In the wake of many of the responses and messages I personally received in the last few days; a thought has come into light that we should explore. When it comes to diabetes, and not only what the media portrays, but in our everyday lives (and the lives of our kids), are we being bullied?
Bullying.
Be careful as the word has a huge black cloud over it. But that question remains and needs to be asked, if some of the things that have happened in our lives were switched ever so slightly; what would the world’s response be?
If kids were made fun of for their religious belief, what would be the reaction?
If movies portrayed other disease as they have diabetes, would there be an outcry?
If schools resisted managing children if they were terminally ill the way some fight what we ask for our kids, would the media stand idly by and not report it?
If media continually ‘got wrong’ the facts of one form of a disease vs. another with a similar name, would those suffering with the two disease say nothing?
If people were suffering with life threatening conditions, would the world stand by while it was stated and written that it was their own fault?
Really?
So why is it different for us……and that is the collective ALL OF US?
This is a very serious issue and really the only reaction has been talk with little (very little) action as a unified diabetes world. The differences, the stereo-types, the misinformation, and the nonsense; stops now.
We do not need to change the name of any form of diabetes, we need to stand up and be counted. We need to stand up and educate this world once and for all.
Here is something that each and every diabetes organization, company, foundation, group, and individually can stand behind. I call upon every diabetes entity to give/send/supply me one name, JUST ONE, of someone from your company, organization, group, hospital, center, foundation, and or yourself; who can discuss this issue and how best to educate the world on the differences in diabetes and what it means to live with it.
We also need one ad-agency-executive-type who will help us create the campaign pro-bono (we can speak to a company about paying for the printing). WE NEED THIS COMMITMENT. Gladly we will list the logos of every organization small and large that are part of this effort (or perhaps we will list none at all; to be discussed) and of course the ad-agency and any companies laying out money will be credited.
Time commitment will be a minimum (we all have much to do in our every day lives); perhaps two conference calls led by the ad agency, who will undertake this project; a course of action (radio, poster, TV) enlisting everyone who has an interest; and implementation to place posters, releases, and disperse information everywhere and anywhere.
I’m as tired of nothing getting done as the tactics being taken about and against people who live with diabetes, all forms, period. This is not about who will do it, this is about who will choose not to.
If you agree, We need you to play an active role and ask that you pass this along to everyone who needs to be involved and anyone who wants to get involved, have them reply here so everyone can watch it grow. Names of people who want to be involved can be emailed to me at karlya@optonline.net; place in the subject line Operation Diabetes Outreach. We should have all of this by February 15th. I will keep everyone posted.
I’m tired of it and so should you; and something needs to be done. I know so many care, but do you care enough to do something? The time to act is now. It’s put up or shut up time and if we choose to shut up and do nothing; than our voices should never be asked to rise again on this subject.
You in?
I am a diabetes dad.
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