My reliable source tells me that it was DBC that came up with the new ‘AFA mask’ idea. I guess they really miss the ‘hey’ days when they were not transparent to anybody that was outside of their so-called Deafhood hoodlums.

Good blog, MZ.

Heh! AG Bell “dog and pony show!!” Heh!

I agree with you in the another addition paragraph. The reason why I can see anyone within this organization needs to *fix* for the better positions, be advocatees, good role models and be self-aware and teach others that don’t need to use and learn the negative profanity.

I don’t see DBC change a bit for over two years. This is very small community and everyone knows this and this and this….it still persists.

Sad.

Does anyone agree with it?

When you made that statement ‘By the way, diversity is not the issue here’, I feel you are invalidating my concerns.

Now that is rich. First Tami told Ben his statements about DBC are unfounded and not true. Then you are telling me diversity is not the issue, dismissing my observations and experiences, along with two bloggers, and few commenters here and elsewhere.

With that attitude of yours, why would I discuss this with you?

Tami isn’t a stranger to me, either. Not only do I know her, we have worked together during Unity for Gallaudet and I was the one who invited her to join DBC. Her comment was something I never expected to see from her. I am glad it was straightened out and that Tami learned what Ben went through by the hands of several DBC leaders in retaliation.

By the way, I didn’t make that comment about three bloggers. It was a commenter and I have no idea what you are talking about since I didn’t block any comment in this post.

It’s unfortunate that a leader of the organization chose to ignore the issues here, going for a personal attack. This approach is unconstructive.

I am hopeful that some of this organization’s leaders and members will learn to tolerate better the diversity of beliefs and opinions within the Deaf Community without attacking, invalidating, criticizing, or using negative labels against them.

People will always have different opinions, ideas and philosophies. Diversity is the backbone of America. Freedom of speech, when used responsibly, is the trademark of America, too.

Have a great weekend. It’s beautiful outside so I hope people will enjoy the signs of spring.

I censor my blog, I remove comments that abuse too, I don’t care how people see that, I don’t do it, and I don’t want it.. I also NEVER respond to a blog that continually attacks and tries to undermine, let ‘em stew The best response, is… NONE to them.

I am not sure which blogger you are referring to but it does appear that it sounds close to what you are describing a blogger who chose to blog about a topic instead of coming here and that is me.

It is just funny that this blogger you are describing who had bashed down on a person’s errors instead of coming here is not the intention of my part, that is, if you are referring to me. I felt that my comments were too long and that the comments of this hearing leader of Deaf organization was to be re-printed.

FYI, there is no written rule to go to anyone’s blog to leave a comment instead of blogging. Also that it is never safe to be online anyway even at your own blog!

I just find it ironic that one of the commenters on my blog complained that her comments were deleted by one of the three bloggers who you said that they are welcome to critics and ideas. Just go and see for yourself at http://deafprogressivism.blogspot.com/2009/03/getting-facts-straight.html

I don’t have a problem welcoming any critics to share their opinions nor coming here to discuss. You know, your issues and ideas are always welcome. Never did I say I encourage personal bashing as you could see what I wrote. I don’t believe in name calling or labeling. All I pointed out is the matter of interpretation that I felt it became way out of proportion when grilling this hearing person who engaged in a two way street discussion with this Deaf person. I know her personally and I am always awed by her actions. There is no way that I felt a lack of Deaf empowerment with her. All of what MZ said is a contrary to my views, that is that. This is what I just want to set it straight.

Speaking of attacks, I do perceive this blog as an attack to this hearing person who has not shown any evidence of oppressing a Deaf member. This is like cry wolf, ok.

By the way, none of the bloggers you mentioned above came to mine either so why pick on this blogger or me, in that matter, who chose to blog instead of going to theirs? It doesn’t mean that he or she is not ready for reality.

What you don’t know is that I have engaged in a two way street with two of the bloggers using webcams last night. Also, I have always take the time to respond to each of the commenters on my blog as much as I can.

By the way, diversity is not the issue here.

Cheers to Ben, Mishkasena and Amy for accepting anyone of us who brings up any critics and share our opinions and ideas! One blogger may be not ready face any of our critics and wanna be safe in own self blog to bash down on a person’s errors instead of going your blog, and any other blogs. That blogger is not ready to face the realty on both sides. It’s a one way street!

In your, Ben and Amy’s blog, even critics come and share our opinions. Which is fine with me, as long as there is no big attacks. You all 3 did proof by welcoming open discussion.

I see in your, Ben and Amy’s blog, people discuss the issues, supporting and disagreeing… not so much on personal bashing. That’s how some of us like it!

I do not see why it is so hard for some people to accept that diversity is ok, different ideas and thoughts are ok.

I’ll use myself as an example. I had gone back to school to fulfill a long held dream of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately my own life had to prioritize around my schooling. I was a dutiful daughter who no longer could fulfill that dutiful daughter role and faced with siblings and parents that couldn’t understand my so called selfish actions. Was I selfish? No. My family which is my son and I come first along with my schooling. I could no longer devote such attention to the dutiful daughter role. The result is my siblings and parents try to put their disappointments, insecurity, dependency and etc. on me. Is it my problem? No. I have my own set of problems to deal with which is changing my own behavioral patterns that didn’t work for me and the dealing with the realization of why I do things a certain way. I had to find new ways of doing things. Am I happy? Yes but I realized I can’t please everyone nor can I be every where.

Now let’s use this same example of what is happening in the Deaf community. Do we all agree that change is taking place? I s everyone facing shifting sands?? What is the result? Individual people change within themselves as they are forced to change with, faced with thinking that used to work but doesn’t or forced to realize they did things a certain way because it was expected of them. Ideas like assimilate, colonization, oppression, and etc. are coming to the surface as people are waking to their realization that what worked is not authentic.

It takes a wise man or woman to realize that every one of us in a different place in their walk. Each of us is facing issues on a personal level as the larger picture of impact hits each of us. Sometimes feelings get expressed that have a connection to the past. Let us look at some of those:

Opression of the deaf/Deaf by whom? Hearing. Is it surprising that when change happens that one hearing individual who is doing good might be faced with a barrage of anger? By the same token, individuals that were once oppressed have anger that they honestly don’t know where it comes from. Decisions were made for them that affected their entire lives and their identity. Who do these individuals, hearing and deaf/Deaf blame? There is a process to identity and one of the steps is negativism.

Assimulation to a culture by whom? I see it in both worlds Deaf and Hearing. Deaf with their ASL and Hearing with their Orals. Is it working? In my eyes, Nah. Why not join forces and use both? Why not be open and honest and let all see the benefits of both worlds? May times parents make choices thinking theirs is the best yet they see little of the ‘real’ world. Why are Deaf sheltered in their own schools? Why are deaf isolated in their schools? Where is the bridge? Who is right? Who is not?

The list goes on and on from both sides. We all need to realize that change doesn’t happen overnight! It affects each and every one of us differently depending on where we are in our walk as an individual and where we are in our lives. Look at black/Black or if said politically correct African Americans and their history. Oppression to protest to education to change.

I see the same thing happening within the deaf/Deaf community through the blogs/vlogs, presentations, and inventions like VP, little Deaf/deaf organizations fighting long time big Hearing organizations. The list is endless. There is protest that is trying to lead to education and change. Let us extend an olive branches or thinking good thought even when negativism is directed at one individual, at a group or at one’s self. Sometimes we have to make friends with our enemies to create a larger picture change. This battle is not about us individuals but about change for the future and recognition that we are individuals going through change that is for a bigger picture as our sands shift.

Change is scary. Why? Because as change happens, it takes many out of their comfort zone. What used to be is no longer is. We are being impacted individually and as a community. Realize that your individual impacts are about yourself and express those thoughts as positively as you can. You’ll be surprised at how many others are feeling the same and experiencing what you are feeling. As the saying goes, WE are a community of MANY but yet at the same time share one thing, a hearing loss or being deaf/Deaf. We are where the Blacks used to be in the 1960’s with their protests. We’re going forward to the Civil Rights Act for the Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, LDA and etc!