[nfb-talk] A few of my own observations

[Jim Marks]

No, John, we're not all on the same side.  Countless agendas, means, ends,
and individuals exist, and we are not pulling in the same direction.  And
you know what?  It's OK to have all that diversity.  More than that, it's
necessary to have all that diversity.  

I choose to be a Federationist because I believe the problem blind people
face is more in the way we think about what it means to be blind rather than
in blindness itself.  I know it's an NFB cliché to say and believe this, but
it really works for me.  The attitude gives me more zest for life than if I
were to sit around and wait for others and the world to change for me.  I
want to be an agent of change, not a change victim.  

I've been watching your input on this list for a while, and I think you have
some pretty good energy and obviously a fair bit of gray matter between your
ears.  However, The rhetoric about getting along and such is pretty useless.
No matter how well you shout and fuss, you still won't get a veto.  And
people like me are moving ahead with others of a like mind.  You are welcome
to join us, but you're going to have to earn respect the old fashioned way.
Shooting your mouth off on a listserv won't do it, my friend.  So how about
joining up with us and making a real difference for ourselves and the people
who come after us?


-------
Jim Marks
blind.grizzly at gmail.com
 
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces+blind.grizzly=gmail.com at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces+blind.grizzly=gmail.com at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
John G. Heim
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 12:09 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] A few of my own observations

I've defended the NFB on the ACB list just as I'm defending the ACB on this
list. I had an extended conversation (part of it via private email) with the
president of the ACB urging him to try to work with the NFB. I have to say
that the criticism of the NFB that I've seen on the ACB list  is a lot more
substantial than what I've seen here. Usually, when someone on the ACB list
criticizes the NFB, it's about something specific. The smug,
superior,attitude I've seen from members of this list toward the ACB
irritates and alarms me. I think it's counter productive and a little bit
shameful. The ACB is a fine organization and it's leaders are intelligent
and hard working. Most of the members are no different than anyone on this
list. We are all in this together. We are all on the same side.