From: Harvey Heagy 
Subject: Re: Why the NFB?
Denise, what you say is true and I don't think anyone would take
issue with any of it especially the help people have received
from the N.F.B.  I support the national leaders of the N.F.B.,
but not unconditionally any more than I support government
decisions unconditionally.  Sure all the people you have
mentioned have received meaningful help from the N.F.B.  I myself
received help on a difficult Social Security matter several years
ago which took years to resolve.  But I could name more times when
I
needed help when no one was there.  What about members who have
been treated rudely and belligerently by our leaders?  Should we
just ignore this and pretend it doesn't exist?
Why are we going back to the Hyatt-regency
D.F.W. for our 1998 convention?  It's a great facility, but not
for blind people who must accept the limitation of not being able
to drive, and since there is nothing walkable from that hotel or
even reasonably cabable, , we are held hostage by the overpriced
restaurants Etc.  We're going
there over the objections of the membership because the national
leadership wants it there.
It might not be so bad if we still had the presidential hospitality
suite where people could get some food and snacks and I'm not
talking about the way they ran it during the last 2 years we had it
with that pre-packaged so-called food, but the manner in which it
was done at one time.  But the fact is that we don't.  The only
reason I am even considering going back there is that this may be
Dr. Jernigan's last convention and I will probably have no other
way of paying respects to him than by going there.  Does this sound
like someone who doesn't recognize the good which he and our
leaders have done for us?
When people are insulted and put down just because they state a
view that differs from that of the national leadership, are we
just supposed to overlook this?  I don't think so.  I
unconditionally supported the national leadership at one time,
but after seeing some questionable behavior I decided I couldn't
and wouldn't overlook such behavior any more.  I support our
leadership when I feel it is right, and oppose it when I feel it
is wrong.  That is my right in a democratic society as it is
yours to take whatever stance you choose.
As I said, everything you said is valid, but how does opposing
"Mr. Magoo," compare with the matters you mentioned?  Very
insignificantly I think, and yet we expended all kinds of time,
resources and effort on that foolishness.
And have you ever seen our national leaders take any resolution
and say that due to the importance of this particular issue we
are sending it to the floor without prejudice because we really
want a true sense of the convention on this issue?  I haven't,
and yet convention is supposed to be supreme authority; not just
on paper but in practice.
Have you ever heard our leadership admit to making a mistake?
Again, I haven't and I've been in this organization for almost 30
years.  They are not perfect, they are human as everyone else is,
they're capable of error so there must have been at least one issue
that they made a mistake on and
were proven so.  Yet, has anyone ;heard anyone admit to it?
That's all we're saying; we want the right to voice our opinion
without fear of reprisal or of getting nowhere in the
organization if we make our differing views known.  That's only
fair.
Harvey
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