6/05/2008
Are You With Us?
Native Americans came together and fought against Europeans who regarded them as savages. Native Americans fought for their humanity. Black people went through similar tribulations for similar reasons. Deaf people, with no question, feel the same way. This is the core of our current concerns with saving Deaf babies. Now, CI users, do you agree with us? Do you value your identity and regard yourself human with your "deafness?" Do you agree with protecting Deaf babies with ASL? If so, join us. We welcome you.
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- Sojourner
- "There are few things in the world as dangerous as sleepwalkers." - Ralph Ellison, Photography, pinetrees, dogs (Bear, Scout, Max, Taffy, Tic Tac), sunsets, a walk in the snow during full moon, smell of roads when it rains...
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You have GOT to be kidding me.
ReplyDeleteASL is a beautiful language and yes, there are studies that show that early language acquisition does all sorts of wonderful things for the cognitive development of children.
BUT, BUT, BUT . . . to even insinuate that CI users are somehow being negligent or uncaring about the future of deaf children simply because they choose to take advantage of available technology is insulting and stupid.
Turn your statement around. Why don't YOU join the ranks of CI users? Why don't you increase the chances of a deaf child succeeding in the "real world" by implanting them?
DEAF BABIES DON'T NEED SAVING! They need to know that they're loved and have a secure identity! If they grow up in the deaf community and are happy, great. If they grow up with a CI and are happy, great.
No one, NO ONE, has the right to say (or even suggest) that someone is less than human simply because of the way they choose to approach their deafness.
That is quite a false premise. Native Americans did not get together to fight the Europeans and gained their humanity. Some Indian tribes actually befriended with the English/European colonial companies, engaged in trading and agricultural practices with them and allowed members of their tribes to be schooled by the colonists. However, there were few Indian tribes who were hostile or suspicious toward the colonists and even feuded with some Indian tribes, especially the disputes over the treaties made between the colonial leaders and the Indian elders. The "war" between the colonists and the Indians over the two centuries prior to the American Revolution were largely fought over complicated issues such as marking specific territorial boundary, stealing livestock, fishing rights, property rights, trading disputes, criminal homicide/robbery and social/religious miscommunication and ignorance from both sides. Later historians blown the whole colonists-vs-Indians "war" out of proportions, conveying a false impression that it was a war between the savage and the civilized, which is not the actual cause.
ReplyDeleteThere were well-known oral accounts of Indian tribes warring with some tribes long before the European colonies have arrived. Generally, they were not always peaceful and friendly to each other. The formation of the League of the Iroquois was a central theme to prevent further feuds between tribes, all this over the trading of the furs with the French in Canada before 1600s.
Please do not resort to this short and false revisionist nonsense between the Native American tribes and English/European colonies.
No - if a baby is born deaf and can get help from a Cochlear Implant, then I would give that baby a chance to hear.
ReplyDeleteThat baby will still be deaf, but will be given far greater choices in life, with a cochlear implant.
I was profoundly deaf for many many years. I was continually passed over for promotion. No matter how hard I worked to prove I could do the job like anyone else, I didn't get anywhere.
Enter CI. Within a year of having it, I was made Manager, and within 3 years my salary had over doubled.
Without it - that wouldn't have happened, I'd still be pushing paper trying to prove myself capable of the job today.
So - the CI works. It's worth its weight in gold, and I would rather implant a baby to give that child choices.
I am a firm believer in sign language for children with implants as well.
If the child decides not to wear it later, thats fine - then it's that child's choice.But at least then the child has a choice. Once older, it's too late for an implant then the chilld has no choice.
I'm Pro-Choice
Cheers
Robyn
Surduspub,
ReplyDeleteI personally don't see any need to hear. But I would like to see the implanted babies learn ASL as well as speaking so that way there is no loss for them. It is just sad seeing Deaf children lonely with implantation and no ASL. With ASL, they can fall back on something safe.
Rob,
I am talking about many. Those who were forced to go to boarding schools, those who were forced to lose their names and get a White man's name. And those groups who were taken over like Washoe, Paiutes (sp?)....
Robyn,
I guess it is good as long as the Deaf child is learning ASL. :)
I am Deaf and don't have CI but I am doing pretty good in the world too.
Thanks,
Ali
Yes, some Native American tribes were forcibly relocated elsewhere by misguided government policies motivated by greedy economic interests and expansions, especially in the South (plantations on the formerly Indian lands). Some Native Americans were sadly forced into boarding schools under the wrong assumption of educating the "savages" for the civilized mores, the blame is placed upon the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and some ill-informed benefactors who obviously had good intentions to help teach the Indian children. Some would say it's all the "white man's faults" but the blame can also be placed upon some Indian leaders who failed to follow the letters of the law and treaties they were honor-bounded to follow. I recalled a discussion with an actual Native American who believed that some Indian tribes pitted rival tribes against each other to gain some opportunities and used the white man's powers to crush their own rivals, but that was only his theory. Not all Indian tribes actually got along with each other on account of the white man.
ReplyDeleteRob,
ReplyDeleteI see...
That is only a part of a bigger group. Do you think that is the majority of Native Americans? Or just a small part of them?
Now, this type of choice they made, taking up white men's power and culture, what happened to them? They are rarely seen to this day. Almost wiped away. That could happen to us if we are soft on AGB, implanting Deaf babies without teaching ASL, etc.
-Ali
Ali, the Native Americans are either all over the country in their own autonomous reservations or have merged within the white, black and other ethnic peoples through intermarriage or otherwise. I would say about half of the nation's current population are descended from Native American ancestors.
ReplyDeleteRob,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of LaRonda's recent blog? Did you read it? I think she says it all.
-Ali
Yes, I read it all. Pretty heartfelt. Informed people make own personal choices to live their lives as they see fit and be comfortable with it.
ReplyDeleteRob,
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is pretty unique for us with this kind of situation.
The strange part is that Deaf people need to stick to what they are fighting for or they'd be misunderstood as wanting to hear cuz of the CI users. We need to make it clear that we do not want to hear - but yes there are some who want to hear... sounds kinda strange.
-Ali