I'll take your view on that.... but it did address real worries parents have.. they might lose contact with their children once 'assimilation' occurs into the deaf community.. parents are hearing mainly, it is a short change from being negative towards hearing, to being negative towards ones parents who are hearing too. "My parents don't sign", "They want me to learn oral skills", "My peers will reject me if I do, or have done this","Hearing don't understand deaf culture/people". THAT can be seen negative (Albeit true in part), as well. It comes across as 'anti-hearing'.
The continuation of deaf culture/language seems to be promoted as ONLY being viable if deaf keep as much distance between themselves and hearing as possible in some quarters. It is aided and abeted to a degree by sign-language, which because few hearing use it or will learn it, provides a very effective barrier too, many who use sign will obviously not be 'talking' direct to mainstream but using an intermediary (An interpreter), hearing see this as a barrier too, and negativeIn the UK 9 out of 10 systems that 'enable' deaf people are listed under serious social disablement, and even our police list deaf people as 'mentally handicapped'.
Yes they may respect deaf rights to use an interpreter but HOW, do they percieve this ? as a deaf person being dependant ? or Independant ? Enabled ? or supported ? Many deaf feel it is liberating and enabling, it is deaf gaining access and rights, but I've seen many hearing in mainstream saying and thinking quite the opposite. A dependant minority is a general view. A sector that needs 'help', I don't think deaf activism has really addressed the overall issue, of how others, see them, or really care so long as they can continue they way they are, integration is a non-start isn't it ? Deaf need to see themselves as others see them and start righting the wrong ideas, not being negative back we have MORE to lose than mainstream does.
I'd like to see the full box used, and a LOT more deaf-hearing interaction than I see at present, why do I feel I am wasting my time ? Deaf activism, (Not grass roots), is determined to oppose wherever they can to 'protect' culture. Does this suggest they haven't the confidence in it they say ? I suppose even using the term 'peers' is immediately drawing some line... yes we're deaf, no, it isn't impossible/undesireable for us and hearing to live and work or understand each other. Our deafness remains, but the barriers aren't needed to maintain THAT. It's a form of 'Deaf protectionism', which isn't I feel neccessary. We will get nowhere attacking mainstream or hearing people. A lot too, do not want to spend their lives stuck in some dead end either. The world is ours too.