David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews) (07/18/90)
Index Number: 9184
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
AH>> To all of us blind politicians out here.
AH>> Okay, I know most of us have opinions on NFB/ACB/AFB etc.
AH>> How's that on the voice output? ha ha ha, but can we not get
AH>> a big organizational battle started, its the most useless
AH>> battle I can think of, and for some strange reason its
AH>> something that really will get people mad at times. I am not
AH>> one of them, I take the Vulcan approach towards organizations,
AH>> I reserve feelings, since they are not people, I don't save my
AH>> emotionalism for either of the organizations. But, I do hope
AH>> all those attending conventions this week/next will have fun,
AH>> learn and grow to their hearts desire, and make good progress
AH>> toward solving present and future problems. There, wasn't that
AH>> a bunch of hot air!
TG> Al.
TG> I I think you have a good point and if people go to the
TG> conventions they will learn and even possibly grow. I guess
TG> the point is that I feel bad about people being consumed by
TG> the organization. I say this from ten years of experience
TG> most of which was very good and some not so good. I would
TG> rather see blind people be INDEPENDENT and really begin to
TG> think for themselves in every aspect of their lives. tom G
Al and Tom,
I agree that people need to be independent and learn to think for themselves.
Further, some unnecessary energy is consumed by intergroup squables, however,
some of this in inveitable. However, anything involving people, personalities,
and egos is going to engender disagreement, politics etc. It happens in all
organizations and fields, not just with blind people. I think that overall,
there is less squabling then five or ten years ago. Finally, we will ultimately
be able to accomplish more collectively then as individuals. Much of the
progress for blind persons, and all disability groups has been achieved through
group action. I am not saying the NFB and the ACB should get together, that is
unrealistic and anyone who understands Federation philosophy will understand how
this isn't possible at present. However, when we combine our voices, in the
group of our choice, we will accomplish more then we will ever as individuals.
Those people who choose to say, "I made it on my own without the help of anyone
else or any other group," are only fooling themselves. Each of us benefits from
what the groups accomplish. Let me give an example. In the 1940's and early
50's blind people couldn't get jobs in the Federal G0overnment because they
couldn't get on the registers. The NFB took the government to court and won.
So, anyone who has worked for the government since has benefited from that
action. It is unlikely that they would have accomplished as much as
individuals.
I think that each of us should become involved in something to help yourself and
your fellow blind brothers and sisters. We are still facing problems, such as
an unemployment rate of 70 percent which can only be overcome with prolonged
group action.
To illustrate the magnitude of the problem, we had a staff training concerning
AIDS at the New Mexico Commission for the Blind, recently. There is a drug
which can keep AIDS patients alive for long periods of time, but may in some
cases cause blindness. There are AIDS patients who have chosen to die rather
then to risk living as a blind person. This illustrates what many people think
of blindness. These are the kinds of attitudes we are up against and the kinds
of things which can only be changed by joining together and working together.
David Andrews
... Your Sound Alternative
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