From: Roberto.Ramos@f71.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Roberto Ramos)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Attagirl!!!!          2/
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:35:04 GMT
Reply-To: Roberto.Ramos@f71.n382.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:382/71 - BitStream, Round Rock Tx
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference

Index Number: 23923

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

>>> Continued from previous message
Americans brought Indian chiefs to Washington and other metropolitan
centers back in the 1800's. The idea was to show Indians how much
better off "Pale Faces" were than the Red Man. That the Red Man
had no hope of holding on to his ways. Plus intimidate them into
signing treaties to legalize genocide and land-grabbing. In short the
idea is exactly what you're saying here. Come over to our way of life
because yours is unfit, inferior, of no value, and totally worthless.
     I mean no disrespect, and I sincerely mean that; I must say your
statement above is really scary. I read an excerpt from a book by a
white supremist once that had almost these same lines. The only
difference is that it was directed at Caucasians who did not
embrace the supremist way of thought. I don't want to believe that
a parallel philosophy is being pushed here. It's downright scary.
With views like this, little wonder that Jim and other Deaf people are
so full of ire. You won't believe the wars he and I had over the role of
ASL, Deaf Culture, and deafness in general. He insisted on bringing me
to meetings and places to see how Deaf people are REALLY perceived by
others especially educators. Public and private views by such groups are
unbelievable. He all but demanded that I log on here to get the non-Deaf
views before I judged him. He felt that as a Hispanic, I'd get the gist
of it rather quickly. I'm loathe to say that I'm quickly beginning to
understand why. It saddens me.

HB>Yes, isolated we feel from both.  BUT we are still going to stay and
be HB>part of the one we lost, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO STAY PART OF
HB>IT.

There's nothing wrong with this for yourself. Some just don't care that
much for it. I like being Hispanic. I wouldn't want to be anything else.
Some people prefer being Deaf too.

HB>How about the mystery side of it? Maybe he should sit back and try to
HB>ask himself WHY he want's to learn sign language... A lot is
HB>confirmed in his last sentences... "I have surpised myself on a
HB>couple of occasions because I was REALLY able to communicate in sign!
HB>I want to sign, not to set myself apart, but to allow myself to
HB>experience more." The mystery comes out that he is SURPRISED that he
HB>can REALLY communicate in sign.... And he even add's MORE.... that he
HB>want's to sign to "allow myself to EXPERIENCE more" !!!  Therefore,
HB>it is quiteeasy to see that he is attracted by it due to the mystery
HB>of *speaking english without even saying one word*.  WHY would he
HB>want to EXPERIENCE

I'm beginning to be anxious to master ASL as a step toward understanding
why there is such underlying hatred and resistance to it by certain
groups of people. Still, my basic interest is due to my fascination with
the language and its people. Same thing with my fascination for the
Chinese. I didn't do well with the language, but I liked the food.
___
 X SLMR 2.0 X The miracle is that young fools survive to be old fools!

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