“Mama, do you want to know the title of the paper I’m writing for class?”
“Sure, Joey. Do tell.”
“It’s “Mentiroso Sordo.”
“It sounds interesting. What’s it about? Or should I ask who?”
“It’s about how certain people fibbed in a big way when they said deaf people can do anything. Yes, Mama. You know who they are – those people who said, “Deaf People Can Do Anything But Hear” They’re mentirosos. Liars. Evangelical ones at that too.”
“That’s quite the accusation, Joey – and I’m not sure I like it. What’s going on? What’s making you say this? I think I already want you to tone it down a bit?”
“Mama, remember, Jose? The skinny kid I used to play stickball with on the streets back home? Well, he emailed me. He said he was going to start his own mall in Tlaquepaque. And I’m sure you already know that our “City of Malls” doesn’t really need another mall especially when they’re quickly becoming a thing of the past. Anyway, Jose went on to ask what I thought of his stupid idea of marching into the Commercial Service at the US Consulate in Guadalajara and demanding assistance based on disability a la the American way.”
He lets out an exasperated sigh.
I wave my hands and with a look of concern, I motion for Joey to continue.
“Well, Mama. I squashed his dream to bits. Esta’ pensanda en las musaranas. His head was way up in the sky. I had to.”
“Running a business is never easy wherever you are.”
“I know, Mama. But we’re talking about Jose. And you know I love him like a brother. But there is just no way he could ever succeed. Maybe if he were more educated? Mexico isn’t America - and even in America, you really have to know how to read, write and multiply 4 by 4. One really has to know how to be a full participant in this hearing world to survive. And don’t give me bull about how hearing people need to at-ti-tu-di-nal-ly change.”
I express visual discontent.
“Sorry, Mama. Anyway, so that’s what I’m getting at. Jose falsely believes he can do anything he wants even though he cannot really read, write or effectively communicate. Too many of us deaf people have been misguided especially here in America.”
Misled. Duped. Fooled.
I mutter, “I think you may have done the right thing by bringing Jose out of those clouds.”
“And Mama - Las cosos no son como parecen. Things are not what they seem at Gallaudet.”
“Mama, a high-ranking senator has denounced Gallaudet’s actions and all FSSA can do is turn a blind eye. They’ve pulled the worst Helen Keller possible. Can they really be that oblivious to the implications?”I nervously chuckle and ask, “You mean, Senator McCain’s resignation?”
“Yes, and I’m certain it isn’t just the senator and those in his office who disagree. I’m convinced that there are government officials elsewhere who are beginning to realize that Gallaudet needs to be forced off its high horse.”
Entrada de caballo y salida de burro.
Enter on horseback, exit on burro.
Off with a bang, out like a light.
“And what happens if this Senator actually becomes President?”
Joey signs bubble. Big bubble.Head bobs in. And out.
Can see in. Can’t see out.
“The issue is not about the Gallaudet President or Provost. It is not about racism or audism. It is not about being deaf enough.”
The issue is that Gallaudet calls itself a world-class university when it should not.
To survive, Gallaudet has no choice but to admit the unqualified.
The stars shine elsewhere now.
“My proposed solution?”
He signs Gallaudet. A ‘G’ whizzes past his left eye.
Bubble. Same bubble. His large connected, cupped hands float.
Small door open. Scoop out culture.
“Set aside. Incubate or if preferred, season and marinate.”
I carefully acknowledge the culinary metaphor.
“Deaf culture and educacion. Two different things,” he gestures with the separation of his orbed hands.
“Gallaudet exists to provide higher educacion. Or at least, supposedly. Gallaudet is not Uxmal nor is it Jerusalem. Kendall Green is not hallowed ground.”
“Government does not measure culture or ASL. It measures only educacion.”
“Gallaudet has received poor marks. A big red F.”
Scarlet letter.
Another bubble. Big bubble.
“Secondary deaf educacion,” he says.
“Most schools for the deaf? Pedagogical failure. Despite decades of research, there continues to be no successful model for educating deaf children.”
Bubbles.
De la subida mas alta es la caida mas lastimosa.
The bigger you are, the harder you fall.
Pop. Pop. Adios.
Joey dramatically signs, “Perhaps we should think about closing Gallaudet. And closing the deaf schools.”
Timber.
“$107 million. Millions more in state and other funding.”
“Joey, if Gallaudet and these schools are shut down, what happens to Deaf culture or even sign language?”
“They survive. Set aside some of these millions to ensure their preservation and continuity. Decentralize and create nationwide cultural community centres with linkages to universities and secondary schools of varying caliber. Why can’t we have several deaf centres instead of one? Shouldn’t there be several places around this big country where one can play stickball and be amongst their own?”
Joey continues, “If Gallaudet were to close, many of today’s students would realize that they do not have the needed knowledge, experience or scholastic test scores to be admitted to other universities. Let students humbly accept their misfortunes - and in turn, work to raise the bar for future generations.”
He attempts to summarize, “In other words, let’s stop lying to students, alumni and more importantly, ourselves.”
“Gallaudet is not world-class. It never was. Its alumni should not be led to believe that they should mimic the arrogance or egos of Ivy League socialites.”
Pop.
“Pass some ‘Leave No Deaf Child Behind’ legislation. Require parents of deaf children to use adaptive child-rearing strategies that revolve around both sign language and speech therapy. The Darwinian philosophies of adaptation and survival also need to be factored in.”
Two floating orbs. Hearing and deaf. Combine. One.
Integration.
“Key” is signed to demonstrate emphasis.
“Joey, I’m sure you have more to say but isn’t this all a bit extreme? Shutting down Gallaudet would be abandonment. We can’t leave these kids behind.”
Joey concludes,
You know I’ve a heart of gold. And I would never purposely hurt another. And Mama, it was you who always said,
The truth hurts.
Pop.
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