Posted by kate on October 06, 2004 at 00:09:37:
In Reply to: Religions posted by Lisha on October 05, 2004 at 11:54:05:
I received this interesting email, and permission to publish with changed name, early in the RC days ... it's on the site under Our Stories.
In A Culture Like My Own
Maybe this is the place where people who live in a culture like my own can finally feel accepted rather than rejected, empowered rather than disabled to be who they are and what they want to be. Maybe this is the place where people who are forced to keep silent about their Diabetes can finally express their fears and successes and not be afraid to ask questions to the world.
Maybe others should take note of the minority who are too shy to join community groups and too afraid to be found at Diabetic meetings by someone they know from their cultural background... Sad but true, rumours would spread about me that would horrify anyone and I cannot allow that to happen especially for the sake of my mother who is not well; I don't think she could handle people saying things about me that are not true.
I don't suppose I am the only one, am I?
I think that Diabetic Education needs to be spread widely especially to the ethnic communities about something they do not understand and are therefore afraid of. Then people like myself can feel "normal" and not have to hide the things they desperately want to share with others. I still have a great deal of courage to work up, however, thanks to Reality Check, I finally began saying something... Who knows, maybe some day I will be a part of a group where I can share my fears and successes. Lord knows I have a lot to learn and share.
Take care.
Sabbrina