[nfb-talk] Question of Philosophy- fund raising

[Michael Bullis]

One thing that occurs to me is that we're several generations in America
away from the 1930's when begging was seen as a large activity among blind
people.  The Randolph-Sheppard program was started as an alternative to that
activity.
Most Americans have never seen blind people regularly begging as a part of
their community so don't necessarily equate blindness with begging.  Those
of us born in the 50's were still close enough to relate and certainly there
is a strong flavor of blindness and begging in American and other
literature.

So, it may be that those of us who are older are more sensitive than younger
people about an image that has for the most part not been a part of our
culture for two or three generations.
I just read the annual publication by Beloit College on the mindset of the
students who are starting college today.
Perhaps one of them should be:
"for this generation blind people have never been beggars."
Mike Bullis



-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Drenth, Joe
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 11:10 AM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Question of Philosophy- fund raising

Hello all,

There are at least two reasons why someone would financially support a
cause or individual:

1. Pity -- The person or group is incapable of providing for
himself/herself/themselves.  Weakness, dependence, and inability to
survive without assistance are emphasized to invoke compassion and
possibly guilt.  This is begging.

2. Cooperation -- The cause represented by the person or group is a
worthy one, and contributions to further its programs is a way of
showing agreement with the work being done.  Financial support is given
to encourage those on the front lines and to further the reach of the
efforts.
Information about those who are directly helped through the financial
support can be provided as evidence of the good and just purposes of the
cause, such as statistics about children who are at risk of being
illiterate without proper Braille training.

Setting up a table to raise funds could be done in such a way that it
leans in either one of these directions, but I think the second approach
more adequately matches the philosophy of the NFB.


Best regards.

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