[nfb-talk] what sometimes happens to new federationists

[Mike Freeman]

Sherri et al:

Let us remember that in that same speech, "The Nature of Independence", Dr.
Jernigan talked about the three phases of
blindness-consciousness-development.  He maintained that everyone hat to go
through "rebellious independence" before coming to "normal independence".
It is analogous to use of sleep-shades by the partially-sighted.  We
advocate this because they learn to function as totally-blind persons so
that if their sight decreases or isn't efficient for certain tasks, they
know they can function as blind persons and that this need not connote
inferiority.  In like fashion, we probably have to learn to function as
"rebelliously-independent" persons in order to gain the knowledge and
self-confidence to be able to accept help when that is most efficient yet
function without it when it is not available or desirable.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Sherri
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 8:52 AM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] what sometimes happens to new federationists

Ray I totally agree with you. When I first joined the NFB,  way back in
ancient times, I was I would say militant. I took my straight cane
"everywhere" got on and off planes before anyone else and basically refused
any help. I thought that to truly embrace the philosophy of the NFB meant to
decline any kind of help from anyone. Several years later, I read The Nature
of Independence by Dr. Jernigan. It changed how I felt about NFB and about
blindness and the way I acted toward others. I have a much more "fair and
balanced" attitude about blindness today.

Sherri

Please check out the link below and help blind people in your local area 
achieve their dreams by visiting
http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Sherri.Brun
Thank you.

Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world. Integrity is

what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one is paying 
attention.
Sherri Brun
flmom2006 at gmail.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at att.net>
To: "Jeanette Fortin" <jeanette at fortin-home.com>; "NFB Talk Mailing List" 
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 12:47 AM
Subject: [nfb-talk] what sometimes happens to new federationists


>
> Okay.  Perhaps it is time to change the subject line.
>
> Jeanette, in your message, you say, in part, "instead of being happy for 
> folks who have the opportunity to gain vision it seems sometimes folks are

> angry about  it acting like it is a slam to blind folks".
>
> Aint that the truth.  To speak frankly, I think it's the consequence of 
> missplaced anger.  That's the very same missplaced anger that makes some 
> federationists say that blind people, (or sighted for that matter) 
> shouldn't laugh at anything blindness related.  Shouldn't laugh?  That's 
> not normal; and, that's another discussion too.  It's one I tried to start

> some time back; but, as I recall, no one wanted to touch the subject. 
> Don't know why.
>
> Well, let's be honest with ourselves and each other shall we?  The simple 
> truth is this.  When some people, (not all mind you), find the federation,

> they are so relieved, they begin eating, sleeping and breathing it.  The 
> federation becomes the very defenition of their lives.  They take 
> themselves so seriously that they lash out at anyone who doesn't 
> immediately adopt their thinking.  Those poor souls who get the short end 
> of that stick realize how much the blind person in question has changed 
> and no longer want anything to do with them.  So, what happens is that 
> they then break off.  That's how new federationist tend to lose friends. 
> I know.  I saw it happen.  It almost happened to me that way.  Then, what 
> tends to happen with the new federationist is that they get angry because 
> the world doesn't understand things the way they do.  Mind you, not every 
> new federationist goes through this; but, some do.  This anger becomes 
> badkly misplaced and they take themselves so seriously that nobody wants 
> even to be around them anymore.
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>
> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
> Skype name:
> barefootedray
>
> Facebook:
> facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1
>
> On Apr 23, 2011, at 5:49 PM, Jeanette Fortin wrote:
>
>> instead of being happy for folks who have the opportunity to gain vision 
>> it seems sometimes folks are angry about  it acting like it is a slam to 
>> blind folks
>
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