From: Steve Zielinski 
Subject: Re: Why the NFB
Agreed with this Jamal. Quite true.
On Mon, 20 Apr 1998 empower@smart.net wrote:
> 
> 
> Although we have had our differences in the past, I have always thought
> that Mr. Jernigan has done more to advance the condition of blind people 
> than any living person in the world today.  Although Dallas in July may be 
> his last NFB convention by his own statements, I wouldn't count him out 
> yet in his battle with cancer.  If anyone has the character and 
> resourcefulness to win such a battle, I think he does.
> 
> Regards,
> Jamal
> 
> On 1998-04-19 NFB-Talk@NFBnet.org said:
>    >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 in  > 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      |
>    >> +----------------------------+
> 
> Net-Tamer V 1.09.2  - Registered
> 
> 
+----------------------------+
|  Steve Zielinski  (N8UJS)  |
|      stevez@ripco.com      |
+----------------------------+
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