Blind or deaf?

Me, prefer deaf myself
so that way i can ignore disturbing sounds
(e.g. construction, baby crying, fart, etc)
in the same meantime I can enjoy
feel the vibrations (e.g. low bass sounds, firecrackers,
low-flying planes, cat purring, etc)

Most of us deafies already knew about Helen Keller
who actually prefer to be blind than deaf, but
she might NOT be able to understand and/or experience
the value of independence and freedom to drive on her own.
She grew up always having someone else with her everywhere.

ravensteven1961 said:
Everything we can do today live nice, Drive,Watch TV because of hearing people. Can you picture if henry ford was deaf or the wright brothers was deaf? Or even christopher columbus was deaf. How could he prove to the queen the world is round if hes deaf n mute? How could henry ford explan about the automobile if hes deaf n mute? How could the wright brothers explan about the airplane if both are deaf n mute?
The world today benifits because of hearing people. Im not trying to force you to hear. But theres a reason why god put hearing in people.
Click to expand...

Geez, I actually never thought about if Henry Ford was deaf..
Lets suppose if Henry Ford had a deaf sister or brother
or a deaf relative then he could have be more sensitive by
listening carefully to deaf people and
he could have designed these cars meeting
deaf needs such as flashing lites turning on
every time when you use the horn. My deaf brother
has already invented many things related to cars and
housing improvements etc, but almost NO hearing people
from GM or Ford even bothered listening to him
only because they felt it was too difficult to
listen or understand him. That's their loss. Simple.

If Wright brothers had any deaf relatives,
then they would be more sensitive listen carefully and
they could have designed these planes meeting
deaf needs such as improving these
text/typing "non-verbal" communications
between the plane and these air controlling/landing sites, etc.

You are right that the world benefit because
of hearing people. Thanks to Henry Ford for
inventing cars and thanks to Wright brothers
for inventing these planes. I actually love to
drive my own car and/or plane !

Thank you for bringing this up about the
"world today benefits because of hearing people".
I have to ask everyone about what kind of benefit
because of deaf people ?? Geez, I cannot think right now
about how to answer this good question.
It looks like there are none...
Even though we had/have a few deaf CEOs,
BUT these deaf CEOS still do NOT really benefit anything
nothing like Henry Ford, Wright brothers etc...

You are right that there is a reason why
God put hearing in people, BUT there is
also another reason why God put
deaf in people, too.

What is a reason why God put deaf in people ?

My opinion: God created this world and
he did this on a purpose to put deaf in people
in order to teach love & patience to hearing people
for communications. Thats one of the
reasons why did this internet technology exist here
such as Alldeaf, etc for communications.
 
Last edited:
For Ravensteve to THINK about.

John Williams' Column: Deaf Americans Have Contributed to the Country’s History

John M. Williams

Date: 04/03/2002

Sponsored by

On a recent trip from Cincinnati to Baltimore, I sat behind two individuals. One was hearing impaired, and the other was totally deaf. They signed to one another during the entire trip. I watched with envy the fluidity of their fingers as they communicated to one another.

Unfortunately, some of the passengers around the two people were upset with their signing and laughing. I heard comments from one passenger who said, “Look at that. They can’t be American.”

Another passenger said while mocking them with her version of sign language, “All that finger moving and mouthing is kooky and unnerving.”

And still a third called for the stewardess. When the stewardess arrived the passenger said, “Those people with their hand movements are doing something unnatural. Can you stop it?”

While the complaining passengers were in their sixties or older, their lives can’t have been that sheltered that they have not seen deaf people signing.

Fortunately, the stewardess signed and told the complaining and baffled travelers, “They are only signing. I can’t stop them from signing.”

Then the stewardess approached the signers and signed, “Hello. How are you? Some of our travelers have never seen signing before and it rattled them. Everything is okay. Can I get either or both of you something?”

The two people said no. Then the stewardess signed good-bye and promised to return.

After the stewardess left, one of the passengers said, “What can they contribute to the country?”

I have a surprise for the woman who made that statement. Throughout our country’s history, deaf people have made significant contributions to America. And it’s time Americans recognized it.

Laurent Clerc (1785-1869) was one of this country’s first teachers for the deaf. Deaf from an accident at one year of age, Clerc, a Frenchman, learned sign language and became a teacher of deaf students at the Royal Institute for the Deaf in Paris. American deaf education pioneer Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet studied under Clerc and hired him to help found the first school for the deaf in the United States on April 15, 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut.

During the first half of the 19th century, Clerc was the most influential teacher of deaf students in the country, his teaching career spanning 41 years. He taught sign language to new teachers and trained them to teach deaf students. As schools for deaf students opened in America, administrators and teachers came to Clerc to be taught.

Erastus “Deaf” Smith (1787-1837) was one of the bravest heroes of the Texas Revolution in 1836. Called El Sordo (the deaf one) by the Mexican army, Smith found the only three survivors of the Alamo – a woman, her 15-month old baby and an African slave. Later when Sam Houston came upon General Santa Ana’s army at Vince’s Bayou, Smith proposed a daring strategy to his general. Since heavy rains had flooded the surrounding embankments and Santa Ana’s armies had use the only bridge to cross the San Jacinto River, Smith would destroy the bridge and the enemy would be trapped without a way to retreat. Smith succeeded and the rest is history.

Texas honors Smith today with Deaf Smith County and the popular Deaf Smith Country Cookbook. Deaf Smith and Johnny Ear, a 1974 movie starring Anthony Quinn as Smith, was shown worldwide, and Cleborne Huston wrote Deaf Smith, Incredible Texas Spy.

Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) founded the Girl Scouts of America. Low became totally deaf in her late twenties. While traveling in Scotland in 1911, Low met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the 1908 founder of the Boy Scouts. The scouting movement had become successful; through scout activities young men were learning self-reliance and resourcefulness. In response to girls’ interest in scouting, Low formed Girl Scout troops in Scotland, England, and later the United States. She organized the first Girl Scout troop in America in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia, in 1912, when she was 51 years old.

While other women across the country had started troops of their own at the same time, Low is recognized as the founder of the national organization because she solidified and fostered the movement by providing funds and leadership. When she died, she was buried in her Girl Scout uniform. Low’s impact is felt today through Girl Scouting worldwide.

Other famous deaf people in American history include William E. Hoy, first deaf major leaguer; Luther H. Taylor, deaf pitcher; Robert Weitbrecht, inventor of the TTY (text telephone); Frances Wood, the Wonder Dancer; Malcolm Wood, captioned media specialist; Eugene Hairston, professional boxer; Linda Bove, Sesame Street “resident”; Kitty O’Neil, Hollywood stunt woman; and Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin.

It’s the ability of people that counts. Deaf Americans, men and women, have shown they can be teachers, soldiers, inventors, actors, athletes, artists, and leaders.

Every February, this country, as it should, pays a lot of attention to the contributions of African Americans through Black History month. October is National Disability Awareness month. The media and people with disabilities everywhere need to rally around the contributions of Americans with disabilities and give them a higher profile in October. And then maybe, the situation I witnessed on the airplane will not happen again.

It’s time for Americans to include people with disabilities in society.
 
ravensteve1961 said:
Angel what im getting at is,,If people were not made to hear you could not speak. If TV was invented you would just see pictures but no story. You would not be watching the news because you cant tell the story. Nor you cant explan the weather. You could not drive because someone has to explan instrutions how to build cars. You would be living in caves and in holes because someome has to explan instrutions how to build homes to live. Everything we can do today live nice, Drive,Watch TV because of hearing people.Can you picture if henry ford was deaf or the wright brothers was deaf? Or even christopher columbus was deaf. How could he prove to the queen the world is round if hes deaf n mute? How could henry ford explan about the automobile if hes deaf n mute? How could the wright brothers explan about the airplane if both are deaf n mute?
The world today benifits because of hearing people. Im not trying to force you to hear. But theres a reason why god put hearing in people. Theres a reason why bees are deaf and bats are blind. I just feel if man can figure out improve things in life i see no reason you can hear normal again. If anyone watched the TV drama series The Six Million dollar man and the bionic woman man can create that if he wanted too.Just like i feel it just an excuse why men cant make a car that can last 20-25 years.If they can build a space shuttle can fly 200,000 miles by orbiting the earth land back down to earth and fly it back up again in 6 months they can improve anything and improve life much better on earth. So i want yall just think about ok??
Click to expand...

TV? We wouldnt even have TV if it weren't for Edison!!!

He invented the phonograph, the light bulb, motion picture camera, dicating machine and improved on the railways! and...get this...he because deaf BEFORE inventing all this.
 
I prefer being deaf than being blind just like what most people say in here.


Being blind would just block me from seeing the beauty of America. :mrgreen:


I asked my oldest son the same thing, He says he prefer being deaf also. :ily:
 
I believe that ravensteve1961 was talking
about deaf inventors only.. Is Edison Deaf himself ?

I do NOT want to "brag about myself"...
I had been so blessed cuz
one of my former bosses happen to be deaf/hoh
inventing the Internet (TCP/IP) along with a few others.
His name is Vint Cerf. He is the only one
deaf/hoh inventor I can think of.

People said that I happen to be the
First Deaf Woman Internet Professional hired to work
on the Internet even long before this Internet
became famous and widespread worldwide.

Let's try to focus on Deaf inventors here...
Who else is a deaf inventor creating a new product ?
I'm NOT talking about a "founder of an organization",
just invent a new product ?
 
Last edited:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

you're right, dear Cheri...I went... :topic: !!!

I'd rather be Deaf, I was born Deaf, and I'm proud to be Deaf.

Period.
 
ravensteve1961 said:
Angel what im getting at is,,If people were not made to hear you could not speak.
Click to expand...
If everyone on earth was deaf since forever, then probably we all would be communicating thru sign languages and some form of written language.


If TV was invented you would just see pictures but no story. You would not be watching the news because you cant tell the story. Nor you cant explan the weather.
Click to expand...
Signing, captioning, and weather charts would work just fine.


You could not drive because someone has to explan instrutions how to build cars. You would be living in caves and in holes because someome has to explan instrutions how to build homes to live.
Click to expand...
Again, sign language and written instructions do fine. I have a Deaf carpenter friend who can build just about anything. Many Deaf people have worked in manufacturing industries, especially during World War II in defense plants. No problem.


Everything we can do today live nice, Drive,Watch TV because of hearing people.
Click to expand...
Thomas Edison became deaf, and continued inventing many things. Howard Hughes continued piloting, inventing, producing movies, etc., after losing his hearing (his later mental problems were something else). Inventors would always invent. They just would have invented different objects and technologies. Sure, many of our products we have now were invented by hearing people. But they weren't invented because the person was hearing; they were invented because the person was creative and willing to take risks.


Can you picture if henry ford was deaf ...
Click to expand...
Ford refined the assembly line method of production. That doesn't require hearing. In fact, in noisey factories hearing people often have to wear devices to protect their hearing from too much noise.


...or the wright brothers was deaf?
Click to expand...
They were basically mechanics. Mechanics can do fine without hearing. The Wright brothers needed technical skills, attention to detail, imagination, and courage.


Or even christopher columbus was deaf. How could he prove to the queen the world is round if hes deaf n mute?
Click to expand...
If everyone was deaf, then the queen and Chris could sign to each other. Also, much of Chris' proof was visual, such as charts and a primitive "globe". Also, the navigation equipment of that time was all visual; charts, sextant, compass, celestial (stars, sun, moon). Shipping depended on trade winds, currents, and tides, not hearing.


How could henry ford explan about the automobile if hes deaf n mute? How could the wright brothers explan about the airplane if both are deaf n mute?
Click to expand...
Simple. Charts, diagrams, models, demonstration.


But theres a reason why god put hearing in people. Theres a reason why bees are deaf and bats are blind.
Click to expand...
God also gave man abilities to think, to reason, and to adapt their environment. Bees and bats don't have those same abilities.
 
I have both my hearing and sight, so I can't imagine being either deaf or blind. But if I had to make a choice, I would choose to be deaf. I value my independance greatly and being blind would limit independant movement. I could no longer drive myself, I would be frightened to move around the city alone. There just is no substitite for sight.
 
I had an elderly deaf male friend who designed cars body for GM many years ago. He was very successful and was making a lot of money doing this. He had since passed away about 8 years ago.
 
Peachy Lady said:
I had an elderly deaf male friend who designed cars body for GM many years ago. He was very successful and was making a lot of money doing this. He had since passed away about 8 years ago.
Click to expand...

oh yeah oops i cannot remember his name !
 
I admit to thinking about this the other day. I'm hearling and I have my sight, but if I had to choose which one I could live without, I'd say hearing. This is just my opinion from a very subjective point of view, but I think I could adapt to a hearing loss much better than I could a sight loss. Tthe reasons I feel this way, is similiar to those already stated. On a personal note, though, I have a "thing" about my eyes. I'm very fearful of something happening to my eyes. Don't ask me why! lol
 
If I really had to choose, I would choose to be deaf, not blind. I love music, voices, birds singing, and talk radio, but I really depend on my vision for daily activities such as reading, driving, interpreting, photography, computer, etc. I keep my house sunny and bright because I enjoy brightness, not darkness. I enjoy looking at views far away, such as the ocean.

That is my preference.
 
I would be deaf, not blind.

If I become blind now I would think life was not worth living, I love seeing all the beautiful things nature provides us, watching films and seeing the smiles on my friends and familys faces.

I just want to say my opinion on one of ravensteve1961's comments...he mentianed what if christopher columbus was deaf? Well I wanted to say, what if he was blind? How would he have been able to prove the world was round if he couldn't see where he was going? The same applies to Henry Ford and the Wright brothers, how could they make something without seeing?
 
Raging Quiet said:
I just want to say my opinion on one of ravensteve1961's comments...he mentianed what if christopher columbus was deaf? Well I wanted to say, what if he was blind? How would he have been able to prove the world was round if he couldn't see where he was going? The same applies to Henry Ford and the Wright brothers, how could they make something without seeing?
Click to expand...

LOL :laugh2: Good points haha !
 
I would choose deaf. I can't imagine my life being blind... visual is the most beautiful thing in the world.

I am Mobility International USA Alumni. I went on a trip with 11 delegates and there was one blind guy in the group. I asked him... If he had to chose to remain blind or be deaf? Which would he pick? He said he would rather to remain blind. I was surprised and asked him why? He said sound is the most amazing thing and he can't live without it. The sound of music... the waves hitting the shore... birds singing .. and so on. I guess it was just because he was born blind so he is used to not being able to see what is out there.
There was some hearing people that would prefer to go blind than going deaf. Just because they are used to hear something.
Just like a deaf person - they would choose deaf because they are used to it. If a deaf person went blind - they wouldn't want to live because they have depended with their visual abilities.
I sometimes wonder does a blind person know what color is.. does they know what blue looks like.. I just can't imagine my life being blind. The world is full of colors and beauty to see.
 
Wow.
I am amazed at the passionate responses in here, and strangely enough I agree with them all.
In the same vein, you could ask anyone in the world, "What would you rather be, American or yourself?" Whatever nationality that person would be, he/she would invariably pick "yourself." People take pride in who they are and instinctively feel that it is the best at the moment.
What a sticky subject, though!
And by the way, Helen Keller said that if given the choice, she would be just blind.
In the coldly-analytical scientific community the general consensus is that Deafness is just about the worst thing that could happen to a human being, because something like 90 percent of our knowledge comes from the sense of hearing.
I dunno, though. I would rather be Deaf than blind, though, and I gladly live the "burden."
 
Last edited:
Back
Top