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From: Jamal.Mazrui@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jamal Mazrui)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Pending Expulsion from NFB
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Date: 3 Dec 90 16:59:17 GMT
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Index Number: 12171

[This is from the Advocacy Conference]

Friends, I wish you all to know that the National Federation of the 
Blind is today seeking to pass a motion at a national board meeting to 
expel me as a member.  The reason is views I expressed that were not 
party line concerning some of the procedures of the scholarship 
committee and the insufficient priorty given to combatting unemployment 
of the blind versus fighting for the right of blind people to sit in 
the exit rows of airplanes.
As many of you know I have been a dedicated member of this organization 
for a decade.  It is truly shocking, saddening, and painful to see this 
campaign to expel me because I have thought for myself as to the best 
interests of blind people.  Not only has there not been good cause to 
to 
expel or otherwise discipline me, but there has not been due process. 
Even the Federation's constitution with as little value placed on 
individual rights as it does still requires that "a good faith effort 
be made to resolve the problem through discussion and negotion" before 
a disciplinary motion is brought.  Yet no efforts whatever have been 
made to discuss issues with me before this motion was planned.  I did 
indeed receive written notification of it less than a week before this 
Saturday Nov. 24, the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.  However, the 
President 
would give me no guarantee that a written defense I mailed would be 
distributed to the national board or publicly read at the meeting.
To the Federationists out there who read this, I tell you that I have 
done nothing to deserve any punitive action in the organization.  I 
have sought policy changes which I believed would make us more 
successful in meeting our objectives and strengthening the movement.  
I 
do not ask you to hear just my side of the story but to obtain the 
facts and judge for yourself.
To those of you out thre who have criticized the Federation in the past 
for being undemocratic, all I can say is that I used to believe we were 
democratic but I now no longer do.  It is very clear to me now that 
members, no matter how dedeciated, who express views that may be 
regarded as disloyal may experience reprisal of the largest order, that 
of membership itself.  The Monitor articles we have read and thought were 
true 
about so many ddedicated leaders who were effectively if not 
technically expelled have not perhaps told the whole story.  It has 
always struck me as odd to hear about the disappearance of so many 
valuable leaders.  Now I know first hand why this often happens.
I wanted to inform anyone interested about this matter.  Fell free to 
call me at (617) 666-9856 should you wish further details.  By all 
means, you should also seek information from other sources.  I will let 
you know what the national board decides to do.
Sincerely yours,
Jamal Mazrui

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