From: Jim Marks 
Subject: Re: Why The NFB
Montanans are an independent lot.  We take rugged individualism to
extremes, and view national organizations with mulish skepticism.  
As a committed Federationist, I have encountered much resistance to our
organization from other Montanans.  Presumably the reluctance to
cooperating with national authorities stems from the cowboy libertarianism
for which our state is so infamous.  But I don't think we can blame the
independence streak for anti-NFB rhetoric.  I believe the opposition to the
NFB comes as a direct result of people's relationship with blindness.  Our
organization, imperfect as it is, unquestionably challenges everyone's
understanding of blindness.  Many are comfortable with attributing
blindness as the problem rather than grasping that attitudes are the real
oppressor.  Time and time again I have witnessed people react negatively to
the NFB because the leadership presses hard for positive attitudes,
personal accountability, and self-determination.  As a friend of mine who
just attended his first convention last year said, the NFB raises the bar.
It develops our own self-awareness and changes what it means to be blind.
Some react well by getting more involved and trying to shape our
organization through the involvement.  Others elect to criticize the way
things are done without contributing to the movement in meaningful ways.
Some even stoop to really silly name calling and baiting.  But as for me, I
am very glad to be a Federationist.  And if such affirmations make me seem
like a mindless follower, think again.  I am a Montanan and am skeptical as
hell of anything that looks too good to be true.  I am involved because of
the principles and because I get a direct infusion of ever increasing
expectations for myself.  No, we're not a bunch of super blind folk; we are
just doing the best we can.  I, for one, have much to learn.  And I have
much to teach.  Isn't the essence of the NFB this collective effort to do
something about negative attitudes and low expectations?  And maybe, just
maybe, the harsh criticism about the way we do things really is nothing
more than a mask for complacency with shame and second class status?
Jim Marks
At 06:22 PM 4/13/1998 -0700, Daveed Mandell wrote:
>
>
>How frightening that only Harvey has the guts to speak out about problems
>re the NFB.  It's horrible, and a commentary on what the national
>leadership has done to the membership.
>Even the late Dr. Isabelle Grant, a marvelous, brilliant human being,
>remarked to me, during the 1971 convention in Houston, that the membership
>was like a bunch of sheep!
>She was right then, and is right now!
>Whatever good the NFB does is lost to so many due to its undemocratic
>structure, leadership and actions.
>
>
>
>
>
---
 # Origin: NFBnet  Internet Email Gateway (1:282/1045)
---------------