However, while the message may have merit, I object to the way it was phrased. It comes across too much like this individual is making gross general assumptions about Osh without knowing her, or having met her.

To quote,

“I have a pretty good feeling that you would do the same thing if you went to a meeting of deaf Pagans: you’d shove your firewalking down their throat and they’d accuse you of being “too firewalking” for their taste.”

I think that’s being harsh. It’s almost as if any time Ocean tries to educate people about Deafhood/deafness, Paganism, or Firewalking… according to this guy she’s merely engaging in shoving her own identity, beliefs, opinions, etc. down their throat… and irritating folks in the process.

I don’t think that’s the case – and I speak as someone who has known Osh personally for over ten years. Yes, she can be opinionated and outspoken… but I think she’s also fair, compassionate, and open-minded.

I think where Paganism is concerned, yes… it’s easier to keep this under wraps and only share such information with those who show a willingness to listen and learn. I don’t think Osh flaunts her religion, but neither is she going to shy away from being honest about her spiritual path either.

But where being Deaf concerned, I think Ocean (and other deaf/Deaf/hard-of-hearing folks) has a legitimate reason to want to share this information… if for no other reason that she needs to in order to assure that effective communication can take place, and her needed accomodations are being met.

I’ve seen far too many people telling Osh “I don’t need to know anything about deafness, you speak and lipread just fine, I have no problems communicating with you, I don’t even see you as being a deaf person.” What such people neglect to understand is that just because Ocean does speak and lipread well, doesn’t mean that she always understands what you are saying, and it doesn’t make her any less of a Deaf person.

And if people are going to get “irritated” when she attempts to point out this fact…

Then they are the ones with the problem, not her.

There IS a difference between actively suppressing one’s individuality or hiding it (which is what most people here have interpreted the OP to mean) and taking steps not to *advertise* one’s individuality (what *I* think the OP meant).

Advertising one’s uniqueness can be seen as arrogant, attention seeking, egotistical, or being a show-off. This can even be done to gain further attention because they will be then be persecuted for what they are “advertising”.

While this isn’t by any means limited to the pagan community it is a very common trait amongst newly converted pagans who feel the need to enthusiastically display the trappings of their new conversion. And then when they get a backlash they get to play the martyr.

How many times have you seen newbies pile on the pentagram jewelry, plaster their car with “The Goddess is alive and maigck is afoot” bumper stickers, and say “Oh my goddess” and become overly sensitive to any Christian references?

Do the pagan religions require us to be “in your face” obviously advertising our religions for all to see? No they don’t. So why do it?

Don’t hide your religion. Don’t advertise your religion. Find the happy medium – LIVE your religion.