[nfb-talk] A few of my own observations

[Alan Wheeler]

Jim,
Yes, the speech you referred to is "blindness: handicap or characteristic"
and that line about a philosophy is what helped me understand what the NFB
was all about.  A good friend in the Illinois affiliate sat me down one day
and we chatted about the need for the NFB, and that's how he started off the
discussion was quoting the opening words of "handicap or characteristic."

To my mind, the ACB may have accomplished some minor things, but overall,
they amount to little more than a social organization.  Just my opinion,
though.


 


Alan D Wheeler
<awheeler at gmail.com>Messenger: awheeler1965 at sbcglobal.net
Skype: redwheel1
http://alan-wheeler.blogspot.com/
http://reporter-guy.livejournal.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces+awheeler1965=gmail.com at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces+awheeler1965=gmail.com at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
James Aldrich
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 10:58 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: [nfb-talk] A few of my own observations

hello all!

here are a few of my thoughts for whatever they are worth!

When speaking about New York's Governor, he is definitely managing and that
is about it!  Perhaps with what he knows, he isn't doing half bad at times,
but then if he did have proper training or were open to it, who knows what
difference it might make!  I for one will give him a benefit of a doubt, we
certainly know where he is coming from!

I was on the ACB-l list for a time and has anyone observed how poorly it is
run compared to our various lists?  I never saw such negativity as I did on
that list!  Mercy!

Well, the accessible money judge certainly isn't a God and his decision is
being appealed so we'll see where all of this goes!  I'm also amazed that
people blamed ACB shortcomings on the NFB!  They can't seem to get things
accomplished because the NFB constantly opposes them!  What a bunch of you
know what that is!  They can't get anything done because of who and what
they are!  The blame should be placed squarely in their camp!  I certainly
would give them some credit for a few things but to blame the NFB for what
they failed to accomplish is nonsense! We the NFB manage to accomplish a
good many things despite the fact that ACB opposes us much of the time so
why can't they or don't they do the same?  It is certainly a fascinating
question!

There were two speeches which went together on one of those 10 inch talking
book records, Blindness, Handicap or Characteristic and Blindness, Concepts 
and Misconceptions.   I'm certain one could download them as a text file or 
via audio!  I'd read those two speeches along with the nature of
independence.  On one of those two speeches, I believe it was Blindness,
Handicap or Characteristic, he said, "it has been wisely observed that
philosophy bakes no bread!  But then it has also been wisely observed that
without a philosophy no bread is baked"!  One might say a philosophy is a
way of thinking and accomplishing!  The ideas of Dr. TenBroek and Dr. 
Jernigan were certainly revolutionary in those early days in our movement! 
They were then and one might say quite often still are in opposition to the
common thinking of people when it comes to blindness!  I certainly  have
heard some people say they'd rather be dead than blind!  I've heard it quite
often!  I believe we know much better that blindness isn't the worst thing
which could happen to anyone!  It really is a matter of one's attitude
towards it!  I don't feel the NFB tells anyone what to do!  Anyone can live
like a bum or hermit or however they wish to live!  We certainly have the
freedom to live as we would like in this country!  We certainly have more
freedom in this day and age than we did as blind persons many many years
ago!  I've heard it said the world isn't perfect and never will be!  Or, the

world isn't fair either and never will be!   I think we must make the best 
of our situations and if we have the power to change something as
individuals or as an organization, we should do so!  I too have used the
debit card, traveler's checks on occasion rather than that cold hard cash
which if lost is truly lost!  A banker once told me many years ago that
people are generally honest with money!  This was his experience!  Yes!  I
think we all have been ripped off at times but this ripping off doesn't just
happen to blind persons!  It happens to everyone!  I think the elderly which
I'm becoming more and more a part of are victimized by being ripped off than
working blind persons!  I think this needs some better study but
unfortunately being ripped off, having one's home broken into and a host of
other disasters is unfortunately a part of life and how sad it is  some
persons tend to get more than their share of bad at times!  All of us could
feel we have the world by the tail only to find out it could run us over! 
This is why we have organized and are there for each other during times of
good and bad!  Having a positive philosophy which raises the bar is indeed
encouraging to me!  This isn't easy but then is anything worthwhile easy
Just learning how to work this PC hasn't always been easy and I have had
times I'd want to throw it out the window!  I'm still learning!  Those of us
with PCS and notetakers as well as other technology are a unique crowd! Many
blind persons don't have what we do!  Some may not want to be bothered with
it either!  It is a matter  of perception!

I've heard both good and bad video description!  It really isn't an exact
science and one cannot mandate something which isn't exact much of the time!

Quite often one's perceptions, prejudices which affect interpetation could
get in the way of what actually happens in a movie!
The SA Mobile Network has quite a collection of described videos!  Consider
joining that network for a truly wonderful computer interface and a network
with wonderful features.  I'd rather say the cup is half full than half
empty!  Yes!  There will always be problems but that is a part of life!  How
will each of us address our problems which may come upon us!  Then again,
how might we address our successes!  Some can't handle success at times! 
Study lottery winners and that certainly is evident!

The discussion thus far is healthy really but none of us have a handle on
what is truly best for the blind as a population!  What may be good for one
may not be great for another!  We need to strive to work for the best we can
for the good of all blind people!  We certainly are not in agreement on
whether accessible currency would be good or not!  For now, I'd say, let's
see how things come out in court!

We do have a democratic organization!  Many in the leadership were pushing
the United English Braille Code or whatever it is called!  The general
membership during one convention wanted braille to remain as it is now
rather than go to this uncertain unknown code!  The membership certainly
voted against those who felt the United English Braille Code was the best
solution!  I'm certain others here could point to other examples where there
has been a difference between the leaders and the membership.

Okay! I'm going back to my corner!  Just some thoughts to ponder!

Jim Aldrich 

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