Comments on: Jordan’s Op-Ed Ignites Wildfire

By: Curious Eyes

Curious Eyes — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:37:25 +0000

Jean, I think you are not aware that Deafhood, as I understand it, encompasses all people with hearing loss, whether they call themselves Deaf, deaf, hh, late-deafened, deaf-blind, ex-oralist, or any of the other myriad flavors thereof. Just because a person does not identify with the “classical ‘D’eaf culture ASL user” doesn’t him or her any less a member of the larger deaf community. One need not embrace ASL or be stone-deaf or born deaf to be a self-realized and self-actualized deaf person. There is nothing wrong with contributing to a late-deafened organization instead of NAD. Free country — hello? “ASL best for all babies, hearing or deaf?” Um. Perhaps you’d like to consider that statement.

By: regina

regina — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:19:07 +0000

Deaf Pundit is right. If Brian’s name confuses YOU, then maybe a little sticky on your computer will help. Seriously, get over it.
signed:
-regina (no last initial provided)

By: A Deaf Pundit

A Deaf Pundit — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:26:01 +0000

Brian Riley, I assure you, we know the difference between you and him.

By: Brian Riley

Brian Riley — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 08:24:40 +0000

For God’s sakes, Brian. Please use your last initial or add something to your user name so that people know that you and I are different people.

OK?

By: Jean Boutcher

Jean Boutcher — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 07:15:24 +0000

Curious Eyes:

I think that you are not aware of the fact that Jordan refuses to consider himself as deaf. He said to the media:
“I am NOT (emphasis mine) deaf. I am late-deafened hearing.” He is one of the largest contributors to the late-deafened association, not to the NAD. How convenient of him to label us “absolutists”. What he has failed to realise is that most oralists have become stauncer supporters of ASL more than those who are native ASLers. I, for one, am a former oralist. I support the studies and findings that ASL is the best for all babies, be they hearing or deaf (NIH, 1990, 1992, 2000).

By: Jean Boutcher

Jean Boutcher — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 07:01:21 +0000

De facto, Congress founded Gallaudet specifically for deaf students because the communication of deaf students differs from that of hearing professors and hearing students. Faculty members received sign language training from Clerc and Clerc’s former deaf students to teach to deaf students. Oralists and CIers and cuers must learn ASL so Gallaudet would not have to hire oral interpreters and Cued interpreters for them in the classroom. All students in the classroom and teachers use ASL. Period. When in Rome, do what Romans do. The same can be said about
Gallaudet.

Jean Boutcher

By: Curious Eyes

Curious Eyes — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:04:37 +0000

Chris, of course I will. But this relentless bashing of IKJ and JKF has to stop. In case anyone has forgotten, they are one of us — Deaf people. The positive message of Deafhood applies to them as much as it does to everyone else. Agree or disagree with the BoT’s decisions, with IKJ’s or JKF’s administrative skills and decisions, they deserve our respectful attention. The respect goes both ways — although I disagree with the protest’s methods and tactics, and the truthfulness of the claims, I also agree that there were some problems that were not being addressed. I hereby vow to cease and desist casting aspersions on their intelligence and motives. If anyone catches me doing it from this point forward, please administer 20 lashes with a wet noodle.

By: RLM

RLM — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:32:44 +0000

Michael,

Every place have their own social cliques easily fall to the peer pressure and language preference.

Gallaudet University is not only the place having similar social interaction problem(s)!

You would NOT doing the deaf community at large any favor by classifying deaf people into Deaf, deaf, oralist, hard of hearing, late deaf, etc.

Of course, young people from the university to high school social scene tend to cluster themselves where they feel socially and lingually comfortable.

The high school and university graduates usually become real adults and slowly break down hir own social ties to the alma maters over years. They end up socializing with the rest of given community. That is very normal for the American society!

We could not do anything to control the friendship development among the young people. Every of us have our own karma and fate to decide the destinty of life.

Robert L. Mason (RLM)

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:26:04 +0000

I was at Gallaudet for 5 years. My last semester, I could sit in the middle of the cafeteria with the very Deaf. When I graduated, I was suprised some alumni of the KG and PKZ talked to me. Back at Gallaudet, those same members won’t talk to me. My point is that those very Deaf are destroying themselves by being silent around those who are deaf, who want to learn more sign language, etc. Many Deaf forgot something, those deaf with money and the financial means to support deaf programs!!!!

By: punkybrewster

punkybrewster — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:42:13 +0000

Heh, who’s being unrealistic here?