NFB ideas, philosophy and views are
supported and given preference.  If this list was backed by and 
initiated
as a general listserve for blind students, it would be another 
matter,
but the fact of the matter is that the NFB started, supports and
moderators this listserve so as a collective entity, even though 
not all
subscribe to it, Federation views are backed.  Not that we can't 
discuss,
debate and provide other schools of thought, but these threads 
tend to
be more productive than threads with secular politics.

We have to ask ourselves this: What is the purpose of this list, 
and
what does debating secular politics accomplish on this list? 
Sure, we
often disagree what is appropriate and inappropriate for NABS, 
and
off-topic posts are not discouraged, but think about the current 
thread.
It hasn't steered us into a productive discussion whatsoever.  As 
they
say, don't discuss politics or religion in mixed company.

I will say this: Whether I agree or not, I find it refreshing so 
many
young people are considering the world around them and 
participating in
political activities fitting their personal views.  Not a lot of 
teens
and twenty-something's care about politics, but how our operate 
as a
country, the decisions that truly affect most aspects of our 
life, are
determined by our political leaders.  Kudos to those 
participating in
civic duties.  Though I caution everyone to investigate and study 
both
sides before confirming positions.  Be open to learning and 
understanding
no one is perfect, nor are political views.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog for Live Well Nebraska.com at
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

Message: 13
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:49:43 -0400
From: Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing
	list<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Wanting to be off the 9/11 thread
Message-ID: <4e711380.f318340a.017b.ffffa846 at mx.google.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed

Well, you sensored it a little! LOL! Again, tell it like it is!
Love it! So, I have a question, then.  As you said, "this forum
has no place for partisan agendas..." except for the NFB's
partisan agenda? Oh, so if we don't like partisanship politically
on this list, then why do we allow the partisan agenda of the NFB
to be on this list?

Chris

 Chris Nusbaum

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