From: Monthian Buntan 
Subject: Re: Why the NFB
I don't think the federation is now in the unfortunate situation.  It has
done far more than any other organizations of the blind.  Dr. Tenbroek and
Dr. Jernigan both have done their jobs in their consistant beliefs and
philosophy of blindness.  The fact that there might be some agreements and
or disagreements on what the federation including its leaders have done is
something I would emphasise less than the main purposes.  Leaders are
human beings.  They have their own personal characters.  I can have a
dialog with anyone as long as they are genuine with their belief.  Dr.
Jernigan happens to be a person with a strong belief most of which I
happen to agree with him.  I admitedly said to him that I may disagree
with him on the matter of how certain things can be done, but I do agree
with him on the matter of what it means to be blind.  And that is, what I
believe, to be the most important matter for the federation.
Regards,
Thian.
On Sun, 19 Apr 1998, Steve Zielinski wrote:
> 
> 
> Thian,
> 
> 	Thanks very much for the additional information.  No, I do not in 
> any way take it out of context and also take the statement for what it 
> is, a statement of power.  It is also brutal politics unfortunately.  
> Nevertheless, it says a whole lot about where Mr. Jernigan is coming from 
> and explains a lot about why the federation is what it is politically.  
> Quite unfortunate.  
> 
> 	I had an experience when working with Jamal Mazrui on his case 
> which is quite interesting.  During the campaign I got a phone call from 
> Homer Page who was then involved with the leadership.  For all I know he 
> still is, I just don't know.  He asked me if I was intending to hold a 
> picket of the federation board on the next day.  He indicated that rumor 
> had it that I was.  I was quite astounded since there was absolutely no 
> plan for any kind of picket, though it probably was a good idea.  This 
> showed me how one of the ttactics used by the leadership when under 
> pressure is to promote rumor and innuendo.  I don't know who started the 
> picket rumor and I admit the leadership made a call to find out, but the 
> very idea of a picket was never considered.  I know none of us who were 
> involved with the Mazrui case ever considered a picket, to the best of my 
> personal knowledge.  Nevertheless, there was the rumor.  So how did it 
> get started anyway?  We'll never know.  Others were in the room when the 
> call came in and we discussed the phone call afterwards.  So I also 
> wanted to get first hand knowledge of a statement if possible as I quite 
> recall the phone call from Page and this whole experience makes me want 
> to varify what I hear when possible.  I know you would understand.  And 
> again, testing facts, verifying issues and statements is part of a more 
> open democratic process.  
> 
> Take care and have a nice day. 
> 
> On Sun, 19 Apr 1998, Monthian Buntan wrote:
> 
> > 
> > 
> > Hello,
> > 
> > I heard it myself as I sat with Dr. Jernigan.  A man from one country in
> > Asia, who was and still is admiring nfb's achievement in its persistent 
n
> > the philosophy of blindness, asked him such question.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > 
> > Thian.
> > 
> > PS:  I hope the statement I quoted earlier was not taken out of context.
> > 
> > 
> > On Sat, 18 Apr 1998, Steve Zielinski wrote:
> > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Thian,
> > > 
> > > 	Interesting comments there.  Were you able to hear this comment 
> > > of Mr. Jernigan first hand or was the information passed on to you from 
a 
> > > source who was there?  When did this happen?  I ask this so as to 
> > > establish the historical context of the statement and to gain further 
> > > knowledge.  Thanks
> > > 
> > > Steve
> > > 
> > > 
> > > On Fri, 17 Apr 1998, Mr. Monthian Buntan wrote:
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Perhaps some of us may find this comment helpful and please feel free 
to
> > > > state any further comment.
> > > > 
> > > > I remember listening to one of Dr. Tenbroek's speeches which stated 
that
> > > > the organized blind movement must be strong by its determination and
> > > > purpose, and must be democratic by its process.
> > > > 
> > > >   Also at a dining table in Melborne, Australia, one person asked Dr.
> > > > Jernigan when he would step down (meaning when he would let the
> > > > organization run on its own by new generation without much of his
> > > > involvement)?  And I remember very clearly that he said "power cannot 
be
> > > > given.  It mmust be taken.  If I give power to anyone, then he/she 
does not
> > > > really have power on his/her own."  Dr. Kenneth Jernigan is indeed a 
living
> > > > blind philosopher of our time.  But how many people, even many of us 
in the
> > > > federation, really understand what he has said?
> > > > 
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > 
> > > > Thian.
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > +----------------------------+
> > > |  Steve Zielinski  (N8UJS)  |
> > > |      stevez@ripco.com      |
> > > +----------------------------+
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> +----------------------------+
> |  Steve Zielinski  (N8UJS)  |
> |      stevez@ripco.com      |
> +----------------------------+
> 
> 
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