Dear Ms. Hamp,
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Matt Webster. I am writing this letter firstly as a Deaf person, secondly parent of a Deaf daughter, and lastly as a successful business owner. This letter is a response to the open letter that Alexander Graham Bell (AG Bell) wrote to PepsiCo and yourself dated January 31st, 2008 regarding the Super Bowl advertisement (two people honking in a neighborhood to find a deaf household) that was aired the following day.
I realize that it has been almost three years since the AG Bell's letter was written. However, I wanted to say a big thank you to PepsiCo for airing the commercial. I am not sure if you are aware with the fact that since the commercial was aired I still see people joking about the commercial to this day. The commercial in itself has generated a huge positive impact on all sides. First: for PepsiCo – millions of people still remember that commercial and Pepsi as a brand. Since then there has been quite a few followers by other companies using sign language and deafness in their commercials. Second: myself as a Deaf person I see more and more people wanting to learn sign language. The experience has made my and my daughter's life much easier.
That, alone, has a huge positive educational impact within our society that I strongly feel that we, both hearing and the deaf, need. This is because as of now in the entire deaf community there is 65% unemployment rate. This includes people with hearing aids and implants. People in general have the impression without the ability of hearing you can't be a fully productive member of society. The reason I started my business with a Deaf partner and Deaf investor is to be able to hire the deaf and contribute a significant portion of our profits to the deaf community. I also am a part of a non-profit organization that is currently working on getting a deaf center up and going that will employ more deaf people. I aim to eradicate the image that the deaf aren't fully able. In that sense your commercial helped greatly in softening the barrier between the deaf and the hearing.
I strongly feel that PepsiCo can be a great acquaintance with the deaf community in whole. We can make a positive impact with educating the society that we, the deaf community, are able in several methods. These methods are not limited to just advertisements. We also can have an initiative pushing PepsiCo hiring deaf people in all positions in PepsiCo, including higher positions. The possibilities are endless.
I sincerely hope that the letter from AG Bell did not deter PepsiCo from producing any more commercials invoking the use of ASL.
Win a deaf person's heart, you will have them as a lifelong customer.
The reason I say that, typically the deaf person will end up being loyal to those who take care of them. And I can't really stress any more through this letter.
Sincerely and with great regards,
Matt Webster
I like a challenge.
Check WikiLeaks first
