(SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH VIDEO INCLUDED IN THIS POST)
As I read the various posts around the Deaf B/Vlogosphere, it seems there has been a greater than normal amount of friction lately. Fighting, arguing, name calling, backstabbing, accusations, etc. Leaving negative comments on posts. Pointing fingers at one another. Blaming each other for some wrongdoing.
I sit back and wonder where all of this negativity is coming from.
I’m not saying that we all have to be bosum buddies, or that we even have to like one another.
We certainly don’t have to always agree with one another… but we can agree to disagree, and allow each other the right to express our opinions without fear of retribution.
We can treat our fellow bloggers and vloggers with courtesy and respect.
When we oppress others, we are oppressing ourselves.
When we seek to do harm to others, we are doing harm to ourselves.
When we attempt to destroy others, we are destroying the very framework that binds us together as a community.
Below is a short video that a friend of mine sent me some time ago. Maybe you have seen it… then again, maybe you haven’t. But even if you have, it’s worth watching. Please take a moment to do so – I think you might enjoy it.
Today is Valentine’s Day – a day in which many of us celebrate the existence of love in our lives, and reach out to those for whom we feel such love.
Let us take this day to expand that concept, and express our love for the community which we have created here in the Deaf B/Vlogosphere.
Yes, we are a diverse group of many different people coming from many different backgrounds. We have many different thoughts, opinions, beliefs, experiences, and talents.
But that diversity is our strength… and our beauty.
We can learn to embrace it, to cherish it, to protect it, and to celebrate it.
Even now.
Especially now.
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
Hi Ocean!!
Thank you for publishing this wonderful post. I just wrote a post at
http://deafprogressivism.blogspot.com/2008/02/lets-stop-drop-and-roll.html
and would like to add this link to refer to peace and love!! Your post is a great reminder!
Hugs,
Barb
By all means, feel free to link to this post and/or to share the link with your friends… if it helps to spread the message around, it will be well worth it!
This video should be required watching for anyone – Deaf or Hearing – who is interested in love, peace, harmony, and unity.
Its message is a powerful one. At a time when the world is full of violence and turmoil and war and pain and death…
We cannot afford to be bickering and arguing within our own communities.
The quest for true peace must start in our homes and in our communities. We cannot pray for harmony overseas while we promote turmoil amongst ourselves.
Great post, Osh.
wow; beatiful message; have a happy valentines day and lets make a path to love one another regardless of their differences; regardless of what communication or hearing method they use.. we are all humanbeings..
thanks ocean; that was a beautiful tape..
Human
Thank you! Thank you! Great post.. that’s what we all need to do is to put this behind and be peace!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you all
Hugs
-SG
I love this video!
Hawk, you really hit the nail on the head.
It must begin at home. It must begin within each of us.
Thanks, Osh!
-Fyre
Beautiful message…thanks for this inspirating reminder….thanks for being here for us all on Deaf V/Blogosphere.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and to all…
I think this post is absolutely fantastic! Great job! Now if we can get those to heed you advice 🙂
that was beautafull
This brought tears to my eyes. It was so beautiful. Thanks so much. 🙂 You’re awesome!!!
Well-written blog.
We need to strive for the word “unconditional” acceptance of all… no matter what languages/communication modes we all use, no matter how we think, etc.
That was a very interesting article about the subtitles etc.. It’s really sticky to be honest wtih you.
We are fortunate to have captions on some or most shows on tv. Thank goodness for that or we would never know whats going on.
And as for the blog/vloggers. It’s everyone’s own thing how they want to involve the hearing or whatever in their life.
But I guess I would say it wudn’t hurt to have subtitles so we can let the hearing see how we cope in this world.
But I think its everyone’s own thing what they want to do with their website, or loggers..
The idea that we have more in common with each other as human beings is one widely used in speculative fiction. If SETI ever finds another sentient species, we may even have more in common, physically and even psychologicly, with a single celled amoeba than with an alien race.
Blessed Be
What I really appreciate about this post is how Ocean is able to get her message across without having to:
– identify any issues
– use any names
– make any accusations
– try to give reasons or explanations or whatever
Rather, she simply gets to the heart of the matter – that we all need to learn to show proper courtesy and respect for one another, that diversity can be a beautiful and positive thing, and that negativity only creates more negativity.
Her use of the video to help get her point across was very creative… I enjoyed watching it.
Whether or not you agree with Ocean, I think her message is a sincere and heartfelt one –
A need to speak up on behalf of a community that means a great deal to her… as it does to many of us.
A fervent wish to not see that community destroy itself with anger and hatred and blame.
A desire to see that community be able to embrace both its differences and its commonalities, and find both beauty and strength in unity.
Such a quiet, humble, and yet firm sincerity deserves our admiration… and our appreciation.
Thank you, Ocean.