One person can make a difference

To the Editor:

In Rumford Falls there is a woman, she is kind, compassionate and creative. She gives her all to everyone around her. She has Fibromyalgia.

This woman has been struggling since 2002 to be recognized and get funding for this disability, and it is a disability. A lot of people claim it's not because "you can't see it," which is ridiculous. You can't see the air, but that doesn't mean it's not real, and Fibromyalgia is a serious issue for those who have it.

If it were a hoax, if it were a lie, there would not be so many people standing up to advocate for those who have it. What astounds me is that people are willing to turn their back on those who need them, willing to ignore it or brush it under the rug, but that's not right. You might be shocked to hear that she was told the minimum amount of time before her case will be sorted out will be a year, that's the shortest amount of time, I don't even want to think about the maximum.

To some of you this may seem absurd, others though might have faced a similar sort of injustice at the hands of the very people who are supposed to be there in order to support you and see to your well-being. I know it's easy to excuse, to say "they're doing the best they can" but are they really? Who determines that?

While I don't agree with throwing money around, how is it that America could afford to go to war, but can't seem to sort out the paperwork to allow a woman to live with security? To live with enough food. With the assurance that her living situation wouldn't come crashing to the floor in an instant? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we lived in a world where people who needed government aid financially or in any other way, would get it in a matter of months, while the army in order to invade another country, would have to wait years to go through red tape, to verify and recheck the paperwork.

I am writing this to draw attention to an issue, the issue of neglect. I am writing this to encourage you to stand up, write letters to the governors, the mayors, the president. Write letters to your elected officials, your senators, newspapers and everywhere else. Challenge them to do the right thing, to do right by their people.

The purpose of a government is to see to the well-being of their people, not to invade other countries. Isn't it time that they did their jobs properly? That their focus returned to the issues in their own country rather than attempting to sort out other peoples?

There is so much poverty, so much illness, corruption and fear running rampant in America, now is the time to change that, to improve. Some people claim that one person can not make a difference, well I'm a big believer in the ripple effect. So here I go, I'm putting this out there, for all of you to read, and hoping you will start a movement, too.

One person can make a difference, because we make a difference one person at a time. Your voice counts, no matter how many have told you otherwise, now it's time to put your voice to good use. Do the right thing, for yourselves, your families, friends, neighbors, community and country.

Hannah Ruller