No I am not illiterate but can recognize nonsense when I read it! Does the fact that one is "deaf" give one the "last word" on reclassifying deafness to be a "cultural" issue. If so, I am DEAF thus my opinion counts also!
The real problem which triggered deafness as a "cultural artifact" happened over a hundred years ago re residential schools using " Spoken" words rather than ASL in teaching "deaf " students.
As for Jenny B's life style/life is "up to her"-irrelevant to the discussion. Anyone is free to remain in a wheelchair if they don't want to walk for the rest of their life-if they wish. Be my guest.
Also, I am not"putting down the deaf" as I am DEAF. It also seems to me- every person here that has a Cochlear Implant doesn't buy the "deaf cultural theory".-either! I would assume in their consideration prior to getting an Implant every person debated remaining "deaf". To the best of my knowledge for ADULTS --Cochlear Implants are voluntary.They are not exactly "cheap".
I don't hate myself for starting the process of getting the Cochlear Implant back in 2007 after I became deaf on December 20. 2006. Why should I? I just crossed 3 years of my Implant being activated.
I recall hearing/reading about "cultural deafness' way back in the 90s . It didn't make much sense to me than. Some of this was picked up at Hearing Help classes - Canadian Hearing Society/Toronto. Does one really believe there is such an entity as the "hearing community"? In sociology there is much discussions on "In vs Out"groups. Does "cultural blindness" vs "sighted communities" make much sense in Reality?
The supreme irony in all of this: "cultural deafness" is being depleted as more and more persons get Cochlear Implants. Surprised?
Advanced Bionics Harmony activated Aug/07.
