[nfb-talk] Open Letter to Marc Maurer

[Constance Canode]

Last summer, a student here in Madison who was not a member of either 
organization attended both the NFB and the ACB convention because she 
was trying, as an impartial observer, to decide which ortanization 
she would join.  She is now a member of the NFB.  She informed us 
that the conventions were like night and day, with a lot of the 
things I have been reading about like the unwanted assistance and 
even comments from sighted people that because she was blind, she 
needed the assistance.  She also told us that the attendance at the 
meetings was very low and that most of the time was spent socializing 
by many of the members instead of attending the meetings.  I was also 
told that many of the ACB members were not expected to clean up after 
their dogs and that there were people at the convention doing that 
for them.  Cathy, I give you credit for having the nerve to attend 
such a horrible fiasco.  NFB and ACB will never resolve our 
differences.  Our philosophies are totally different, and I am proud 
of NFB philosophy.

Connie Canode
t 12:56 PM 12/3/2006, you wrote:
>Just go to an ACB convention and you can see that differences are not just
>historic.  Try to move about independently and you are constantly accosted
>by volunteers wanting to provide unwanted assistance.  When their convention
>was in Pittsburgh I went there to see exhibits as I had just started my job
>and did not have the leave to go to our convention.  I thought I would lose
>my mind by the time I got out of there!  Also, Audible signals were being
>demonstrated at the time, and although a sighted person with us stated that
>they were not working properly and were in fact providing false information,
>the ACB people wouldn't believe this.
>
>Concerning the money issue, I am personally not sure of the wisdom of
>publicly opposing accessible money , but I certainly agree with the basic
>philosophical point.  I'm just not sure whether the public at large will
>ever understand our point, and maybe quietly trying to work for a solution
>would be better.  It reminds me of a discussion with Dr. Jernigan we had
>once re why NFB didn't oppose exemptions for the blind re federal income
>taxes.  He said that wouldn't be smart, and I guess I wonder why this
>doesn't fall in to a similar category.  Just a thought.  Cathy
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Wm. Ritchhart
>Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2006 1:42 PM
>To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Open Letter to Marc Maurer
>
>The problem with your statement is that it does not accept that I and my ACB
>member sister see most issues related to blindness differently.  We agree on
>very little.  Which issue is most important, the best philosophy on
>training, what jobs it is practical for a blind person to do and the Method
>to be used to achieve our goals.  We disagree on what issues are truly
>important and in what order an issue should be advocated for.  So how could
>we possibly work together.  It's unrealistic to believe that we can.
>
>It is also a denial of fact to think the differences between NFB and ACB are
>only from 55 years ago.  You ACB folks on this NFB list are just not able to
>admit that you see things differently from us in the NFB.  What is wrong
>with that.  If your ideas and beliefs are superior to ours, the society will
>adopt them.  Over the past 55 years, it has been the NFB philosophy that has
>gained dominance.  Current history says that the NFB philosophy is superior.
>Perhaps the ACB will change that fact someday.
>But I doubt it.
>
>
>William
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>On Behalf Of MARSHA R WALLEN
>Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2006 11:38 AM
>To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Open Letter to Marc Maurer
>
>I would agree except most of the bad blood is with people who no longer are
>with us or whom have dropped out of either organization.  Most of the
>remainder of the members are only going on what they have heard through the
>years.  Bad blood can be infectous.  Isnt it time to let go off all the old
>stuff and start over.  ACB members are just as guilty of keeping the rift
>going even though many were not involved at the time and base their opinions
>on hearsay.
>
>Robyn
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