Liz.Campbell@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.org (Liz Campbell) (07/19/90)
Index Number: 9257
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I got back from the NFB convention two days ago. I thought it was fun and
informative! I got to catch up with many Nebraska friends and meet new
people. Throughout the 50th aniversary convention, Kenneth Jernigan and
NFB president Marc Maurer and founder Hazel ten Brook kept talking about
the Civil War that caused a split in the NFB during the early 1960s. Can
anyone tell me why the split occurred and why are people dwelling on it
after 30 years? Lloyd and Phil can probably shed some light on this for
me. Also, is it true that if you are an NFB member then you cannot join
the ACB? I wish the two groups would shove their differences out of the
way and work together to improve our lives. I like the philosophy of the
NFB, but I'm really turned off by backstabbing of other organizations.
Wish I could have gone to the ACB convention as well. We did not have a
chance to organize a Blinktalk gathering. I was too busy running around
arranging interviews and getting info for the paper so I admit I forgot
about organizing a Blinktalk get-together.
Any info on this subjec would be greatly appreciated
Liz
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Internet: Liz.Campbell@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.orgWalter.Siren.@p1.f8.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Walter Siren ) (07/19/90)
Index Number: 9262
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
LC> I got back from the NFB convention two days ago. I thought it was fun
Liz, I am glad that you enjoyed your NFB convention. I also
enjoyed my ACB convention. It is too bad you did not get chance to
have a blinktalk get together. We had a lot of fun meeting other
blinktalkers at the ACB convention.
LC> Jernigan and NFB president Marc Maurer and founder Hazel ten Brook
LC> kept talking about the Civil War that caused a split in the NFB
LC> during the early 1960s. Can anyone tell me why the split occurred and
LC> why are people dwelling on it after 30 years? Lloyd and Phil can
LC> probably shed some light on this for me. Also, is it true that if you
LC> are an NFB member then you cannot join the ACB? I wish the two groups
LC> would shove their differences out of the way and work together to
LC> improve our lives. I like the philosophy of the NFB, but I'm really
LC> turned off by backstabbing of other organizations. Wish I could have
LC> gone to the ACB convention as well. We did not have a chance to
LC> organize a Blinktalk gathering. I was too busy running around
Now, Liz, I was around in the late 50's and the 60's when all of
this took place. To put it simply without going into all of the
details, it was those of us who disagreed with the top brass, were
kicked out. Louisiana, like some others, beat them to the punch
and got out, or we would have been kicked out like the others who
disagreed, and were kicked out because they tried to stay.
AS far as back stabbing by other organizations, maybe you should
look at who is doing the back stabbing.
As far as belonging to both organizations, it is Jernigan who says
you can't belong to both. The ACB does not say that you cannot
belong to both organizations.
As far as the two organizations working together, on local levels
they do. It is on the national level that they do not work
together. The ACB works in cooperation with other organizations,
but the NFB does not. I was at the White House for the handicapped
one year, and so was Jernigan, and when he could not run it, he
called a meeting and tried to wreck it.
Walter
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Internet: Walter.Siren.@p1.f8.n396.z1.fidonet.orgWalter.Siren.@p1.f8.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Walter Siren ) (07/21/90)
Index Number: 9374
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
TG> LC> basis. Maybe when the NFB has new people at the top then
TG> LC> attitudes will change! I personally see no problem in joining
TG> LC> both organizations because I feel both have great things to
TG> LC> offer. Take care
TG>
TG>
TG> Hi Liz,
TG>
TG> What a nice thought, new leadership at the top. Now how do we do it?
Just vote new ones in. Don't campaign openly ahead of time,
because you might find yourself on the outside looking in.
Walter
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Internet: Walter.Siren.@p1.f8.n396.z1.fidonet.orgDavid.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews) (07/21/90)
Index Number: 9381
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
LC> Throughout the 50th aniversary
LC> convention, Kenneth Jernigan and NFB president Marc Maurer and
LC> founder Hazel ten Brook kept talking about the Civil War that
LC> caused a split in the NFB during the early 1960s. Can anyone
LC> tell me why the split occurred and why are people dwelling on
LC> it after 30 years? Lloyd and Phil can probably shed some light
LC> on this for me. Also, is it true that if you are an NFB member
LC> then you cannot join the ACB? I wish the two groups would shove
LC> their differences out of the way and work together to improve
LC> our lives. I like the philosophy of the NFB, but I'm really
LC> turned off by backstabbing of other organizations. Wish I could
LC> have gone to the ACB convention as well.
Liz, While I was not there, I think that the "civil war" is still talked about
because it was such a cataclysmic event for the organized blind movement. It
tore the group in half. We still talk about the civil war the United states
went through. Basically, there was a group of people who disagreed what was
being done, and/or how it was done, and saw no choice but to go elsewhere. If
the second group, the ACB was necessary, inevitable, or whatever, then how can
you belong to both. The analogy has been made, and is probably a good one, it
is like Democrats and Republicans. You can not belong to both if you truly
believe in the philosophy, goals and approach of one group.
I certainly do not support or condone the back stabbing which has and is going
on, however, it is unrealistic for us to think that everyone will join together.
We all have different approaches and styles, and are at different places in our
acceptance of blindness and views of the world around us. What one person sees
as discrimination, another will ignore or call something else.
While you could pay dues to both groups, and be on the membership roles, you
couldn't function as a participating member of both without some contridictions.
David Andrews
... Your Sound Alternative
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Internet: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.orgDavid.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews) (07/21/90)
Index Number: 9382
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
WS> AS far as back stabbing by other organizations, maybe you
WS> should look at who is doing the back stabbing.
Walter, No one is above reproach here, not just the NFB.
WS> As far as belonging to both organizations, it is Jernigan who
WS> says you can't belong to both. The ACB does not say that you
WS> cannot belong to both organizations.
The ACB has spent its share of time taking pot shots at the NFB. I
do not say this to throw stones per sae, the NFB has done the same
thing. However, if your organization has taken public positions
against another organization and its members, how can you in good
faith belong to both. Ultimately, we all are either for or against
something.
WS> As far as the two organizations working together, on local
WS> levels they do. It is on the national level that they do not
WS> work together. The ACB works in cooperation with other WS>
organizations, but the NFB does not. I was at the White House WS>
for the handicapped one year, and so was Jernigan, and when he WS>
could not run it, he called a meeting and tried to wreck it.
I am not sure of what specific event you are fereering. While I
could be wrong, I do not think that Dr. Jernigan would try to
wreck a meeting he "couldn't run." I suspect your smmary is a
simplification of what happened. Luckily, I believe that both the
NFB and ACB have matured in the last decade. I see less
gratuitious potshots by both organizations. There have even been a
number of meetings between NFB, ACB, AFB and others over the past
few years. While it is unlikely that we will all kiss and make up,
things seem to go a little smoother, which is good. David Andrews
... Your Sound Alternative
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Internet: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.orgDavid.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews) (07/27/90)
Index Number: 9549
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
MA> It's interesting that you compare belonging to one of the
MA> organizations to belonging to a political party. When I
MA> registered to vote, I registered as an independent. I liked
MA> some things about the democrats' position and some about the
MA> republicans. I also found that while the hard-core philosophy
MA> was very different, there were degrees in each group and
MA> sometimes I liked the democratic candidate better and sometimes
MA> the republican.
Marda, I suppose that we do live in a grey world, not black or
white, but shades, and you or anyone can and should decide to stay
independent if that is what you wish. You can pick and choose
candidates or ideas as you see fit. I am not saying this is
wrong. However, if you do this, you are not embracing the
underlying philosophy of either party or organization. You are
picking and choosing what you are comfortable with. At one time,
the Democrats and Republicans had major underlying differences
between their parties, what they believed, what government should
do and how you should get there. These differences have changed
and eroded some, and there is less loyalty on everybodies part,
however there are still differences. If you say you are a
Democrat, believe in what they stand for, work for the party etc.,
then you can't be a Republican. If you take from both, which is
okay, and your choice, you are not really either.
MA> I would be interested in knowing the
MA> difference in philosophy between the nfb and the acb. What did
MA> the acb disagree with when the split occurred?
I was not around then, so am not an expert, but from what I know,
people felt that they did not have enough personal leeway within
the organization, that is they couldn't act as individuals without
action from the NFB leadership. Likewise, I suspect the NFB
leadership at the time would have felt that the organization in its
convention had agreed on policy and approach, and individuals were
acting devicively against the organization. The NFB does have, and
has always had a strong national leadership. Some people are
uncomfortable with that. This leadership, commitment and unity is
in large part what has allowed us to accomplish as much as we
have. While I don'g agree with everything, I agree with most
things and what I agree with and the good I think it does, far
outweighs what I disagree with.
MA> As for joining
MA> together, it may not happen because of differences. There are
MA> different church denominations too and probably always will be.
MA> But there can be a working together. Often, democrats join
MA> with republicans to accomplish certain goals. Sometimes
MA> churches join together for special services or to help in a
MA> relief effort or something like that. It seems like there
MA> could be philosophical differences without fighting. I know
MA> Southerners who still hate yankees, but that doesn't make it
MA> right. marda
I think that the NFB and ACB are fighting less publicly and
privately then over a few years ago. I also have seen more
cooperation on the whole in the blindness field. However, at a
fundamental level we in the NFB feel that there are major problems
with the blindness establishment. If not, why is the unemployment
rate so high. The ACB has supported that establishment, through
its support of NAC, NIB and AFB in the past. So, it is necessary
for us to disagree at times. David Andrews
... Your Sound Alternative
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