When are we allowed to let Hearing people join our culture and all.

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I know what you mean!

You know I at first didnt read this whole thing but think the first post is not right in a way. I agree if other hearing people dont respect your world and culture then yes they need to get out of it. I Respect all deaf people just as i would hearing people. I have been with my girl for 8 months and learning sign for the same. I am learning fast and can sign and understand most of ASL and English sign. So all i am trying to say is there are people who should be in the culture and there are some that should not be.
 
Deaf people with a culture could hugely benefit by 'allowing' hearing and the other deaf and hard-of-hearing in. It would bring huge benbefits of awareness and would bridge the Deaf/Hearing divide, and break down barriers. We live in the 21stc no man/group/sector can be an island. Deaf with a culture need to have more confidence in themselves, to survive and adapt, most seem scared stiff culture or ASL will 'die' if exposed to anyone else, so are adopting an US versus them approach, as some 'wall' to protect it. So far it has just isolated them.
 
:gpost:
Passivist said:
Deaf people with a culture could hugely benefit by 'allowing' hearing and the other deaf and hard-of-hearing in. It would bring huge benbefits of awareness and would bridge the Deaf/Hearing divide, and break down barriers. We live in the 21stc no man/group/sector can be an island. Deaf with a culture need to have more confidence in themselves, to survive and adapt, most seem scared stiff culture or ASL will 'die' if exposed to anyone else, so are adopting an US versus them approach, as some 'wall' to protect it. So far it has just isolated them.
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Outstanding post. I couldn't have said that any better if I tried. Awareness and education are very powerful things.
 
I agree GREAT POST!!!

Slihghtly off topic here Sorry, but let me bring up an example here, I used to work for a police dept with over 1500 officers. For those of you that are into police work and the histroy of it may be aware of this. The SLPD used to be one of the best, most inovative depts in the country. For example, you know how everyone uses fingerprints to identify someone, the SLPD discovered that and was the first dept in the world to use it. The are several examples of this. The officers were also amazing. They stuck together and had a unified front.
Fast forward several decades to today, and the department is on a downward spiral. Innovation is gone, no longer proactive, stagnant in thier ways of thinking, officer moral is at an all time low. They cannot keep good officers, they/we have all left for greener pastures. The street coppers are divided and in-fighting, there is no unified front, or strength in numbers. Why? Because the powers that be figured out how to divide and conquer. Once they figured it out, they had all of the street cops so divided and fighting among them selves over trivial matters, the commanders could do what ever they want, and there was no one to stop them. Not even an organized voice to say anything with meaning.
The reason I say this is (to me) obvious. With all of the division within the deaf culture, you know, ASL hardliners,oral only, ci,ha, lipreading and so on. It seems that a common ground is hard to find. If the deaf/hoh community cannot get on the same page as a whole, then how is everyone going to be able to organize and make changes in the deaf culture or any other for that matter?
We all took American history right? "united we stand, divide we fall". That saying still holds true today.
 
Lillys dad said:
With all of the division within the deaf culture, you know, ASL hardliners,oral only, ci,ha, lipreading and so on. It seems that a common ground is hard to find. If the deaf/hoh community cannot get on the same page as a whole, then how is everyone going to be able to organize and make changes in the deaf culture or any other for that matter?
We all took American history right? "united we stand, divide we fall". That saying still holds true today.
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You sir have hit the nail on the head. But what does it take to get that united front back? I would say leadership. My guess is that the downfall of the department can be attributed to leadership or the lack thereof. In the context of the deaf community, leadership and a united voice could produce positive change. IMO.
 
So would strong leadership be required to get a united voice, or is a united voice required to force strong leadership? It seems to be a catch 22. Its the same as the chicken and the egg, which came first?
If the deaf community could meet at a common ground and combine forces they would have a huge voice. The biggest problem seems to be that people are stuck in thier ways and opinions and will not be willing to compromise for the greater good. Until that happens, Im afraid not much will change. As I said earlier, United we stand, divided we beg. The community is thrown an occasional peice of bread to settle everyone down. If there was a unified voice, the community would have a place at the dinner table instead of being thrown leftovers.
 
I agree that the deaf community needs to chill out and learn how to mesh with each other. I get along with both extreme sides well in St. Louis and I think both sides are slowly but surely getting closer towards a common ground :fingersx:
 
Lillys dad said:
So would strong leadership be required to get a united voice, or is a united voice required to force strong leadership? It seems to be a catch 22. Its the same as the chicken and the egg, which came first?
If the deaf community could meet at a common ground and combine forces they would have a huge voice. The biggest problem seems to be that people are stuck in thier ways and opinions and will not be willing to compromise for the greater good. Until that happens, Im afraid not much will change. As I said earlier, United we stand, divided we beg. The community is thrown an occasional peice of bread to settle everyone down. If there was a unified voice, the community would have a place at the dinner table instead of being thrown leftovers.
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Interesting... you know that the deaf community having divisions is not unique. The hearing community suffers the same problems yet we still have leadership. (don't get me started on that one) I don't think that it takes consensus to promote strong leadership. Just a majority and the desire. There will always be folks with closed minds that you won't reach but that doesn't mean you cant have a voice that speaks for the majority. Just my opinion.
 
Passivist said:
Deaf people with a culture could hugely benefit by 'allowing' hearing and the other deaf and hard-of-hearing in. It would bring huge benbefits of awareness and would bridge the Deaf/Hearing divide, and break down barriers. We live in the 21stc no man/group/sector can be an island. Deaf with a culture need to have more confidence in themselves, to survive and adapt, most seem scared stiff culture or ASL will 'die' if exposed to anyone else, so are adopting an US versus them approach, as some 'wall' to protect it. So far it has just isolated them.
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To those who can watch the "Sound & Fury" documentary:
Have a look at the moment after the surgeon came in and told the parents and family that everything went well.
Listen to what the deaf grandma say's. A moment when all defenses are gone, the moment when she speaks from her heart, not from a programmed ideology.
In that moment she speaks her true feeling about her grandson having CI....

Her fear is that her grandson will hear her talk and will think she's stupid.

That's her fear, that's why she's agains CI.....
She might not be the only one.

Just a thought. Just some brainstorming here. I'm not an expert, know little about the Deaf community. (and covering my ass writing all this crap..)
Think about it. In Deaf culture, they are the experts. They rule above hearing people. Even if the hearing people speak sign, Deaf people still rule because they are deaf.
Therefore.... integration will not happen.
 
I'm all for welcoming the hearing people to want to learn about the Deaf Culture and all that. I think it is a great thing that they want to get involved to learn much more about the Deaf Culture. The community is already way too divided because of the opinions, points of view, so and on. Only if we had tried to understand how to bridge the gap, communication barriers, then the world would have been much easier for all of the cultures but unfortunately there will always be communication barriers. Awareness and Education is imperative because without it, We are left in the dark age (so to speak).

I am aware that there are always cliches that would not welcome hearing people in the deaf culture because of their experiences or whatever it is. It is just like as if a hearing person would not want a deaf person to be in their world too. Don't get me wrong, I am all for blending both sides to get together but at the same time we have our own standards. I've always thought of the quote that goes "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" but yeah "beg" would think of it otherwise.
 
gnulinuxman said:
We know more hearing parents who are very LOUDLY against Deaf Culture than who support it. Deaflinuxgeek's parents are that way, for example, and she got punished violently for signing.
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Some hearing people may be, but that doesn't include ALL hearing people. I'm hearing, and I honestly can tell you I would do anything I could to make a deaf person feel comfortable around me. This includes learning ASL if need be.

Please don't lump all hearing people together. Give us a chance before you decide we're not worth your time.
 
You said that perfectly, I feel the exact same way.

Oceanbreeze said:
Some hearing people may be, but that doesn't include ALL hearing people. I'm hearing, and I honestly can tell you I would do anything I could to make a deaf person feel comfortable around me. This includes learning ASL if need be.

Please don't lump all hearing people together. Give us a chance before you decide we're not worth your time.
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Jolie_77 said:
I'm all for welcoming the hearing people to want to learn about the Deaf Culture and all that. I think it is a great thing that they want to get involved to learn much more about the Deaf Culture. The community is already way too divided because of the opinions, points of view, so and on. Only if we had tried to understand how to bridge the gap, communication barriers, then the world would have been much easier for all of the cultures but unfortunately there will always be communication barriers. Awareness and Education is imperative because without it, We are left in the dark age (so to speak).

I am aware that there are always cliches that would not welcome hearing people in the deaf culture because of their experiences or whatever it is. It is just like as if a hearing person would not want a deaf person to be in their world too. Don't get me wrong, I am all for blending both sides to get together but at the same time we have our own standards. I've always thought of the quote that goes "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" but yeah "beg" would think of it otherwise.
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I think it is awsome that deaf people of this site are into leting hearing people learn and join there culture. I am hearing and very polite and respectful of the culture. I have learned so much about it and plan to learn much more. I have a wonderful teacher who is hard of hearing and trying her best to help my with everything. I have found the deaf culture so far to be very interesting and fulfulling. The Deaf and HH of my community have welcomed me with open arms. Thank you all for exepting people like me.
 
SB_GB_4ever said:
I think it is awsome that deaf people of this site are into leting hearing people learn and join there culture.with open arms.
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I think so too and feel encouraged by the warm welcome here. My ISL teacher spent alot of time teaching about Deaf culture as well as sign language and explained to us the (understandably) mixed feelings in the Deaf community regarding hearing people being a part of it. Being a shy person I felt timid but found the same friendliness at Deaf events as here in this forum. It seems that as in any sphere of life there are those who wish to be open hearted and those who don't, and one can only show by example in order to keep making the changes... :)
 
SB_GB_4ever said:
I think it is awsome that deaf people of this site are into leting hearing people learn and join there culture. I am hearing and very polite and respectful of the culture. I have learned so much about it and plan to learn much more. I have a wonderful teacher who is hard of hearing and trying her best to help my with everything. I have found the deaf culture so far to be very interesting and fulfulling. The Deaf and HH of my community have welcomed me with open arms. Thank you all for exepting people like me.
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I think it is GREAT that you are wanting to get yourself educated and to be aware of the Deaf Culture. Keep in mind, You are going to meet some bad apples along on the journey to be in the Deaf Culture but do not let that stop you. We have our opinions just as much as other groups has their own opinion. Sometime it's good to agree to disagree in a way.
 
a hearing parent of a deaf child

Oceanbreeze said:
Some hearing people may be, but that doesn't include ALL hearing people. I'm hearing, and I honestly can tell you I would do anything I could to make a deaf person feel comfortable around me. This includes learning ASL if need be.

Please don't lump all hearing people together. Give us a chance before you decide we're not worth your time.
Click to expand...
I am a hearing parent parent of a deaf child and would very much like to be included in whats going on in the deaf community.My daughter is 5 years old and does have a cochlear implant.I know some people in the deaf community are opposed to children receiveing a CI but being a parent that"s what i thought would be best for her.Even though she has spoken language i don't and never would ignore the fact that she is deaf,and right now shes still too young to understand anything about the deaf community,i'd like to be a part of it because it is a part of her. :)
 
Another hearing parent

kayla123 said:
I am a hearing parent parent of a deaf child and would very much like to be included in whats going on in the deaf community.My daughter is 5 years old and does have a cochlear implant.I know some people in the deaf community are opposed to children receiveing a CI but being a parent that"s what i thought would be best for her.Even though she has spoken language i don't and never would ignore the fact that she is deaf,and right now shes still too young to understand anything about the deaf community,i'd like to be a part of it because it is a part of her. :)
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Hai Kayla,
Same here. My daughter is 3-1/2. Bi-lateral since nov. 2004
You can meet her here.

C U later
 
I am (also) a hearing person who has recently been thrown into the deaf world/culture due to it being a MAJOR part of my new job - i train Hearing Ear Dogs.
I am trying my best to learn more about Deaf cultre (including learing to Sign) so that i do not offend or patronise anyone, but it is difficult (just as it is to intergrate/understand ANY culture different from your own..
so please be gentle on the ones of us (like me) who are honestly trying !
 
MEZZA said:
I am (also) a hearing person who has recently been thrown into the deaf world/culture due to it being a MAJOR part of my new job - i train Hearing Ear Dogs.
I am trying my best to learn more about Deaf cultre (including learing to Sign) so that i do not offend or patronise anyone, but it is difficult (just as it is to intergrate/understand ANY culture different from your own..
so please be gentle on the ones of us (like me) who are honestly trying !
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Well said Mezza. I am in the same boat as you regarding learning the culture. This is a good site for that. While I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions, my experience here has been good so far and I have learned quite a bit. I have never felt "un-welcomed" here. Just keep an open mind. All the best!
 
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