Well said, Thor. May the dead be heard and may they always be honored. Given the tremendous uphill battle that you're facing, who would you say inspires/inspired you the most in your work?
My teachers and my mentors, and lately, my newest friends whom I met at CTCW. You've all touched me far beyond measure. Destiny has spoken, or signed rather.
Where would you like to see both the Deaf Pagan and Heathen communities, and the overall Heathen and Pagan communities in ten years?
I'd like to see the Deaf community actively and openly acknowledging the Deaf's dead, and finally accepting other religions. I'd like to see the creation of meaningful dialogue within the Deaf community about other religious views, and even Deaf rights in regards to other countries, and dealing with atrocities committed to Deaf worldwide, both past and present.
For those who might want to help, what do you suggest?
Read, and talk with other Deaf and get involved. Open up a dialogue about the past, ask questions about family members who lived through some of those horrors. Learn about the people that came before you, listen to the stories that people tell. Question the quirky sayings that are in-family sayings—they often have a story to tell from the past.
Learn about your heritage, where you came from. Heritage has a past too.
Honor your dead, both by relation and mentors and influences you've gleaned from. (Hell, I'll even add authors like Richard Bach and Carl Jung to that list). Most of all, don't be afraid to get involved.
Thank you, Thor, for your thought provoking comments. I know that you've given me much to think about since our first meeting and I hope that those reading this will also consider the issues that you've raised here today.
(Editor's Note: See also http://changingtimeschangingworlds.org/ and http://www.patheos.com/community/deafpaganism.)
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