From: Harvey Heagy 
Subject: Re: Why The NFB
Hi Steve.  I think you hit it right on the head.  We are not
opposed to the N.F.B. philosophy or its accomplishments, but to
some of the internal politics of the organization.  The expulsion
to Jamal Mazrui to which you referred to is a classic example.
Our national leadership is always saying that if we have a
dispute to come to the convention and work it out.  But what they
really mean is, "Work it out our way."  Jamal never got a fair
hearing and that is a violation of the spirit if not the letter
of our own constitution.  Even if he did something terrible which
warranted expulsion he still deserved a fair hearing.
But do you remember in 1981 when the John Taylor Silvester Nemers
thing was the top story?  The national got behind John
Halverson's non-debatable resolution that any consideration of
that matter be held off till Friday afternoon which would have
rendered them ineffective even if they had won.  I don't blame
them for not accepting that even though I never agreed nor had
much regard for John Taylor and his crowd.  It still violated the
very words our leaders claim to espouse of giving everyone a fair
hearing.  So I think you hit it right on the head.  Sure we want
someone protecting our rights as blind people, but while we
recognize that rules and constitutions are not perfect and that
sometimes exceptions must be made, we want the
same standards to apply to the national leadership as does for
the rank and file.  I'm surprised he even wanted to come
back.
Harvey
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