AGISM: No laughing matter

I want to reassure JoAnn Lokken and any other interested citizens that indeed my hearing aids are in good working order and they are the good ones from Costco. I keep fresh batteries in them, too.

I just got new glasses this spring so I did clearly see the show of hands during the meeting, even though it is inappropriate, or at least very non-productive to turn from the folks you are supposed to be addressing to try to whip up the audience. As I shared at the meeting (but likely couldn’t be heard due to the crowd noise), we don’t make judgments by applause or boo meters.

But if you send me your email address, I’ll see if I can get you added to the contact list when the lab sends results to my doctor’s office. I had them done recently too and they all came out grade A.

On a more serious note, some of us experienced citizens are quite aware of the growing problem with agism. It works for a quick laugh to take a shot at someone’s hearing loss or vision issues or how smoothly they can get around, but that can be a form of discrimination just like other harmful forms. When I worked as the director of the Area Agency on Aging, I became even more aware of the harmful affects of agism in our society and the price many people pay because of it.

Nuff said about that. I am serious when I say, even though we likely have different points of view on some things, I appreciate you taking the time to come to both the meeting and to express your opinion in The Press. Thank you.

DAN ENGLISH

Coeur d’Alene