Friday, January 16, 2009

Barack Obama on the Inauguration

Click for captions.

"Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve." - Martin Luther King Jr.


This YouTube channel will feature closed captions, so be sure to check on it often!

I would like to talk about service. Why am I doing this blog and why am I investing all this energy and passion in bringing the deaf perspective of the political process to the world?

It all started at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, August 2008, because I wanted to update what I was doing to family and friends. Blogging seemed much more easier than sending emails. However, it was not long before I realized the importance and potential of sharing my experiences and education with the rest of the world. In a world that is becoming more and more connected than ever before, I saw a golden opportunity to roll up my sleeves and get involved to encourage more deaf people to join in the political process.

Did I ever get paid for my services? No. I consider my blog to be a public resource and everything on this blog is for the world to view, learn, and use. I continue to operate this blog because I believe that I am not the only one out there who wants to make a difference. I believe that there are more of you out there just like me.

People need to truly realize the crucial importance of volunteering, doing community services, getting involved, and taking up passions/ambitions - because the more you invest in the world, the more it will invest back in you. You will be rewarded for your goodwill and you will be able to learn so much during the process of it all. The benefits are endless.

Last but not least - Barack Obama's campaign has signaled to the world that we are entering an new era for everybody. Barriers are being broken down. It's no longer time to stand on the sidelines and complain about the state of things. More than ever, people are empowered to rise up and act for what they believe is most important to them. And time has ended for deaf people to lay back and be passive, to not get involved with the community, and to not dedicate themselves to passions and service. It's time for us to step up to the plate and swing the bat in this new era.


To quote Gandhi - "You must be the change you want to see in the world."

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Leah,

Seeing that Gallaudet University is located in Washington D.C., the heartland of America and especially for Barack Obama's 44th presidential inauguration! And knowing that there are closed-captioning enabled jumbotrons placed on the Washington Mall. Do you have any recommendations for specific areas or locations where Gallaudet students, faculties, staff, or participating Deaf/HOH/CODA/Hearing members of the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia Deaf community should attend in the Washington mall for the profoundly (no pun intended) exciting national event? Are there also specifically designated parade location(s) provided with interpreters for the Deaf... (far as I currently know) since there will no jumbotrons erected alongside the parade route? I'm aware that they're both two very distinctive events but I'm curious to what you know about them. Thank you.

Keep up the wonderful work,

Clyde Catron

Leah Katz-Hernandez said...

on the mall: there will be interpreters stationed near the front. however, from my experience, you will need to have the proper tickets or credentials to sit or stand in certain areas. i'd recommend that if you already have Inaugural tickets, you talk to one of the staffers about where to best stand.

As for the parade, I have no idea - I'm sorry about that!