From: "Nicholas R. Schmittroth, III" 
Subject: Re: Seeing Eye Resolution
O.K., I promised myself not to dive any more into this tonight, but I can't
stay out:
Harvey wrote:
>If it doesn't want another civil war, the national leadership should learn
that there are 
>differing views within our organization and not to strike out at people
just because they 
>happen to disagree with certain national positions.  I just think we should
have more of 
>an input at our conventions.  I don't spend hundreds of dollars of my own
money just to 
>sit in the audience and say "I," to everything the national wants.  I think
people have a 
>right to express their views without being told to shut up and stop
complaining if they 
>don't like something.  
Harvey,
This is going too far.  If you haven't noticed, you haven't exactly had a
hoard of people support your opinions here.  The national is NOT looking at
any type of war, let alone civil.  I know, some of our states have had them
recently, but they were caused by rifts with the state.  No rift is in the
nation except between you and the "leadership", whomever that might be.
I would also add that the only time I have heard national strike out against
something or someone is when it benefits the NFB as a whole, not them
personally.  Take the unified Braille code resolutioin, for example.  The
leadership wanted that passed, I would go as far as to say they really
wanted it passed.  The members, however, opposed, and it failed.  The stance
of the NFB has also shifted since then.  The majority of the members do have
a say. 
I can tell you that silence is NOT part of the NFB membership.  When members
disagree, they really have it out.  That is a sign of our independence that
the national leaders and the centers try to instill in us.  Why fight for
our independence if it is not wanted?  Why train us to be leaders, both
politically and socially, if they don't want us to lead and voice our
opinions?  Why sanction this forum if they don't want us to express our
opinions?  It doesn't make sense!  Some fot he money YOU contributed are in
this forum and the hardhare and software involved, so your opinion can be
expressed! 
 I think you may have thrown out the baby witht he bathwater on this one.
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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