Lets reread MZ’s orginal post:

They’re Trying To Divide Us
“It is simply few people who are trying to divide us.”

Over the past several weeks, I’ve caught some people commenting on how others tried to divide us. All I could observe is a clash between two different cultures. Their differences, the products of diverse upbringing, don’t indicate that they are “trying to divide the Deaf Community”. The more we try to change people, the more they resist as we all have a fundamental need … to be accepted for what we are, without judgment.

There will always be differences between us… trying to force us to accept one set of values perceived as better than another set of just causes more friction. It’s just like religion and politics. The more we preach about one religion, the more tuned out the recipient will be. Many times people agree not to talk about politics and religions for a simple reason: The passionate discussions about the differences between us produce negative energy, resulting in combative arguments and angry feelings. So, yes, focusing on our differences does divide us.

Focusing on our common goals channels our energy toward a positive and productive environment. During the DPN and UfG protests, we put aside our differences to fight for our much beloved alma mater. We can do that again, and work toward common goals… instead of fighting among us due to our differences.

Among us, I see a universal agreement: We all agree that deaf babies should be exposed to sign language .. just like their hearing peers.

Maybe we should start concentrating on what we do have in common and go from there?

P.S. When I mentioned UfG, I meant the unity among the protesters only.

As for ‘dividing’, what, is to divide ? People sign, people, don’t, people love culture, people can’t see the atttraction or point, people like CI’s others hate them. Divide ? there would BE none if each respected each others point of view. How do cultural deaf accept, non-cultural ideals that want the basis of that culture removed ? i.e. their deafness, and sign replaced ?

No-one is dividing us all, we are entirely different people obviously, who just happen to be deaf as well, who have issues bumping along together !

There is absolutely nothing wrong about a word, “activist” per se!

Not wanting to be an activist worries me!

I am very proud when one says that I ACTIVELY participate in anti-hunger, anti-poverty, anti-genocide-on-Darfur, anti-Iraqi war rallies here in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Many scholars, including sociologists, philosophers, linguists participate with us. I have never missed seeing the world-famous linguist Noam Chomsky in the rallies with us in DC and NYC.

Being a non-activist is a cardinal sin. Being neutral, indifferent, or apathetic. Dante puts them in the last circle of the Inferno.

Back to square one, it was wrong not to act when we learned that the White House — through the U.S. Department of Education — gave an “ineffective” grade to Gallaudet University and an “effective” grade to the NTID. We must ACT to save Gallaudet University.

You hide your head in the sand like an ostrich, refusing to understand the source of a violence. It is the police who make a mountain out of a molehill. Remember a university student who was Taserised for speaking out at Senator Kerry’s lecture. Very matter-of-factly, Kerry told the
police that the activist’s freedom of speech is healthy! Meaning what? Yours is the reversal case!

It’s the impression I receive when reading various news. For example, Cindy Sheehan. What people think of her as an activist? Probably negative especially on how she handled even she’s doing for a good cause. Believe or not, some terrorists are considered as activists!

I prefer the cooperative movement as they usually does not protest or confront. There are many different types of activism. There are some approaches I dislike such as violent confrontation and a few others.

Sorry for being off the point, I just want readers to understand my reason for not being comfortable with the word, “activist.”

But I don’t think people should fear using the word activist. It does have positivity associated to it.