The One and Only Ridor says:

Abbie: You said, I feel that the world, realistically, does not own the human race. It is because of the human race that we can recognize there is a world out there.

About not all Jews live in Israel. I never implied that ALL jews lives in Israel. But they do HAVE a home of THEIR own and that is Israel. ALL Jews will say that they were taught to view Jerusalem/Israel as their own in a relationship with G-d. They have their own language, customs, religion … blah blah blah. But they do not have to LIVE in Israel but they KNEW they had a home of their OWN. In fact, New York City has the world’s largest jewish population, I believe, but they still regard Jerusalem as their home!

Long time ago in the past, African Americans were taken out of Africa to enslave in many countries and when they were freed, they were discriminated, shunned et al — they gather with each other and develop their own communities all over the place — most notably ghettos/housing projects — again, NOT ALL AFRICAN AMERICANS CAME FROM THERE but they knew that that place is the source of their world away from the population! Even believe it or not, the modern Africans do not regard African Americans as their own people — they sometimes made fun of African Americans, I know because several friends of mine who are African Americans went to Africa and told me about it!

And if you want to shove and twist the words of mine in my face, fine with me. I think people out there knew what I meant about Jews and African-Americans!

You claimed that I feel that the reason we coined “Deaf World” is brought on by oppression? Check ‘Deaf Heritage’ and many deaf-related history. You will see that the Deaf Community has evolved and made their own community because they were rejected by hearing people. If you disagree, PROVE IT!

You said that today, we have awful lot of deaf poeple that reject anything that upsets their language. That is not true. That is YOUR plausible theory, that’s for sure. Many wanted ASL on the SAME level with English. English = written, ASL = signs. Many modes of communication … are not languages, they are just modes of communication.

For years, many hearing people attempted to mix the modes of communication into ASL and it really messed Deaf people’s ability to understand English better. Today, many Deaf people pushed the modes of communication aside and make sure that ASL is respected as English do. None of us reject anything that upsets our language as you claimed us to do so!

About you saying things regarding the different journeys of Deaf individuals (FYI, I regard latened deaf, deaf/Deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, hearing impaired, hearing loss et al as Deaf, period.), that is WHAT Paddy Ladd talked about Deafhood — they crafted their own experiences of what it means to be Deaf person by encountering many things that not hearing people do. That is Deafhood.

Cheers,

R-

JS says:

I think that deafutahhiker made a good point about “le monde francophone” (the French-speaking world). In truth, there are many such worlds based on language and/or other cultural bonds. The “Anglophone world” refers to English-speaking countries and peoples. Terms that I come across a lot, namely “the Hispanic world” or “el mundo hispano”, often encompass Spanish-speaking peoples but also English-speaking Latinos in the United States. So some of these terms are flexible and lack rigidly defined borders.

In fact, there are a lot of different worlds out there.

I don’t see “hearing world” and “Deaf world” as being exceptional or old-fashioned terms, nor do they necessarily imply strict borders. It would be possible for people to function in both the Deaf and hearing worlds.

Abbie says:

Ridor,

You brought up one of my favorite topics, theories of evolution! Which came first, the chicken or the egg? :) I don’t believe Adam and Eve story because the very notion that a woman was formed from a man’s rib is preposterous. The chemical composition that makes humans – human could have arrived from space or the earth was sprinkled with aliens that have evolved. We could visit the Darwin’s with his Theory of Evolution or the Big Bang Theory if you want to go in-depth. However, I do not see how we sprang from earth, the human race does not look like we were uprooted from the ground nor did we evolve from mermaids. I prefer to look at the all the creatures as habitants of earth and not something that is owned. I do not see how ownership was transferred from the womb to the world. *shrug* That is my opinion and you have yours.

I surely don’t recall shoving or twisting your words in your face. We are just having a nice little discussion about why people say hearing or deaf world. Nothing more and nothing less. I know what you meant about the Jews/African American examples but I was just pointing out the usage of stereotypes which can lead to drawing the wrong conclusions.

The reason why I feel that you felt that the “deaf world” was coined by oppression was by your statement in your first comment:

The reason why the ‘Deaf World’ was created in the MINDS of Deaf people was to RESPOND in dealing with the oppressions of these hearing people.

That is where the idea was planted! If I misconstrued this, please feel free to clarify. I am well aware of how the Deaf came together as a community because hearing people felt that they were a lost cause and suggest shipping them off to an institution so they don’t have to deal with them! Hearing people didn’t know enough about deaf people to realize that was the only thing wrong with us. If they couldn’t understand that, how could they have known what the right way was to ensure total communication access? Times have changed since then. There are more options. Deaf people have made incredible strides to ensure the future will be easier for the next deaf generation. No disagreement here.

My plausible theory that Deaf people do reject alternative ways of communication is in fact substantiated by facts and my own personal experiences. As long as the introduction of ASL and written English is the primary mode of communication when it is not, that is when I see uproars over alternate communication tools such as cue speech, SEE or a dare I say, a cochlear implant coupled with AVT. It is true and it is real but does not represent the majority but it does represent some. I can vouch that this happens because I have been on the receiving end of numerous insults just because I have a cochlear implant. Alas, I do not take this personally and allow it to cloud my opinion.

I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I read the Paddy Ladd book on Deafhood but from what I hear it is an incredibly dry read. I would like to see a consortium amongst the deaf because there is so many aspects that if we could band together, we can ensure equality.

Barbara says:

For me, I like saying culture or community but “world”, nah.

mike says:

Hey The One and Only Ridor & SeekGeo

R- wrote this:
In the past, Deaf people tried to join the Kiwanis club, Lions Club, Daughter of American Revolution … and they were routinely denied. What to do next? (Mike wrote: TRY?? NationalGRANGE.org) They formed their own organizations. Today, none of these organizations reject hearing people! In fact, Richmond Club of the Deaf, Inc. has hearing members!! What is your POINT in urging us to step up and be a better person than them? We are ALREADY better than them, that is for sure!

R-

Mike wrote this:

I was impressed that small town called Woodland,WA where I live.. Woodland Grange Hall put information about deaf like college, people, cultures, community on bulletin board

Hey SeekGeo When You drive to Woodland,Wa You can stop at Woodland Grange Hall to take picture on their Bulletin Board :-)

I am thinking to join this organization

You Try to join this organization because they will give you discount member benefits: Hearing Aids, Car Rental, Hotel, and more.

The National Grange is an organization with special interests in agriculture, community service, legislative affairs, women, deaf and hard of hearing …
http://www.nationalgrange.org/
copy/paste from google search engine

Good Luck,
Mike