![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=88.9){kind=small}
Hello Folks:
I know I've been quiet for a while, but I had my personal reasons. Hopefully everyone is gearing up to have a happy and safe Halloween!
I'm writing this post tonight to talk about an issue that is near and dear to me, namely, the deaf and hard of hearing community advocating more vocally for themselves. Folks, it is time for you all to start taking the initiative to contact your elected officials about issues you care about. Send them emails to their legislative email addresses, write letters to the editors in your local papers, call their offices and let them know you care about issues and that you vote and your vote matters.
I've talked to several people over the course of the past couple of months, and was AMAZED at how little they knew about legislative issues affecting them. People who did not know about COAT advocating for more captioned access on the internet via HR 3101, about legislation being introduced to require Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of hearing aids, and so forth and so on. These are vital issues that require you to show you care, one way or the other (for or against), in order to receive the needed debate and input. If you don't speak up, you have no say. I'm always happy to help people find out how they can go about contacting their representatives at the local, state, and national levels, and will continue to do so if asked.
But my main concern is that you must EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE ISSUES! AND THEN TELL THESE PEOPLE HOW YOU FEEL. Civics is a much neglected class in high school/junior high school, and needs to have more focus put on it. But for those who are already out, PLEASE take the time to get involved. Everytime I hear someone say "I don't like what happened", I ask them "Did you tell the right people your feelings about it? Did you call, email, etc. and let them know?" More often than not (FAR more often than not), the answer is "No". It's a waste of your status as a constituent not to tell them how you feel, after all, they work for ALL of us.
Good luck, and have a GREAT weekend!
Eddie
I know I've been quiet for a while, but I had my personal reasons. Hopefully everyone is gearing up to have a happy and safe Halloween!
I'm writing this post tonight to talk about an issue that is near and dear to me, namely, the deaf and hard of hearing community advocating more vocally for themselves. Folks, it is time for you all to start taking the initiative to contact your elected officials about issues you care about. Send them emails to their legislative email addresses, write letters to the editors in your local papers, call their offices and let them know you care about issues and that you vote and your vote matters.
I've talked to several people over the course of the past couple of months, and was AMAZED at how little they knew about legislative issues affecting them. People who did not know about COAT advocating for more captioned access on the internet via HR 3101, about legislation being introduced to require Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of hearing aids, and so forth and so on. These are vital issues that require you to show you care, one way or the other (for or against), in order to receive the needed debate and input. If you don't speak up, you have no say. I'm always happy to help people find out how they can go about contacting their representatives at the local, state, and national levels, and will continue to do so if asked.
But my main concern is that you must EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE ISSUES! AND THEN TELL THESE PEOPLE HOW YOU FEEL. Civics is a much neglected class in high school/junior high school, and needs to have more focus put on it. But for those who are already out, PLEASE take the time to get involved. Everytime I hear someone say "I don't like what happened", I ask them "Did you tell the right people your feelings about it? Did you call, email, etc. and let them know?" More often than not (FAR more often than not), the answer is "No". It's a waste of your status as a constituent not to tell them how you feel, after all, they work for ALL of us.
Good luck, and have a GREAT weekend!
Eddie
2 comments | Leave a comment
