I’m actually well aware that there is no way that we as a society can get past all these labels. I have another question:
Since we’ve gotten to the point where we’ve become more sensitive to cultural and racial differences (which is a good thing) and what we’re doing is trying to pass that sensitivity/awareness on to others that we view as ignorant/racist and while that too is a good thing, are we doing this the right way? Right now, as a student at Gallaudet, I’ve been seeing efforts to promote diversity, but all I’m really SEEing are efforts to put labels on everyone and split us up into neat little groups and label THOSE groups. Is it really diversity when we’re all too well aware of our own differences? When I was growing up, I never really thought of the difference between my black friends and me. We just loved each other, I would ask them questions about their culture and they’d ask me about mine (Native American), and we’d appreciate each other’s cultural differences.

I’m probably just a little too “flower-child” in my thinking, but I think there’s a fine line between labeling and appreciating others’ culture, and the world’s traipsing around on the labeling side of the line.

Why are you quoting from a dictionary, of all things? It’s not the only authentic source out there, ya know.

“Deaf = of or relating to the Deaf or their culture.”

“Deaf = the community of deaf people who use ASL as a primary means of communication.”

“deaf = partially or completely lacking in the sense of hearing.”

Source: “The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,” Third Edition, 1992.

However, red flags go up every time a cultural Deaf blogger or commenter insist on “criteria” to become accepted or demand an “attitude of respect”. The late deafened and oral deaf are likely to go “pffft!” and note the irony, because they’re rejected by the hearing world as well. And don’t go citing the 1880 Milan Conference thing– that really is as yesterday as ear trumpets, another blame game.

Like Chris has said, we shouldn’t generalize the “hearing world” as this cloud of overwhelming numbers. OTOH, we D/deaf shouldn’t go nitpicking on what basis makes a person a deaf person with so many criteria or claim the “right/proper attitude” that it creates a confusing dust-up. The division exists because certain leaders of the Deaf culture do not want inclusion of the d*eaf, who appear to them ironically as threats to the culture– because of so many *sigh* criteria, such as CI’s, oral, late deafened, other communication modes, “not deaf enough”, the list seems to get longer and longer.

If you are as accepting as you say to include all d*eaf, you should say so in your blogs/ comments. All it takes is one voice to start others thinking.

Frankly, I think some people here and in the community are hyper-sensitive and quick to interpret anything and everything as a swipe at their lack of being culturally deaf. If the sky became green, instead of worrying about what this could mean for humanity, they’d say, “oh, now someone else is rejecting me because I wear hearing aids and have a hearing family.”

Not everything is about you, people. Most of us really are very accepting. I didn’t learn ASL until high school, but I’ve been accepted. Those of you with issues need to examine your attitude and approach, in my opinion.

(donning a flame-repellent shield)