My announcement and breaking news

racheleggert

racheleggert

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Student Senator and political activist Rachel Eggert is leaving
Deaf Community​

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN- Student Senator and political activist Rachel Eggert decided to make it official- She is leaving Deaf Community for good but will remain “Independent”between Hearing and Deafblind Communities. Since beginning of 2004 was “testing water” period to see if Rachel would like to switch back to Deaf Community after several years of strained relationship with the community. She tried to renew the relationship but Deaf Community rather to be “ultra-partisan” and play politics. Rachel have already spoken to her family about the switch, they are OK with that.

It was difficult decision for Rachel but she made decision to join a community that allow her to take a role and part of a community that is more tolerant of divergent points of view, allow her to be able to be part of dialog. She does feel alienated from the Deaf Community. Before “testing water” period, the relationship between Rachel and Deaf Community was “sour grapes”, are always at odds on issues and views. During her days as Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf student in mid 1990's She frequently caucus with Deafblind students, that when the relationship with Deaf Community turned sour. Rachel was shunned by them, even “closed the door” on her.

Now Rachel understand how US Senator Norm Coleman, Former State Auditor Judi Dutcher, State Senator Dean Johnson and other Minnesota politicians who switched political parties feels. Rachel does feel like she is being kicked out of Deaf Community by some of her former friends and supporters, and they keeps on making up excuses such as “My car is full”, You can’t do this, Can’t do that, and keeps on changing minds like as if they were playing games. Rachel feels like she is “State Senator Sheila Kiscaden (IP- Rochester MN) being kicked out of GOP Caucus by Senate Minority Leader” because She doesn’t show any loyalty and they wanted to show Rachel that it is time for to be true independent. Rachel believes that Deaf Community are way out of touch with people. Rachel tired to bring up her ideas and issues to Deaf Community but they refused to cooperate and doesn’t welcome any new ideas. She hope that someday they would change but knew that they wouldn’t.

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Sorry I had to do it after few of sleepless nights. Again I am apologize if I offend you but that is my opinion like people who switch political parties.
 
Hey, there's nothing to apologize about, you did what you had to do ...and I'm happy whatever choice you do make in life!....You do need alot more sleep and doing more thing out of this life than being stuck in something like this, I don't know how you handle this for so long but, you are one amazing woman I've ever known! *hugs* smile
 
it doesn't offend at all ... I always respect u so much for being work so hard to make the world better for everybody else ... Keep ur chin up !!! I am here to give u the applause for great effort thing to do ....
 
i for one do not blame how u feel, and i respect ur decision. U had to make a choice and u did so, and i appluad u for making yr own informed deicsion in every way, theres nothing to be apolgizing this for.
 
Dont worry about it, rachel, its your life and do what is best for you as you see fit! Its wonderful that you are active in politics and its your life so enjoy your life in politics! Just keep in touch with us once in awhile ok? Smile!
 
Nah, don't apologise, racheleggert. It is pretty sad that Deaf people, after experiencing prejudice all of their life, would practise double standards and practise exclusion and prejudice towards other "kind" of deaf people. It's really pathetic. You had to do what you did, and I wish you all the success!
 
Rachel, well at least you can hang with the Deaf-Blind folks for socialization.
Some people are so excluding!!!! "Oh no, they're handicapped...they don't belong with us b/c we're NOT handicapped" (and it makes me SO damn mad, that they think that way b/c while there are a ton of people out there who are Tiny Tims or Christopher Reeves, there is a subset of disabled people who think that disabilty is nautral and simply a part of them) or "they can hear and talk....they are more hearing then deaf" (which I think is complete and utter horsedoody....I am hoh, and been that way since birth and I AM not totally accepted and I don't feel 100% comfortable in the hearing world)
Maybe you could try becoming involved in the Disabilty Rights culture...they are accepting of virtually any and every disabilty.
Maybe it's just the area where you're from. I'm hoh and have a few additional disabilties but I don't really feel excluded from the whole Deaf culture thing, then again Deafies in MA tend to be very libreal. Please don't give up parcipitation in the Deaf culture or the Deaf world completely. Maybe you just have quite a few bad apples out there.
 
Rachel, I too think u don't owe anyone an apology. U did the Best you can and Be Proud of Who u are and what u do. Other People who doesn't want to Listen It's their Loss not yours.:) I would Say I am Proud of you and admire what u did.
 
Rachel, don't ever feel like you need to appologize for something you feel strongly about, ok? I applaud you for making a decision that was right for you, and if people are gonna be assholes about it then you don't need to waste your time associating with people like that.

I'm sorry that they put you through hell, but i wish you all the best in your new endevours and the best of luck in whichever you chose to do! I HOPE THAT YOU'RE HAPPY! *hugs*
 
Hi Rachel,

I don't know you but I find it really sad that you tried so hard at what you did, you did your best but no one cared enough to support you. I wish you all the best in your future and I hope that more deaf people wake up and realise that they do need the activists. Major kudos to you and I wish you all the best.

:cuddle:
 
Rachel, don't forget that you have the resources of the blind community as well. I know people are so damn STOOPID, and in our society people have been brainwashed to think that it's an either or binary opposition thingy.
It's too bad LadyDuke isn't here...she could have helped you. (She's Deaf-Blind and grew up in the Deaf community) I get shit on occasionally myself from people who can't think beyond binary oppostions (I'm severely hoh, and bisexual) and it happens in virtually EVERY human community. One of my friends who's biracial got tormented growing up b/c she wasn't black, but neither was she white. One of my friends from GSA at school who's black got shit on b/c black people said he acted too white. You're far from alone! Anyway, you have the support of us here at Alldeaf! You can always come and hang with us!
 
Rachel,

I admire and applaud your courageous decision to move away from the deaf community and be objective.

But do not forget there's some good deaf people.

Good luck with your politicking!
 
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