[nfb-talk] NFB and ACB

[T. Joseph Carter]

William,

I've reposted my reply to Corey to this list, so I'm not going to belabor
the point too much, but I really think you're missing some important
elements of the history of the split.  The stated reasons (which are far
better documented by the ACB than by the NFB) were really just the spark
that ignited the separation.  The real conflicts were deeper and more
personal than any of that.

They're also almost totally irrelevant today.  The people involved are
nearly all gone now.  What does matter is that we have two organizations
with two very different philosophies.  They aren't such polar opposites
that there is never room to agree with them on anything, but it won't
happen as long as people in both orgs continue to hold things done in the
past against the other.

There is always room for a new beginning.


On Fri, Nov 23, 2007 at 08:57:36PM -0500, Wm. Ritchhart wrote:
> Corey,
> 
> The two groups have two different philosophies about blind people and
> blindness.  I would suggest you visit their web sites and research.  You
> should be able to easily determine which group most closely mirrors your
> views on blindness.  
> 
> As for strife, if you look at the topics on this list for the past
> couple of weeks, you will see that the NFB people who posted items
> opposing things that the ACB advocates; almost always have reasons that
> are philosophy based.  Usually when NFB opposes anything related to the
> blind, we do so because we believe it will harm the blind.  I do not
> believe you will find that with ACB.  Certainly not from most of the
> lurking ACB members on this list.
> 
> I would also suggest you read the first three or four chapters of
> "Walking Alone and Marching Together."  Those chapters deal heavily with
> history.  After that, the book is a bit heavy on speeches.  Those
> chapters are good and worth reading.  But not in my opinion for what you
> are seeking.  
> 
> You should also read the book, "A People of Vision."  This book is
> better written.  However you can judge for yourself as to it's accuracy.
> I believe it avoids much of the truth as to why ACB was formed.  Still,
> you will be able to see in the words of ACB people that they formed
> their group for poor reasons.  Just because you lose an election is not
> a good reason to start your own organization.  ACB tries to deny it.
> But that was one of the huge motivators in their forming ACB.  See their
> history.  
> 
> It would also be a good idea for you to examine how the two groups
> operate.  Briefly the NFB is more structured than ACB.  We are often
> called a Dictatorship by ACB.  However the ACB way of operating is much
> like a Confederacy.  They have so many different ways of conducting
> elections that their voting is a bit chaotic.  In both groups, every
> person gets to vote.  However in roll call votes, NFB has a single vote
> per state.  In ACB each state has multiple votes.  I do not know how
> that is determined.  But it makes their elections rather amusing.  I
> don't believe it makes them more democratic.  The ACB way of voting
> gives maximum power to the largest states.  NFB's way gives equal weight
> to all states in a roll call vote.  Thus in NFB the smaller states are
> given equal power with the large states.  
> 
> 
> William
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Corey Cook
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 6:04 AM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: [nfb-talk] NFB and ACB
> 
> Good morning,
> 
> I write this email in hopes to get answers and not make anyone mad with
> me.
> 
> As a younger blind person in my 20s, taking steps to enter the rehab
> field
> 
> to work with and help other Blind people.
> 
> I have to ask why should I care about the NFB or ACB?
> 
> I have been lerking on these lists for a while now, and I am on some NFB
> 
> lists, as I have time with my job and other pursuits I read both the
> Braille
> 
> Monitor, and the Braille Forum.
> 
> I am trying to become better informed about both groups in hopes that I
> will
> 
> join one of them.
> 
> The thing I keep coming back to is this, for all the good that is
> happening
> 
> in both groups, there is so much fighting and accusing.
> 
> It seems that as Blind people we are at war.
> 
> I am getting the feeling that both groups in there own way are allowing
> 
> politics to get in the way of the greater good, witch I thought was to
> 
> improve the lives of the Blind, and give tomorrow's Blind a brighter
> future.
> 
> As someone who is not currently a member of iether group I must say this
> is
> 
> serving to scare me away.
> 
> So here is my question witch I would love to be answered with out
> bashing
> 
> anyone, why should I care?
> 
> Why should I give my money and time to either group?
> 
> What good can I accomplish by choosing to join the ACB or the NFB?
> 
> Think about it, you might just get a new member out of this email.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Corey M. Cook
> 
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