Yes, a whole bunch of people have been arrested. Yes, the media is being pingponged between sides, unsure what to make of the whole brouhaha. Yes, the community is in an uproar. Yes, the blogosphere is going crazy with rumors and flames and half-truths. Yes, this is a time of infamy, no matter what you think of it. If you’re reading this, chances are either you think student protesters are being stupid, or you think the administration is being stupid. Quite possibly you might have moments where just every-dang-body is stupid. Either way, people are mourning what dignity Gallaudet University had before this all happened.
But I think the worst thing to happen to anybody who has anything to do with the deaf community in the last six months can be summed up in three short words:
“Not deaf enough.”
Yes, we already know that the phrase was used as a reductio ad fernandesum technique with which to extinguish the flames of protest (btw, Jean explains the “reductio ad fernandesum” phenomenon awesomely).
But let’s look at what the phrase has done for the deaf community, both inwardly and as a cultural entity in the 21st century world. For one thing, the avidity with which the (outsider hearing) media has gone bonkers with the not deaf idea speaks/signs volumes about perception of deaf people in general. McConnell posted on this very subject yesterday.
He writes, “Now that the protesters have gotten the media attention, nationally, their efforts to get their own message out is now compounded exponentionally, in the worst way, with the media reporting that the selected 9th president isn’t ‘deaf enough’ for the deaf protesters.”
So now on top of discrimination and ignorance, we’ve just had another huge battle handed to us, courtesy of Dr. Jordan, Mercy Coogan, Dr. Fernandes, NBC, ABC, FOX, NPR, the Washington Post, CNN, and a whole bunch of other entities that have done us the favor of disseminating that wonderful phrase.
That battle will last us for years: the perception that there is a standard against which people can measure to find out whether they’re deaf enough. Decades of cultural work will have to be done.
Before I start getting flames and hate mail, yes, I’m aware that for many people, there is indeed such a standard. It’s most acutely felt by those who feel or are told they don’t measure up.
At the same time, however, insinuating and spreading the idea that the possibility of being “not deaf enough” exists is extremely damaging.
I might even go so far as to say it’s akin to not understanding why some (black) DC residents don’t like outgoing mayor Tony Williams; is it because he’s not black enough?
For many of us, reading in the newspapers that the protest exists because Dr. Fernandes is not deaf enough also rakes up introspection. Are we deaf enough? Is anyone? This can be positive, as evidenced by the deafhood movement. It can also be negative, as evidenced by the confusion, angry comments, and division found in the Gallaudet community, the blogosphere and elsewhere.
To every news media outlet who has printed an editorial claiming that the protests are invalid on the basis of Dr. Fernandes’ genuine membership in the deaf community, her oral upbringing notwithstanding, or to any person who has entertained similar ideas, I ask: Would you rally behind a hearing person because he or she was hearing? Or would you rally behind a person who you felt could lead?
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My take is that phrase made deaf culture seem stupid and petty, resulting in more parents reluctant to expose their deaf kids to it.
Dr I King Jordan & Dr Jane K Fernandes are HEROES!
Heroes for what? Not for the Deaf! Ha!
Yes.. I’d like to know what they’re heroes for.. because I don’t think they are for the Deaf either..
I work with a deaf girl, and I am late deafened myself. I guess you could call me hard of hearing, even though medically speaking, I am deaf. She point blank tells me often, “you are not deaf” but what I know she really means is “you are not Deaf”. My point is, who cares? I get a paycheck from my company, not from the Deaf community. I am who I am. Opinions like that should really be kept to yourself because I’m sorry to say this, but the deaf community has done nothing to dispel the image that Jane is not deaf enough. Shall I go on? Glad you asked. If the search process was flawed, why did you wait until the President-select was announced before you locked down the campus? And the answer is simple: because you were hoping your guy would win! But that would mean the search process was not flawed…
Nobody protested during the process because everytime Jane was asked if she was in the running, she either replied “no” or “not interested”….that’s why it was such a shock when her annoucement was given as the next President of Gallaudet. Plus, there were rumblings all along about the process, but folks were hoping for the best and waiting to see the results. Guess we shouldn’t have waited.
I believe that the “not deaf enough” argument was correctly presented by Fernandes. Like it or not, there is a very strong undercurrent running through the protest that a Gallaudet president that is not ASL is not going to be accepted at all.
I believe that the media and the blogs have correctly presented the argument, whether the ASL deafies like it or not.
I agree with you on this.
whaaaa!
What started off as an excellent critical analysis of the sentence, “not deaf enough” becomes a contradiction in the end of your blog. You justified it in your conclusion despite your crticism of those very words.
I was born deaf, I speak orally and lip-read. I do not know one thing about sign language. I recently moved to DC to learn more about the deaf culture, and to pursue a Masters at a mainstream University. Unfortunately, I moved to DC at a dramatic time at G. University and the phrase “not deaf enough” certainly feels applied to me. What once was a desire to get to know other deaf people is now to avoid them due to that very phrase. But it existed long before the media output jumped on it and Dr.Fernandes’ attempts to capitalize on it. I am aware enough that the debacle at University has little to do with her “deafness” but more with her leadership ability. However there cannot be any denial that there is a bitter and harmful discrimination among deaf culture toward those who are not deemed “deaf enough” and that this existed long before the Fernandes debacle.
I thought the body of your blog was excellent. It exemplified my feelings (as one of those who acutely feel the discrimination). It has unfortunately resulted for me this - I have no desire to lead or walk with people who discriminate on that basis. Good luck with your political handling of the situation with Fernandes. It appears to be going very well ..
Yes, there’s that impression. A small rejectionist (and noisy) minority who thinks that they should have the sole say in running “their” university.
Unfortunately for them, the deaf community is wider than only them and the university is, in fact, funded with federal dollars.
I think we *ALL* have a say in this university since Gallaudet is for all potential deaf, hard of hearing and Deaf students who may want to go to the University and learn where communication access is superior at all levels.
I agree. Communication access should be superior at all levels. Unfortunately, it has not been happening. IKJ, JK and BOT ignored the Audism Mandates and have neglected the needs of Gallaudet.
When I say “all levels” it include auditory as well.
I agree, and sometimes I wonder if this was a reaction to the proposed recruitment of mainstreamed oral deaf students with cochlear implants by Fernandes and the outreach to the larger deaf world outside of the Deaf community.
Personally, I do applaud Jane in this endeavor. After all, since the majority of deaf children are born to hearing parents, most of the time they don’t even know of the existence of Gally. Even if they did, they’ve usually been mainstreamed with no signing involved. Thus, they NEED this chance to come to Gally and to learn sign language as it would open up doors for them as it did for me. I am a CI user, (my choice), and learned sign language at Gally. However, I experienced discrimination on a scale like you wouldn’t believe my freshmen year just because one, I was a new signer, and two, used my voice as well. So much for unity! Despite that, I wasn’t about to let a bunch of ignorant folks get in my way of learning about the deaf community and I haven’t regretted it since.
Anonymous:
For some reason I found your comment especially interesting. First, can you point out the contradiction? I have a feeling you have something specific in mind and I’m just not seeing the forest for the trees.
Your response has also made me feel I wasn’t clear enough in my blog. I am not excusing those who discriminate on a deafist basis.
Rather, I am trying to point out that those who take advantage of that deafist ideology for their own means (i.e. those who say the ONLY reason Dr. Fernandes’ selection might be challenged is because she’s not deaf enough — therefore implying that she and her leadership abilities are perfect in every other way) is extremely hurtful for everyone involved.
I think it’s especially evident when you see the division outlined, such as your own sentiment of wanting to “avoid” certain people because of that phrase.
To that end, please know that I empathize, that I have experienced the same, and that is what I am trying to point out. Damage has been done and I would like to give credit where it’s due.
Thanks for your comment.
Alison, I know what you mean. When I entered a deaf school as an Signed English user, yes, I experienced discrimination, and it hurt. Yes, I was angry.
But I moved beyond that and realized that is not what being part of the deaf community is about. I realized that just because some people react this way, does not mean that it symbolizes what everybody thinks.
Every group has their fundamentalists. If I posted here and said that Christians hate me because I’m not “Christian Enough” a lot of people would jump on me for stereotyping Christians as close-minded and inflexible.
YET it’s OK to say that about the Gallaudet students?
That’s one of the things I find most infuriating. Most people I know support the protest do NOT subscribe to that philosophy and they are being tarred because of the actions of a few fundamentalists.
Some of the last few comments expemlify exactly how Fernandes is dividing the deaf community. Her “not deaf enough” quote made us all divided instead of united against her lousy management style. Fernandes is playing all of us like a fiddle.
For those who have felt that they weren’t “deaf enough” to be accepted: That $&*# flows both ways. I have personally not been “hearing enough” for some deaf people. Heck, I have even not been “deaf enough” in some instances as well! Do I hate those people as a ‘group’? NO! I dislike them on an individual basis.
It is as I said before…there are only two kinds of people in the world…A-holes and non-A-holes.
Yes, I will admit that the “not deaf enough” thing has been an under current in the “miliant deaf community” for years. Still, why should the rest of the ’signing’ deaf community be defined by the comments, blogs, attitudes, and etc..of a few? I’d say only 10% of the ’signing community’ practices the “not deaf enough” discrimination, TOPS. The rest of us are normal people who accept all kinds of people.
My experiences with oral, hard of hearing, late deafened adults, and etc..has mostly been positive. I have nothing against them, but I notice that I am not 100% comfortable around them just like I am not comfortable sitting at a lunch table with 5-6 of my hearing co-workers. I cannot communicate with them without using a pen & paper unless they know sign language. Now mind you, I don’t expect them to know ‘good ASL’ or even sign language just like I don’t expect hearing people to know sign language. I am just saying here that I usually just avoid them because of the communication issue, not because I hate them or because I think I am superior to them. That being said, I do make an effort with those who at least try to learn how to sign. If they do not want to learn sign language or be invloved with the ’signing’ deaf community, I cannot really be friends with them just like I am not friends with hearing people who don’t sign. Just like I do not hate my hearing co-workers, but I am not joining them for happy hour.
I have friends who are oral, CI, hoh, dod, and etc..
It’s simple for me, if you are a decent human being…I am OK with you.
It is not uncommon to see reverse-discriminaton applied to in-coming students, especially hard of hearing, who have never experienced Deaf culture on campus. To many, it is a culture shock. Despite their efforts some of them were accused for being “not Deaf enough”. This has been seen numerous times and talked about. Sometimes bad enough that a few of them left Gallaudet because they were harrassed for not being “Deaf enough”.
http://kokonutpundits.blogspot.....audet.html
As much as 18% of those voted left Gallaudet because of that (a caveat on poll results now!).
It does exist. However rampant they are nowadays versus 15 years ago is a good question but it does exist. Period. And this pretty much jives with the general campus feeling about ASL and how JKF is not “ASL-enough”.
The effort of trying to make the deaf students at Gallaudet to accept their new president is like trying to elect a Black Jewish woman president in the United States.
What are you trying to say? Do you mind clarifying this comment? It seems a bit harsh and why did you choose “Black Jewish woman”?
I think KB is saying that the chances of current Gallaudetians accepting JKF as president are “a snowball’s chance in hell” … similar to a woman who is also Black and Jewish getting elected President of the United States. The situation isn’t analogous, by the way… and no wonder the media thinks we are nuts for not accepting a deaf woman as GU president.
How’s this for a better analogy? JKF getting selected as President is akin to Arnold Schwarzenegger getting elected governor or Ronald Reagon getting elected US President. If the protestors are to be believed, JKF hasn’t a shred of real leadership ability — yet the American people elected movie stars. Stranger things have happened.
I agree. Stranger things has happened. Thanks for the analogy. You must admit it was a bit odd. Almost “felt” like it was saying that Black nor Jewish people should be President. That’s one of the reasons why I had to ask.
Handful of black people have the legitimate reasons for disliking Tony Williams, the outgoing DC mayor. He is generally responsible for the gentrification of DC pushing out the middle-class black population to the Prince George. Williams hardly calls for the affordable housings for balancing the diverse population within the economic boom. Williams kinda look down on the impoverished black population
JK hardly engage in the “shared goverance” within the Gallaudet campus for effective leadership. She hardly embrace warmth among her own constiutency.
[…] Basically, whatever the outcome of this is, it will have an effect on the intercultural relationships between people in the deaf community, and are best expressed in Allison Kaftan’s post The Worst Thing To Come Out Of This Mess. Fernandes may have brought it up, but the fact remains that that unspoken charge and hostility has and always has been an undercurrent within the community. She just put a name to it. […]
Alli-
I totally agree with your comment on this one .. espically “Deaf not Enough”! I recalled that they do not think twice since some of them are raised into variety method of deaf culture. For example some deaf student went to hearing school and their language are variety since some of them are total communication, cued speech, see , pse, ASL language, oral, or some limit sign language as well once they went through their childhood they also went to deaf community and learn some deaf culture too.. in other side, deaf people went to deaf school they already knew about deaf culture and they use ASL. At the same time, they have to think what is the reality.. the major question many people dont know what is deaf culture is define to you (among those poeple who are deaf or not)?!
However, Jane Franades already has their inner thought about deaf culture it is matter that she is DEAF ENOUGH to me! I admire her effort of working for Gallaudet Univeristy.
Be grateful for this moment- don’t make it worst! Leave it and take it and accept it!
I felt that “deaf not enough” is very board and may hurt other people feeling.
As well the last comment- Alli’s has good point to this and make me understand really clear about what is happens.
Deaf enough does not apply to to hard of hearing and oralism. It also applies to the Deaf. I was born Deaf and attended Deaf/Mainstream schools. I had speech therapy and I happen to speak well also sign ASL like a native signer. I have been excused of not been Deaf enough. I am serious! I have a Deaf wife, Deaf daughter and 3 hearing siblings.
In addition, I had a bilateral cochlear implants, and former SBG president, state association president, candidate for NAD president. I am an adjunct professor of ASL/Lingustics.
When I am around Deaf people and a hearing person has a question, they look for me to interpret why me? They like my native ASL signing. Go figure!
Why blame the media? The media just spins on a bunch of stories for ratings. Why spend time on nuances that most hearing people won’t understand anyway?
Are Jordan and Fernandes spinning BS about NDE? Yep, but they win when the opposition doesn’t have a coherent message. A hearing friend asked me ‘are they really against her because she didn’t sign until she was 23?’ Sigh.