From: Hugues.Blanchet@f136.n167.z1.fidonet.org (Hugues Blanchet)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Me And We And Deafness
Date: 13 Apr 92 20:55:52 GMT
Reply-To: Hugues.Blanchet@f136.n167.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:167/136 - Ab.'s Place, Montreal PQ

Index Number: 21046

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

James....

KK>This makes it refer to the Deaf identity as a
KK>group.  I have mixed  feelings about the Deaf identity to regard
KK>oneself as a deaf person first, then an unique individual second.
KK>Despite my subscribing to a variety of deaf magazines and
KK>newspapers, I still regard myself as 'me', not as part of
KK>some group.

  I'm getting to know Karen a lot!!  The more I read her the more I
  see somebodyt I'm getting to like a lot.  Her thoughts are just like
  mine!!!

KK>This makes it refer to the Deaf identity as a
KK>group.  I have mixed  feelings about the Deaf identity to regard
KK>oneself as a deaf person first, then an unique individual
KK>second.

  She's still right here.  We each have our own identity and some of us
  might think that we are part of a deaf group.  I think that I'm part
  of a group allright but the name of this group is called "Human
  Beings". I don't believe in grouping people (like deafs or blinds)
  and creating their own culture.  It's putting oneself apart of the
  society.  I KNOW I'm deaf and God knows I've accepted it quite a while
  ago.

JW>     I hope your feelings are less mixed now. Mine
JW>were once mixed too. I used to hate sign language in any form. I used to
JW>detest deaf people, though I was deaf myself. Then I discovered both myself
JW>and my Deaf self, and I love them both. It does not mean I reject others,
JW>either "deaf" or hearing. It means I'm not ashamed of who and what I am. It
JW>means I under the "me" better. It means I accept my deafness and love  "my
JW>people." That I will not waste my time and life trying to be something I am
JW>not. I simply am. And I belong.

  My feelings were also mixed in the begining.  When I started joining
  up with a group of hearing impaired people, I saw something I didn't
  like.   The day I went to a conference given by this association and
  that the person giving the conference asked the following question to
  everyone; "Should we try to integrate to the hearing society or should
  we have our own", I left and never went back again.  I was VERY MAD
  indeed!!! If they didn't know the answer to such a stupid question and
  even ASKED SUCH A STUPID QUESTION, then I didn't belong to the group
  because for me, everything was as clear as crystal!!!  I AM PART OF
  ONE SOCIETY, and that society is made of HUMAN BEINGS!  That's it!
  There is absolutely NOTHING else to it.

  After all James, if this was correct and that such societies should
  exist, then their should also be a society for those who don't have a
  heart in their chests, those who have mashed patatoes for brains,
  those who beat their dogs, those who...etc..etc...etc...

  I've noticed that since I joined this conference, a lot of people here
  are STAND UP people (I'm getting to like SilentTalk much more!!!)
  I think that those who were born deaf feel part of a culture.  Not so
  for those who have lost their hearing during their lifetime.  (Well
  not me anyways!) Those who lost their hearing during their lifetime
  don't feel PART of a deaf culture and don't feel APART from the deaf
  people neither. This isn't the same for normal hearing people. They
  feel different from both groups (people that are born deaf and people
  that lost their hearing). Since we (Karen and me) have heard before,
  we KNOW what both groups are like and that's the reason we do not feel
  apart from neither one. I think that we are better placed to see that
  the said *cultures* are only in peoples minds. They are not *cultures*
  but groups of people that identify to each others.  I identify to
  both, hearing impaired AND normal hearing people.

Regards,

Hugues

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