We have two different deaf cultures and both side do not like each other but we must be nicer and I did disagree with president about something.

Quote from the letter that I have to agree with “Your Advertisement perpetuates a common myth that all people who are deaf can only communicate using sign language”. There been so many people who think that deaf people only know sign language. I am a proud oral deaf and it is madden that people still think that I should sign only when I speak very well.

As one of the member of AGBell, I did like the joke but it only shows one side of deaf culture.

I think none of you guy read Alexander Graham Bell’s history. He is a son of a deaf woman and he married a deaf woman. His goal was to open a doorway where both deaf and hearing could talk together. If he were not alive back then, you would never get Video Relay because it was base on his idea of talking together. (You use a phone line to talk to another deaf person)

Helen Keller once said that Bell dedicated his life to the penetration of that “inhuman silence which separates and estranges.”

If we live in the timeframe of Alexander Graham Bell, you would be found in Mental Hospital. Doctor would have done some the worse things in life inside that place.

If I understand now, both side want to improve the lives of many deaf children but it is our job to fix thing that need to be fix like CC in every movie that come out. TV show should have CC but it cost over $400 dollar to just burn it on tape or get live CC. What happens if you are a deaf actor who is fighting with sword and it is time for you to talk but you have to keep fighting?

The real world is more powerful than all of us but we must show them that as a deaf person we can do everything. We have not done it.

What should have been an event of victory for the ENTIRE hearing loss community has once again been demoted to yet another thing to fight and squabble about.

Respect isn’t automatic, it is earned by your actions and your attitude, AG Bell could stand to take a lesson in this area.

To quote a famous Beatles song “Let it Be!”.

I have a suggestion– why don’t AG Bell go back to the good old days of eugenics and breed themselves out.

How about all the years Marlee Matlin has used her speech for all the
hearies to think that we Deaf are excellent lip-readers and speakers?

AGBell are condescending, nazi-behavioral, oppressive, genocidic,
sadists, living-in-the-clouds mentality. AGBell’s own wife was Deaf
and he believed Deaf should not marry other Deaf. He tried passing
laws
so that Deaf could not have children together.

Just because of ONE tiny commercial, they have to complain? I am PROUD

to see signing on the commercial! PLUS AGBell must not understand its

cultural. This Deaf SuperBowl Commercial is based on a CULTURAL Deaf
joke!!

That is the main point. Its a joke that WE will recognize, and a joke
that will make the hearies think and even laugh with us!

I’d be happy to write Pepsi and shower them with praises. And YES I
can
do it without criticizing AGBell to them.

I will post the thank you links/e-mails to as many Deaf newsletters as
possible so Pepsi gets a lot of thanks and credit! Pepsi took a huge
step for us.

AGBell disgusts me. Himself AND his whole group of blinded and
closed-minded followers. Life is too short for this, guys!

Communication comes first! Doesn’t matter HOW, what’s important is
that
you CAN. Sign, speak, whatever. But they should not try to force just

one way on us.

Deaf, not deaf.

AGBell has way too much money and that’s what makes them THINK they are

powerful, but guess what - they are only powerful in their little
figment of their “miracle of sound” imaginations.

They told Pepsi that money could have been used to buy hearing aids for

families! AGBell use your OWN money and “help” these families and
mind
your own business.

The time you are wasting to complain about a 60 second commercial which

most hearies will forget about anyway, could be used to really help
others who struggle.

AGBell - make your OWN oppressive hearing-imparied commercials! You
definitely have the money.

Just leave us Deaf alone - PLEASE!!

I’m glad NAD sent that response to AG Bell!

So this letter IS criticizing ASL users and trying to create a perception that ASL users are inferior.

But let’s show some class and leave them alone as far as contacting them directly goes. We can basically politely agree to disagree (with the AGB) from a distance. That will likely score more points with the less informed or aware members of the general public when they see us as a class act instead of petty and petulant.