From: "Nicholas R. Schmittroth, III" 
Subject: Re: Seeing Eye Resolution
At 04:05 PM 11/2/96, you wrote:
> In a message from Harvey Heagy  
>Just because I think we should have more exhibit time and because I
disagree with the Seeing Eye resolution shouldn't make me less of a member.  
>
Harvey,
I honestly respect your right to complain, but I sure hope you vote in *all*
NFB elections.  Being a member is NOT enough to give you the right to screem
so loudly about corruption in the NFB.  If you are active, if you vote in
local and naitonal elections (which I know you don't) how can you honestly
perceive the right to object?  (The reason I know you don't vote is I did
not hear an objectional vote to any position at the national convention.)
If you disagree with President Mauer and the rest of the board so much, why
don't you use your right to oppose it?
Coomplaining without acting is like a gun loaded with blanks.  It sure makes
a lot of noise, but is worthless when the country is invaded.  You have lots
of noise in you, but is it just blanks?
I also firmly beleive that once we as an organization vote on an iossue,
such as the Seeing Eye resolution, and it passes, its our job to support the
organizations wishes.  That doesn't mean promoting something we disagree
with, but it does mean keeping the mouth shut unless asked.  If I disagree
with the platofrm of the NFB, I will not support it actively, but if it has
been voted on, I will not oppose it until the next resolutions committee.
Then I will make my voice and arguements heard, and hope the NFB agrees.
Either way, I use all the pieces of the democractic process in the NFB.  Its
not perfect, and in some ways it can be a pethetic excuse for democracy, but
whayt I don't like, I rally against at the right time.  The rest of the
time, I will not hurt the NFB by opposing it from within.
I will echo the thoughts of anothe rlist member:  If you dislike the NFB so
much, why are you a member?  I'm not attakcing your right, but I don't like
the platform of the Republican party, and so I am not a member.
Nick
--
Nicholas R. Schmittroth, III 
President of the Utah Association of Blind Students
http://www.cs.utah.edu/~schmittr
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible
 is to go beyond them into the impossible." 
 - Clarke
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