In response to Florida bill

[Guest guest]

Gang:

Some pea-brain Rep. in Florida wants to repeal the dwarf-tossing ban law. I

sent the following letter to him, the Florida governor, an editorial columnist

at the Palm Beach paper and the Florida house of Representatives.

ARGH!

Dear Mr. Workman,

I am shocked and appalled that you have introduced legislation to lift the ban

on dwarf-tossing in Florida.

How can you do this when your own conscience tells you, quoting you that it is

" repulsive and stupid? "

What kind of public servant worthy of the name works against his own conscience?

It's terrifying that there are still people who just don't get it.

This so called " sport " plays into a medieval mindset that people with dwarfism

are objects instead of people.

This is an attitude I have to face every day. Yes, I am a person with dwarfism

and face a daily struggle to be afforded the same dignity and respect due to all

decent human beings.

Just the other night I caught some young people clandestinely taking phone

photos or videos while I was walking near my home.

Total strangers will walk up to me to ask my name and age -something they would

never do to an average sized person.

Apparently, since I'm an object, I don't have personal space or a sense of

privacy.

Dwarf-tossing only perpetuates this objectification and degradation.

Suggesting that it will create jobs is a very weak argument when these so-call

" jobs " are not only degrading, but physically dangerous. If some dwarf winds up

paralyzed from this idiocy are you prepared for your constituents to foot the

bill for their medical expenses and subsequent disability payments?

Additionally, can you tell me how many dwarves have appealed to you wanting

dwarf-tossing jobs? 1, 2, several hundred? Or NONE?

Wouldn't it be more productive and cost effective in the long run to help break

down the stereotypes that keep willing and able dwarves from getting safe,

serious work?

The dwarfism community has spent years encouraging people with dwarfism to get

educations in order to make these sort of " work " opportunities obsolete and to

combat these disempowering perceptions.

These perceptions can get in the way when we go to seek " serious " work. It is

tough to get hired anywhere, but we succeed nonetheless. We represent just

about any profession requiring brain work you can think of: doctors, lawyers,

engineers, nurses, accountants, entrepreneurs - the list is endless.

I understand that you're on a " quest to seek and destroy unnecessary burdens on

the freedom and liberties of people "

What about my right to be treated like a person?

What about my right to be taken seriously as an educated, productive member of

society? As opposed to being seen as a joke and a projectile.

Freedom and liberty to me means being recognized as a human and being allowed to

be a productive member of society.

Being free to live with dignity and humanity.

To that end:

I vote (glad I don't live in Florida)

I am a college graduate.

I work. My career represents over 20 years of service in cancer care and

research.

I do extensive volunteer work.

I'm married.

I pay my taxes.

I love my friends and family.

I am a fully realized person.

The least you could have done was your homework before crafting this idiotic

bill.

Marty -Merritts

Clinical Research Project Manager, fMRI Project

UM School of Nursing

400 NIB, Room 2160

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Phone: 734-764-1573

**********************************************************

Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used

for urgent or sensitive issues

[Guest guest]

Marty-

Outstanding! Thank-you for making this effort on behalf of all of us.

Ron Roskamp

In response to Florida bill

Gang:

Some pea-brain Rep. in Florida wants to repeal the dwarf-tossing ban law. I sent

the following letter to him, the Florida governor, an editorial columnist at the

Palm Beach paper and the Florida house of Representatives.

ARGH!

Dear Mr. Workman,

I am shocked and appalled that you have introduced legislation to lift the ban

on dwarf-tossing in Florida.

How can you do this when your own conscience tells you, quoting you that it is

" repulsive and stupid? "

What kind of public servant worthy of the name works against his own conscience?

It's terrifying that there are still people who just don't get it.

This so called " sport " plays into a medieval mindset that people with dwarfism

are objects instead of people.

This is an attitude I have to face every day. Yes, I am a person with dwarfism

and face a daily struggle to be afforded the same dignity and respect due to all

decent human beings.

Just the other night I caught some young people clandestinely taking phone

photos or videos while I was walking near my home.

Total strangers will walk up to me to ask my name and age -something they would

never do to an average sized person.

Apparently, since I'm an object, I don't have personal space or a sense of

privacy.

Dwarf-tossing only perpetuates this objectification and degradation.

Suggesting that it will create jobs is a very weak argument when these so-call

" jobs " are not only degrading, but physically dangerous. If some dwarf winds up

paralyzed from this idiocy are you prepared for your constituents to foot the

bill for their medical expenses and subsequent disability payments?

Additionally, can you tell me how many dwarves have appealed to you wanting

dwarf-tossing jobs? 1, 2, several hundred? Or NONE?

Wouldn't it be more productive and cost effective in the long run to help break

down the stereotypes that keep willing and able dwarves from getting safe,

serious work?

The dwarfism community has spent years encouraging people with dwarfism to get

educations in order to make these sort of " work " opportunities obsolete and to

combat these disempowering perceptions.

These perceptions can get in the way when we go to seek " serious " work. It is

tough to get hired anywhere, but we succeed nonetheless. We represent just about

any profession requiring brain work you can think of: doctors, lawyers,

engineers, nurses, accountants, entrepreneurs - the list is endless.

I understand that you're on a " quest to seek and destroy unnecessary burdens on

the freedom and liberties of people "

What about my right to be treated like a person?

What about my right to be taken seriously as an educated, productive member of

society? As opposed to being seen as a joke and a projectile.

Freedom and liberty to me means being recognized as a human and being allowed to

be a productive member of society.

Being free to live with dignity and humanity.

To that end:

I vote (glad I don't live in Florida)

I am a college graduate.

I work. My career represents over 20 years of service in cancer care and

research.

I do extensive volunteer work.

I'm married.

I pay my taxes.

I love my friends and family.

I am a fully realized person.

The least you could have done was your homework before crafting this idiotic

bill.

Marty -Merritts

Clinical Research Project Manager, fMRI Project

UM School of Nursing

400 NIB, Room 2160

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Phone: 734-764-1573

**********************************************************

Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used

for urgent or sensitive issues

[Guest guest]

Great letter. Mind if I repost on Facebook?

Bill

On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 4:47 PM, <rrosk@...> wrote:

> **

>

>

>

> Marty-

>

> Outstanding! Thank-you for making this effort on behalf of all of us.

>

> Ron Roskamp

>

>

> In response to Florida bill

>

> Gang:

>

> Some pea-brain Rep. in Florida wants to repeal the dwarf-tossing ban law. I

> sent the following letter to him, the Florida governor, an editorial

> columnist at the Palm Beach paper and the Florida house of Representatives.

> ARGH!

>

> Dear Mr. Workman,

>

> I am shocked and appalled that you have introduced legislation to lift the

> ban on dwarf-tossing in Florida.

> How can you do this when your own conscience tells you, quoting you that it

> is " repulsive and stupid? "

> What kind of public servant worthy of the name works against his own

> conscience?

> It's terrifying that there are still people who just don't get it.

>

> This so called " sport " plays into a medieval mindset that people with

> dwarfism are objects instead of people.

>

> This is an attitude I have to face every day. Yes, I am a person with

> dwarfism and face a daily struggle to be afforded the same dignity and

> respect due to all decent human beings.

> Just the other night I caught some young people clandestinely taking phone

> photos or videos while I was walking near my home.

> Total strangers will walk up to me to ask my name and age -something they

> would never do to an average sized person.

> Apparently, since I'm an object, I don't have personal space or a sense of

> privacy.

>

> Dwarf-tossing only perpetuates this objectification and degradation.

>

> Suggesting that it will create jobs is a very weak argument when these

> so-call " jobs " are not only degrading, but physically dangerous. If some

> dwarf winds up paralyzed from this idiocy are you prepared for your

> constituents to foot the bill for their medical expenses and subsequent

> disability payments?

> Additionally, can you tell me how many dwarves have appealed to you wanting

> dwarf-tossing jobs? 1, 2, several hundred? Or NONE?

>

> Wouldn't it be more productive and cost effective in the long run to help

> break down the stereotypes that keep willing and able dwarves from getting

> safe, serious work?

>

> The dwarfism community has spent years encouraging people with dwarfism to

> get educations in order to make these sort of " work " opportunities obsolete

> and to combat these disempowering perceptions.

> These perceptions can get in the way when we go to seek " serious " work. It

> is tough to get hired anywhere, but we succeed nonetheless. We represent

> just about any profession requiring brain work you can think of: doctors,

> lawyers, engineers, nurses, accountants, entrepreneurs - the list is

> endless.

>

> I understand that you're on a " quest to seek and destroy unnecessary

> burdens on the freedom and liberties of people "

> What about my right to be treated like a person?

> What about my right to be taken seriously as an educated, productive member

> of society? As opposed to being seen as a joke and a projectile.

>

> Freedom and liberty to me means being recognized as a human and being

> allowed to be a productive member of society.

> Being free to live with dignity and humanity.

>

> To that end:

>

> I vote (glad I don't live in Florida)

> I am a college graduate.

> I work. My career represents over 20 years of service in cancer care and

> research.

> I do extensive volunteer work.

> I'm married.

> I pay my taxes.

> I love my friends and family.

> I am a fully realized person.

>

> The least you could have done was your homework before crafting this

> idiotic bill.

>

> Marty -Merritts

> Clinical Research Project Manager, fMRI Project

> UM School of Nursing

> 400 NIB, Room 2160

> Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

> Phone: 734-764-1573

>

> **********************************************************

> Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be

> used for urgent or sensitive issues

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wonderful letter, and very true.

 

Was there a reason to repeal this bill?  Were there other LP's who were calling

for a repeal?

 

-

________________________________

From: " -Merritts, Marty " <medavis@...>

" dwarfism " <dwarfism >

Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2011 11:40 AM

Subject: In response to Florida bill

 

Gang:

Some pea-brain Rep. in Florida wants to repeal the dwarf-tossing ban law. I

sent the following letter to him, the Florida governor, an editorial columnist

at the Palm Beach paper and the Florida house of Representatives.

ARGH!

Dear Mr. Workman,

I am shocked and appalled that you have introduced legislation to lift the ban

on dwarf-tossing in Florida.

How can you do this when your own conscience tells you, quoting you that it is

" repulsive and stupid? "

What kind of public servant worthy of the name works against his own conscience?

It's terrifying that there are still people who just don't get it.

This so called " sport " plays into a medieval mindset that people with dwarfism

are objects instead of people.

This is an attitude I have to face every day. Yes, I am a person with dwarfism

and face a daily struggle to be afforded the same dignity and respect due to all

decent human beings.

Just the other night I caught some young people clandestinely taking phone

photos or videos while I was walking near my home.

Total strangers will walk up to me to ask my name and age -something they would

never do to an average sized person.

Apparently, since I'm an object, I don't have personal space or a sense of

privacy.

Dwarf-tossing only perpetuates this objectification and degradation.

Suggesting that it will create jobs is a very weak argument when these so-call

" jobs " are not only degrading, but physically dangerous. If some dwarf winds up

paralyzed from this idiocy are you prepared for your constituents to foot the

bill for their medical expenses and subsequent disability payments?

Additionally, can you tell me how many dwarves have appealed to you wanting

dwarf-tossing jobs? 1, 2, several hundred? Or NONE?

Wouldn't it be more productive and cost effective in the long run to help break

down the stereotypes that keep willing and able dwarves from getting safe,

serious work?

The dwarfism community has spent years encouraging people with dwarfism to get

educations in order to make these sort of " work " opportunities obsolete and to

combat these disempowering perceptions.

These perceptions can get in the way when we go to seek " serious " work. It is

tough to get hired anywhere, but we succeed nonetheless. We represent just

about any profession requiring brain work you can think of: doctors, lawyers,

engineers, nurses, accountants, entrepreneurs - the list is endless.

I understand that you're on a " quest to seek and destroy unnecessary burdens on

the freedom and liberties of people "

What about my right to be treated like a person?

What about my right to be taken seriously as an educated, productive member of

society? As opposed to being seen as a joke and a projectile.

Freedom and liberty to me means being recognized as a human and being allowed to

be a productive member of society.

Being free to live with dignity and humanity.

To that end:

I vote (glad I don't live in Florida)

I am a college graduate.

I work. My career represents over 20 years of service in cancer care and

research.

I do extensive volunteer work.

I'm married.

I pay my taxes.

I love my friends and family.

I am a fully realized person.

The least you could have done was your homework before crafting this idiotic

bill.

Marty -Merritts

Clinical Research Project Manager, fMRI Project

UM School of Nursing

400 NIB, Room 2160

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Phone: 734-764-1573

**********************************************************

Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used

for urgent or sensitive issues

[Guest guest]

I did send Representative Workman an e-mail.  I hope all of us will do so

whether we live in Florida or not, we need solidarity on this issue, especially

with the LP's in Florida. 

His e-mail is: 

Ritch@...

 

-

________________________________

 

[Guest guest]

I think this was intended for Marty.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Jeff Hull <thehullfamily@...>

Date: Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 12:40 AM

Subject: Re: In response to Florida bill

Bill Bradford <tslug1@...>

I applaud you!

________________________________

From: Bill Bradford <tslug1@...>

rrosk@...

Cc: medavis@...; dwarfism

Sent: Thu, October 6, 2011 3:01:44 PM

Subject: Re: In response to Florida bill

Great letter.  Mind if I repost on Facebook?

Bill

On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 4:47 PM, <rrosk@...> wrote:

> **

>

>

>

> Marty-

>

> Outstanding! Thank-you for making this effort on behalf of all of us.

>

> Ron Roskamp

>

>

> In response to Florida bill

>

> Gang:

>

> Some pea-brain Rep. in Florida wants to repeal the dwarf-tossing ban law. I

> sent the following letter to him, the Florida governor, an editorial

> columnist at the Palm Beach paper and the Florida house of Representatives.

> ARGH!

>

> Dear Mr. Workman,

>

> I am shocked and appalled that you have introduced legislation to lift the

> ban on dwarf-tossing in Florida.

> How can you do this when your own conscience tells you, quoting you that it

> is " repulsive and stupid? "

> What kind of public servant worthy of the name works against his own

> conscience?

> It's terrifying that there are still people who just don't get it.

>

> This so called " sport " plays into a medieval mindset that people with

> dwarfism are objects instead of people.

>

> This is an attitude I have to face every day. Yes, I am a person with

> dwarfism and face a daily struggle to be afforded the same dignity and

> respect due to all decent human beings.

> Just the other night I caught some young people clandestinely taking phone

> photos or videos while I was walking near my home.

> Total strangers will walk up to me to ask my name and age -something they

> would never do to an average sized person.

> Apparently, since I'm an object, I don't have personal space or a sense of

> privacy.

>

> Dwarf-tossing only perpetuates this objectification and degradation.

>

> Suggesting that it will create jobs is a very weak argument when these

> so-call " jobs " are not only degrading, but physically dangerous. If some

> dwarf winds up paralyzed from this idiocy are you prepared for your

> constituents to foot the bill for their medical expenses and subsequent

> disability payments?

> Additionally, can you tell me how many dwarves have appealed to you wanting

> dwarf-tossing jobs? 1, 2, several hundred? Or NONE?

>

> Wouldn't it be more productive and cost effective in the long run to help

> break down the stereotypes that keep willing and able dwarves from getting

> safe, serious work?

>

> The dwarfism community has spent years encouraging people with dwarfism to

> get educations in order to make these sort of " work " opportunities obsolete

> and to combat these disempowering perceptions.

> These perceptions can get in the way when we go to seek " serious " work. It

> is tough to get hired anywhere, but we succeed nonetheless. We represent

> just about any profession requiring brain work you can think of: doctors,

> lawyers, engineers, nurses, accountants, entrepreneurs - the list is

> endless.

>

> I understand that you're on a " quest to seek and destroy unnecessary

> burdens on the freedom and liberties of people "

> What about my right to be treated like a person?

> What about my right to be taken seriously as an educated, productive member

> of society? As opposed to being seen as a joke and a projectile.

>

> Freedom and liberty to me means being recognized as a human and being

> allowed to be a productive member of society.

> Being free to live with dignity and humanity.

>

> To that end:

>

> I vote (glad I don't live in Florida)

> I am a college graduate.

> I work. My career represents over 20 years of service in cancer care and

> research.

> I do extensive volunteer work.

> I'm married.

> I pay my taxes.

> I love my friends and family.

> I am a fully realized person.

>

> The least you could have done was your homework before crafting this

> idiotic bill.

>

> Marty -Merritts

> Clinical Research Project Manager, fMRI Project

> UM School of Nursing

> 400 NIB, Room 2160

> Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

> Phone: 734-764-1573

>

> **********************************************************

> Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be

> used for urgent or sensitive issues

>

>