[nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] HumanWare, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, here we go again

[Steve Jacobson]

Ryan,

in your indignance, you never addressed what I falt were some of the good points made by several people.  Can you 
really hold HumanWare all that responsible for the negative aspects of that show.  The negative aspects are built into 
that show, and blindness was really a fairly small part this time.  My objections were with the show in general more than 
anything that Humanware did or didn't do.  Since I can't tie responsibility to humanware, I can't see how accepting 
money from HumanWare has anything to do with Extreme Makeover.  It feels as though you are taking your disapproval 
of the Jernigan Institute and trying to make other issues fit into that disapproval.  I do feel a little uncomfortable with 
taking donations from any entity we may wish to criticize, but I don't see that as having a bearing on Extreme makeover.  
The idea of being critical of someone from whom one takes donations is one that we'll have to observe over time.  One 
can also make the case that if an entity feels donating to us is in their interest, there is probably some degree of shared 
vision.   I agree that we should discuss ideas, but I hate to see us start going after one another.

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:52:55 -0700, RyanO wrote:

>Joseph, please don't put words in my mouth, distort my positions or lecture 
>me about my civic responsibilities. I am well aware of how our electoral 
>process works. I am also well aware of how entrenched our leadership is in 
>it's current status. Change will take time and change begins with the open 
>discussion of ideas.

>Moreover, I haven't accused the NFB of being a completely corrupt 
>organization. I've stood in defense of the organization for years and will 
>continue to do so on many fronts. We've performed a tremendous amount of 
>good in the blindness community. Yes, I'm well aware that none of it would 
>be possible without money. Reality is what it is. However, as a dues-paying 
>member, I feel I have the right to criticize the Federation when we do 
>something with which I don't agree. While we've made tremendous 
>accomplishments, we've also made some poor choices in the past few years, 
>particularly since the Jernigan Institute became more than a twinkle in Dr. 
>Maurer's eye. I'm not into blind loyalty, Joseph, as you seem to be. The NFB 
>is a family, right? Families come with flaws, problems and challenges. Let's 
>discuss those issues and not back away from them.


>RyanO 

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