[nfbwatlk] Fw: Reply to op. Ed.

[Kaye Kipp]

Whew.  That was a nasty article.  I liked Marion's response though.  That 
was great.

Kaye
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:02 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Fw: Reply to op. Ed.


> That's the way it is at the top of the stairs. Read the claptrap below and
> Marion Gwizdala's response.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 7:39 PM
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Reply to op. Ed.
>
>
>> Dear All,
>>    Pasted below is an op. ed. article that appeared in a San Francisco
>> paper today and my letter to the author.
>> Marion Gwizdala
>>
>> National Federation of Blind Aligns with Bush Administration Appeal of
>> Landmark Currency Ruling
>> by Randy Shaw, Dec. 13, 2006
>>
>> When a federal judge recently ruled that the United States must follow 
>> the
>> lead of 180 nations and modify its currency to accommodate the blind, the
>> decision
>> was applauded by sources ranging from the New York Times to The Daily 
>> Show
>> with John Stewart. But the Bush Administration had an ace up its
>> sleeve---a
>> self-described advocacy group for blind persons that has repeatedly
>> aligned
>> itself against key civil rights measures for the blind. The National
>> Federation
>> of the Blind (NFB) stood alone among major blind and disability rights
>> organizations in publicly denouncing the ruling, and urged the Bush
>> Administration
>> to appeal. On December 12, the NFB got its wish, and even issued a press
>> release "applauding" the Treasury Department's appeal of the historic
>> ruling.
>>
>> As I wrote on
>> December 1,
>> the NFB, a controversial nonprofit with ties to Diebold voting machines,
>> was
>> trying to provide political cover for the Bush Administration's potential
>> decision
>> to appeal a federal court ruling that would make US currency more
>> accessible
>> to the blind.
>>
>> I received dozens of responses from blind persons and organizations to my
>> article, and all supported the court's decision. But the NFB has made it
>> clear
>> over its history that it thinks it knows the interests of blind people
>> better than they do, and so it issued a press release condemning the
>> landmark court
>> victory.
>>
>> Many of these responses detailed questionable practices by the NFB that 
>> go
>> well beyond what was detailed in my article. For example, I learned that
>> the
>> NFB even opposes guide dogs for the blind!
>>
>> Now the NFB is applauding the Bush Administration's decision to appeal a
>> ruling that was lavishly praised across America.
>>
>> The Bush Administration has had success finding African-Americans who
>> oppose
>> civil rights enforcement and affirmative action, Latinos who oppose
>> immigration
>> reform, environmentalists who support Alaska drilling and labor staff who
>> oppose unions.
>>
>> The NFB fits perfectly in this collection, as it works hard to deny civil
>> rights to those it claims to represent.
>>
>> Send feedback to rshaw at beyondchron.org
>>
>>
>> December 13, 2006
>>
>>
>>
>> Marion Gwizdala, Vice President
>>
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind
>>
>> 1003 Papaya Drive
>>
>> Tampa, FL 33619
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Mr. Shaw,
>>
>> Via Email: rshaw at beyondchron.org
>>
>>            I am writing to you in regard to your op. ed. article of
>> December 13, 2006 in which you express your opinion about the National
>> Federation of the Blind's support of the appeal by the Department of
>> Justice
>> requiring the Department of the Treasury to modify paper currency in a
>> manner that makes it accessible to the blind. As you have become very
>> aware,
>> there are two camps of the blind on this issue. A healthy discussion of
>> the
>> question is occurring among the blind and there are many opinions on the
>> topic. Unfortunately, rather than discussing the issue, the arguments are
>> becoming heated and false assertions are being made to discredit those 
>> who
>> are supportive of the appeal. Just as unfortunate, the choice that you
>> have
>> made to publish such erroneous information lends an air of credibility to
>> these lies.
>>
>>            Though there are those who can better address such falsehoods
>> as
>> the NFB's opposition to "key civil rights measures for the blind" or the
>> Federation's "ties" with Diebold, I believe I can address another false
>> impression that you have reinforced. In your piece you write, "I learned
>> that the
>>
>> NFB even opposes guide dogs for the blind!" As the Vice President of the
>> national Association of Guide Dog Users, one of the largest Specialty
>> divisions of the national Federation of the Blind, I assure you that the
>> NFB
>> does not oppose guide dogs for the blind. Rather, the Federation has been
>> on
>> the front lines when it comes to supporting legislation to protect the
>> rights of all blind Americans, including those who choose to use guide
>> dogs,
>> and protecting those legal rights. Perhaps if you would have engaged in a
>> bit of research rather than taking the word of those whose motive is to
>> discredit our viewpoint by means of the fabrication of such inflammatory
>> misinformation, you would have learned the truth about the national
>> Federation of the Blind and the immeasurable contributions the oldest and
>> largest organization of the blind in the United States has made to the
>> quality of life enjoyed by every blind person in our country.
>>
>>            I want to personally invite you to attend the annual 
>> convention
>> of the National Federation of the Blind and the National Association of
>> Guide Dog Users, which will meet prior to the convention. I would also
>> like
>> to encourage you to attend the American Council of the blind's convention
>> and compare them. One of the first things you will notice is the sheer
>> difference in the size of the two gatherings, not only in overall
>> attendance, but also in the level of participation in their plenary
>> sessions. You will also notice a marked difference in philosophy that
>> effects a positive correlation on personal independence, as well as
>> individual and collective success!
>>
>> I want to urge you to avoid disseminating false information in the future
>> by
>> checking out your sources and by conducting better research. In this way
>> you
>> can protect the credibility of your information and the integrity of your
>> opinion.
>>
>>
>>
>> Respectfully yours,
>>
>> Marion Gwizdala, M.S.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
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>>
>
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