Thu 1 Mar 2007
Wrapping up the fascinating and intense debate about the term “DeafMute”…I pray that at best people’s thinking has been stimulated and that no serious mess-ups or fights occured due to this discussion. In addition to what I said on the video, I want to mention that I have this STRONG conviction that the “public”, i.e. hearing media, hearing bosses, hearing doctors, etc, has NO BUSINESS AT ALL to use that term to describe any of us. ONLY us Deaf folks can use that term to discourse among ourselves. Also, for discussing general issues involving Deaf people, I would just use the blanket term of “Deaf” like many of you thought was the best.
(Aidan, I apologize for using the same boring transition style over and over. I guess I am stuck in that mode until I feel more confident with filming, editing and vlogging. Bear with me.)
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:31 am
Good to know that you’re clearing up the air for everyone. I understood you the first time and continue to support your idealogy. Well done, Ella.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:39 am
You’re lovely!
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:19 am
Hi Ella,
Woooowwwww You are so wonderful talking about ” Deaf-Mute ” . That’s really interesting story. SMILE …
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:31 am
ella, you have a great point! i enjoy watching ur vlogs
i love “in and out” movie also 
hi judy for us. hugs, kira&dana
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:39 am
Ella… at the begininng of your vlog, I could just sense you trying NOT to cry.
That made me choke.
I am really sorry, sweetie!
Thank you for making another vlog in an attempt to clarify this up.
Sometimes people need more clarification or discussion, so I don’t think you should “just stop and move on”. This is clearly something you felt so passionate about.
You are very good at observing and knowing when it’s time to make another vlog.
I apologize for the confusion and hurting some feelings!
You handled it in such a powerful, professional, thoughtful, and heartful signing.
That’s surreal. That’s a beautiful gift, Ella.
I had to laugh at your comment at Aidan.
Anyway, I think this is such a powerful topic that has impacted us.
And thank you for giving us suggestions on other topics to think about!
Much love,
Iam
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:50 am
Happy to see you vlogging! Yes, right on moving on! Since myself DoH and my child is DoD, we do respect each other a lot by learning through our different life!
It is so SAD for us to know that the salaries were too small to earn from the Deaf America Schools. From what we did focus the problems between DoH and DoD to understand that we do care about their education need to provide more higher level programs. My DoD had been approched the problems from the hearing teachers and staff had been using cruel attitudes and behavior toward to the DoD and DoH students.
My DoD learned alot from me as DoH role as I told him that they, teachers and staff do really need to improve their own attitudes and behavior toward both DoH and DOD kids. We have to remember that they also have hearing families and hearing community in their hometown. They, DoD and DoH do not need more than DOUBLE OPPRESS at our home, community, organizations, church and schools.
That’s what we need to focus to move on by improving our behavior, attitudes and open mind before they need to develop good leadership role.
We must keep our Deaf History from what we learn by through step and step by moving on with what we had learn from the mess!
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:50 am
Ella,
Not a problem with taking your time to learn about transition style. Smile
To be honest with you, I am very very happy that you brought Deaf-Mute up and to have an ability to share it with us and to allow us to express our perspectives. We raised many good debate and situations.
I know some people feel annoyed and disappointed that we, some people, have different perspectives on it. They feel uncomfortable to see vloggers, bloggers, and commenters to discuss and to share our perspectives. I strongly feel that they are very very healthy. They felt that our vlogs and blogs were chaos. I must disagree with them. I think it is so wonderful that we challenge each other and present our thoughts and opinions in healthy way.
I remember the story in the movie that you just told us. Very cute and inspiring movie.
You are right that we need to support each other and work together as a team.
I have no intention to look down a group of Deaf mute/Deaf and don’t speak. I don’t use my voice. I sign all the times. I am one of them. I communicate with hearing people through my gesture or writing. I have no regret not using my voice. I enjoy my sign so much.
Just its word, Deaf Mute, I have many bad experience with its word.
For example,
A nurse threw the paper and pen at me and shouted at me that I was a Deaf Mute. She freaked out because I simply asked her to write it down what she said to me. She demanded me to read her lips and I simply insisted her to write. I helplessly lay on the bed with all IV in my arms and was on the morphine (a strong pain killer). I had a kidney stone.
The Deaf Mute had its own reputation. We need time for researching and better understanding the history of its Deaf Mute.
Please let us to get comfortable in our pace with its Deaf Mute like you get comfortable in your pace with transition styles for your vlogs. ;o)
Keep good work. We enjoy your thoughts and ideas that also require the challenge us to think and to respond. Right, Everyone?
Have a good weekend,
Aidan
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:31 am
You are so clear! Thank you!
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:47 am
Deaf: Partially or completely lacking in the sense of hearing.
Mute: Unable or unwilling to speak.
for example: Hello world, I am Deaf-Mute, i am with my interpreter then they discuss or talk until hearing person hear me that i was using my voice, so a person think i am liar because i told them that i am mute!!! Sound like it is danger. (might be fraud to gov’t and insurance life)
You wanted us to become Deaf-Mute and in the future, want us to become Deaf-Mute-Blind!
I still have 4 sense, see is good, feel is good, taste is good, voice is good, hear is finish!! If I am Deaf-Mute, it mean that you have 3 sense actually you have 4 sense!
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:28 am
Whoa You are the WOMAN!!! Excellent Vlog!
CMS from Boston
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:33 am
Got your point about gravity. The nature of not hearing and not speaking or choice there of contributes to the volution of sign language and evolution of Deaf world.
Looking forward to your discussion about hearing loss and deafness.
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:03 am
Yes you finally “cleared up the air”, I wish it had been explained at the beginning when the deaf mute concept was first introduced but maybe the words were not in there ye for you to articulate.
There is a rock band that calls themselves Deafmute. I could not resist in looking up the Internet for deafmute and I stumbled across this information.So I plan to do some research on deafmute. Thanks for opening our eyes on this.
I also plan to watch the movie “In and Out” as well.
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:05 am
I realized I didn’t make myself clear, I actually meant when you first started your vlog about deafmute, the information you shared with us is much more clearer and concise this time than before, I guess it takes time to process through it before it becomes more clearer and more sense. I hope you get my drift. Smiles!
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:54 am
Very cool! The best way to disarm opponents is to change the negative labels into a positive. I am hearing, but understand and agree. Many “advocates” of ASL don’t support it well in their actions and even in schools for the Deaf, Deaf are often “second class citizens” as people focus on the “real” language – English. Outrageous! Your thoughts are very clearly presented. Thanks!
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:27 am
Ella,
That’s a really important point about not depending on hearing and not depending on speech. It’s impossible to establish a culture by talking about “lacks” or what is missing.
Truly, the foundation of Deaf culture cannot be a person’s *inability* to hear or *inability* to speak. Rather, it has to do with choices and positives (choosing ASL, etc), not with inabilities and negatives.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:32 am
The gravity of Deaf Community is stronger than ever in history! Like Jared Evans explained about the cultural shift.
Thank to Deaf who put Vlogs like you!
Thank you! Thank you! ELLA!
Brance
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:36 am
OHHHHHHH! Nice job! However, I still resent the term, Hearing Impaired. I think this is worse than hearing loss and deafness.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:41 am
There is value in bringing up discussion of “deaf mute” as “ownership of all one is,” including being deaf…however, it still retains its sad heritage of ignorance, medical model narrowmindedness, and a tinge of “deaf and dumb”.
I’ll never use these terms, and never will allow others to use them around me. Why? Same reasons as black leaders try to discourage the word “nigger”, even among themselves in jest.
The legacy is too bitter, too demeaning.
We deaf people have long used “deafie” among ourselves, a far better word, and only used among ourselves. We prefer “deaf” to all other terms used by hearing people, and we extend that to “deafie” colloquially. This is a word we truly own.
As ever yours, a deafie.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:43 am
Ahhhhh…. take a nice long breath of that FRESH, CLEAN AIR that Ella brings to each and every one of her vlogs! Without Deaf people and signed languages on the planet, my air would be polluted with so much blah blah blah voices rising to compete with one another… overlapping one another… my ears hurt! Thank you, Ella, from one of your most loyal semi-mute viewers!
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:03 am
Wow, beautiful! I love it when you share your wonderful insights with us. I always learn something new from you and it makes me really think about it. I have to admit that my mind is really stretching after the discussion on “Deaf Mute” and now the words, “deafness”and “hearing loss”. I am quite eager to hear more dialogue on this.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:27 pm
If I may suggest, please do include another term that is also degrading to deaf people, “hearing impaired”, in your future vlogs.
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Got lot of air from you!
We need lot of Air for our energy!
Excellent VLOG!
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Wow – you really cleaned up some dirty air. I am getting tired of accusations toward deaf purists or whatever. To me, the air will not clear up if we continue to accuse some people especially DoDs for the divisiness. There are some members from EVERY groups in Deaf world that are responsible for the divisiness. The time isn’t any better for us to look at the bigger picture and how we can work together to clean up the air! I agree with #21 that hearing impaired needs to be removed along with deafness and hearing loss. We need to look at positive side on what we can do on this earth than how much we can hear. Thanks for clearing up the air and shall we clean air more!
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Hello!
WOW!!!
Sorry! Watch on website.
http://app.sightspeed.com/current/viewmedia.php?uid=272968&mid=39h9t5pn89amrafqqy4j3lfa7nwtkf7x&refid=102&locale=en_US
I am from Hungary. (Europe)
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
“In & Out” is one of my favorites. Kevin Kline really got into that character and did it so well. Tom Selleck was the reporter and they both ended up dating!
I got your message about Deaf Mute the first time but I expected some would misunderstand or misinterpret your message. Many people have negative experience in relation to the word, “mute,” myself included, but how you presented the word was thought-provoking and I liked it!
Cy
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Although I have a great deal of respect for you, I can’t help but wonder if it is fair to compare deaf people with gay people. Both may have some similar traits since both are in the minority groups. But deafness is a lot different than aspects of homosexuality. I would say the same regarding other races.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Dear Ella,
THANK YOU!
Perfect timing…
I was teaching my Deaf Culture class this morning. A few students wanted me to elaborate further on one topic that I covered in class last week. What I did last week was asking them to refrain from using “deafness” when discussing our language, community, etc. I explained to them that I was not comfortable with the term and will not validate the use of it.
So needless to say more, I surely am looking forward to your next vlog where you will share with us why “deafness” is a dirty word!
Love ya!
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Hi Ella.
Like Jessica said above, I’m excited and looking forward to seeing what you have to say about the words “deafness” and “hearing loss” and if you follow Joey’s suggestion to add “hearing impaired” to your next vlog…
I may be premature in this response, but I’d like to put my 2 cents worth in now since I’m so excited to see what you have in store for readers like me!
Is it fair to say that Deaf people are not a homogeneous (alike; same kind of) group?
While being Deaf is what unites us all, I’m sure I’m not alone in my understanding that there are a plethora of different or specific populations within the greater Deaf community, each with their own concept of identity, social values and linguistic needs.
For example: Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deaf, Deaf Blind… 4 distinct populations in the deaf Community…
Deaf of Deaf parents or families, Deaf of Hearing Parents or families, Deaf with Deaf children, Deaf with Hearing children, Hard of Hearing or Late-Deaf with Deaf, HOH or Hearing children…etc…
Deaf who went to Deaf residential schools, Deaf who went to mainstream schools, Deaf who went to oral schools, Deaf with Ushers Syndrome who went to hearing schools, then Deaf schools, then Blind schools, Deaf who were home schooled…Deaf who were hearing first and went to hearing schools, then became deaf later and went to Deaf schools…
Deaf people who use hearing aids, deaf people with Menier’s Syndrome (fluctuating hearing/deaf), Deaf people with progressive hearing loss, Deaf lip-readers, Deaf who prefer to use their voices, and to borrow your recent term again – Deaf-Mutes, Deaf people who prefer not use their voices, Deaf who sign, Deaf who don’t sign, Deaf who use ASL, Deaf who use SEE, Deaf who use Cued Speech, Deaf who use pigeon signs, Deaf CI users, Foreign born Deaf people, and Deaf people who are multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-lingual…
The list goes on and on….you get the picture. It’s like Carl S. said about “allness,” we need to beware not to stereotype.
So I’m curious how you will enlighten us with your next topic.
I enjoy all of your vlog and blog posts as they are very intelligent and provocative. I read you with an open heart and open mind.
I will be curious how you will share your views about the labels mentioned above with the plethora of populations in the Deaf community. I await with great anticipation!
Hugs.
LaRonda
http://www.earofmyheart.com
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I enjoyed your dialogue very much. Your opinion is very valid and important. I loved it. However,…
I’d rather use only Deaf. I do not want to add any other negative word into Deaf. The negative terms are: Deaf-mute, Deaf and Dumb, Hearing Impaired, Hearing challenged, and many others that Hearing people put labels on us.
Deaf is our own word that we created to begin with. I cherished Deaf and nothing else.
March 3rd, 2007 at 5:57 am
What a beautful Vblog! Awesome topic discussion! Way to go!
March 3rd, 2007 at 6:18 am
It is very important for us to keeping and still staying with the word is Deaf because Deaf is history and long time pass a hundred year also deaf already in the world for dictionary, wikipedia, encyclopedia, media and more for them to knowing us deaf culture, deaf community, deaf history etc. If you want to change to deaf-mute then it will be long long to change maybe 20 to 50 years to media to understanding us. I think you will be lost in ASL so Best stay with deaf over ASL.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:53 am
You are fabulous! I really enjoyed your discussion. You just clear the air for me!
Now I am looking forward to your discussion about hearing loss and deafness.
David
March 4th, 2007 at 12:09 am
A nifty topic!
Hearing loss…I teach ASL classes and i cringe with this word, so i have always told my students as well as my Deaf peers that i refuse to use the term. Instead, i use ‘hearing level.’ To me, this is the perfect term because it tells what my hearing level is on the hearing continuum. Simple and sweet. Hearing loss MEANS we were supposed to be born hearing but ended up becoming deaf. This applies only to those that were born hearing but became deaf later on.
Also…By NO means do i want to offend any HoH people, so please don’t start a war here, smiles. I wish to share my objective view on this term, Hard-of-Hearing, which is it actually pretty much divides up the Deaf community. Why can’t we use just one term Deaf and let Deaf with various hearing levels be categorized within this group instead of having many categories and create a divide amongst us. Organizations for Blacks do not label their organizations “Council for the Blacks and Half-Blacks,” and half-Blacks definitely are still a part of the Black group. Get the gist? Uhmm…
Sarah
March 4th, 2007 at 3:27 am
I am very impressed with you because it is your moral responsibility to educate Deaf and Hearing people from your thoughful topic discussion.. Thank you!
March 4th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Deaf,
Ella did not compare deaf to gay. Her focus was on the audience at the high school graduation at the end of the movie when the principal announced Kevin Kline’s character’s resignation (he did not say why, but the audience knew why)and in reaction to the principal’s resignation announcement, the audience, one by one, got up and said, “I am gay,” to unite the COMMUNITY to OVERTHROW the principal’s position and decision to force resignation on the teacher (Kevin Kline). Ella’s focus is on the UNITY of a COMMUNITY. We all need to get together, recognize ourselves as ONE, and overthrow the SYSTEM (principal). The audience at the graduation was very diverse – an old lady, a little boy, a redneck farmer, a teenager, Kevin Kline’s parents got upo, too, then all of the students at the high school got up, and then entire audience got up at the end…and they all said “I am gay.” That was Ella’s point. UNITY to overthrow the system and audism, no matter who you are, where you came from, how old you are, what your job is, etc.
March 4th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
That’s an enlightenment. All talk about is soul from your inner and reclaims Deaf Mute. That is self discovery: Freedom to reclaim who you are. I like very much.
March 4th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Dear Ella,
This is such a beautiful vlog! Just watching you review and clarify points from your first (also beautiful!) vlog, gave me such a sense of inspiration. All of us – no matter our backgrounds and differences – need to keep the big picture in mind when it comes to our Deaf community. With greater unity comes greater strength, for everyone.
-Sharon
March 4th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Ella – Amen!
Your powerful passion, dynamic discourse, artistic ASL and clever content are amazing – mucho gracia!
Especially like how u cleared the air by using such natural imagery – air, earth, gravity, organic.
Healthy Deafhood vs. war – thank u thank u thank u
Ur vlog with its question – “What is the purpose of Deaf people on this planet?” and its reference to the laws of nature made me think of a quote from George Veditz from 1910
“We possess and jealously guard a language different and apart from any other in common use – a language which nevertheless is precisely what all-wise Mother Nature designed for the people of the eye, a language with no fixed form or literature in the past, but which we are no striving to fix and give a distinct literature of its own by means of the moving picture film.”
I look forward to ur next vlog – and if i could be so bold as to suggest – could some of ur ponders and analysis re: terminology not be limtied to English terms only. it is important to question and discuss them but often i feel in many ways it entraps us – if we could instead look to ASL first – what is natural and organic in ASL – in the ways we describe ourself – (I think this is what u did in looking at Deaf-mute – by looking at the SIGN)
for example – Deaf View / Image Art (De’VIA) the term that was coined by 9 Deaf artists in 1989 to identify visual art work about the Deaf experience – is a term originated in ASL first and then was given English gloss and an English acronym
In a film i watched on Deaf people in Nepal – i was so intrigued to see them using a 5-hand shape with the 4th finger bent over – a Deaf-mute man in the film explained it was due to the fact that people r usually born with 5 senses – smell, taste, sight… etc but Deaf people r missing one sense
now again this could seem pathological – what deaf people r missing – but the Deaf-mute man signing it in his native nepalese sign language – and the fact that the sign is on the hand – it was so iconic and organic – yes yes yes i thought why do we sign deaf on our ear and mouth – what we cant do – why dont we have a sign on our hand or our eye – people of the eye / hand
it reminds me of so many cultures which have hand symbols, amulets, ie Hamsa etc
it seems so odd to me that such a visual culture has so much fixtation on English words and hasnt generated new ASL terms for itself, its language, its culture. For example most US Deaf folks r fingerspelling in English Deafhood and not using its sign.
it is not entirely odd – it is most likely due to
1. the lack of dissemination of information in ASL (or the sign language of any given country) but YA HOO Vlogs will change all that (veditz in his great progressiveness tried to use film back in 1913 as a way of disseminating information and thought in ASL – routing the NAD motion film project collection through Deaf clubs across the country. He even wrote a letter asking AG Bell to invent a television!) see last paragraph http://idea3.rit.edu/paddhd/Deaf_History_Veditz/veditz%20feb%201915.gif
2. colonization – it is not clear to me yet what stage of post colonialism Deaf culture is really in presently
this is probably because the whole concept of stages is a very western construct and most individuals and communities ebb and flow through changes – but it is common for groups to emulate the dominate culture and their ways in their effort for independence and success
last brain flash i have – re: ella and cy’s comment on the film “in and out” i havent seen it but from the description by ella – it is clear that her use of the film was because of its message of solidatiry and humanity and not about sexuality
it reminded me of a story re: a Jewish family that experienced harassment when they had put up a menorah in their window for Hanukah- other people heard of the abuse so they in turn put up menorahs even though they were not Jewish. This was a peaceful and positive response to anti-semetism. The “I’m Gay!” was a peaceful and positive response to homophobia. Ella was calling for us to consider adopting Deaf-mute as a peaceful and positive response to audism. Again she is advocating for its use internally and not BY the dominate culture so u all should and can still be outraged and enraged when audist use deaf-mute.
The example was a message of mutual support, collectivity, unity, solidarity, humanity
it is true Deaf culture will never adequately be compared to any other culture / ethnic / differently abled or religious group on the planet that i know of but it does have a strong similarity with gay / lesbian culture in that the majority of its members come from parents who r from the dominate culture – this means that both groups normally learn their culture later in life and combat stigma even at times from within their own family of origin
again and always ella thanks
my apologies for the long post – u got me thinking!
peace
patti durr
March 8th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Dear Sisters Aidan and Ella:
Every now and then when there’s a hot issue I get emails from near and afar alerting me to check it out. I rarely have time to read all the wonderful articles and or watch the videos so I’m grateful when someone tells me because I do enjoy learning about the different views.
I decided to reply to both of you together as a post on both sites simply to capture something important. I’ve watched both of you explain and clarify your positions. Whew! Thank you.
Just wanted to share I don’t like the term “Deaf Purist” and I’m not crazy about the term “Deaf-mute” either. Simply for the reason I hate labels. I see what it does to people and obviously you both can now see it too based on the mixed reactions, and attacks. I hate seeing both of you attacked by people, just for expressing your views yet, I can also see why some people are feeling insulted by what you have expressed as well. Healthy dialogues are important, as long as we try to show mutual respect. And I hope that is how you both feel with my comments here too.
I am, however, starting to feel like this is becoming a new chapter out of a Harry Potter book discussing “Pure-bloods vs. muggles” and such, so I find myself wondering, okay, who’s going to be branded “Lord Voldemort” of the day??
I understand where you both are coming from, however, like one poster named Judy, on Ella’s vlog said, I am comfortable being just Deaf. As someone said on Aidan’s vlog, many people have experienced similar situations where they felt rejected because they have hearing parents. There are deaf who have deaf parents will tell you they may have done this when they were younger, but now as adults, they’re aware that this is a form of racism, and make a conscious effort not to do this anymore. The more who help explain that this is another oppressive act that is not acceptable, the easier the steps “forward” with healthy dialogues. On the other hand, I do need to say, those of us with different backgrounds who do have hearing parents, need to also take steps to show we value the deaf lineage within our culture. Traditions, history, values, stories etc continue to fascinate me of the rarity when deafness is passed on from one generation to another. This is similar to what other cultures likewise value and interesting to watch and listen to stories shared by these families. My Portuguese heritage (according to that culture’s view) ends with me as a direct line because I am a female. My Jewish heritage continues with me, because according to that culture, its passed on thru the female side. Fortunately for me, both cultures are matriarch dominated, so now you know where the “don’t mess with me” attitude comes from! Likewise, I’d like to think, we have a “deaf attitude” that was passed on thru to us from deaf families with their lineage of deaf parents and other deaf family members which we in turn – - regardless if we have hearing or deaf parents – -turn around and show this attitude as as the “deaf way”. .
What’s your opinion of this viewpoint?
Take care,
‘Sister’ Sheri
March 14th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
These are wonderful vlogs and I can’t wait to see more.
I can’t help but agree with sme other commenters about the problem with “reclaiming” the term “deaf-mute.” Can a minority group reclaim a term that is not understood by the majority to be negative? “Queer,” “faggot,” “nigger” are all words that straight and/or white people know to be highly offensive when spoken to gay and/or black people. But the hearing world DOES NOT KNOW that “deaf-mute” is offensive.
More work has to be done to educate the hearing world on this topic, I believe, before the term can be reclaimed. As it is now, calling oneself “deaf-mute” only reinforces the hearing world’s perspective that it is okay for hearing outsiders to call deaf people that.
March 18th, 2007 at 12:21 am
Hi Ella!
I remember a Black comic describing his view on the N-word. “It’s not that White Folks can NEVER use the word,” he explained, “it’s just that you all are on a REALLY LONG time out.
“That was some REALLY bad behavior and sh*t… Stick your little pink noses in the corner for about 300 years…”
Picturing all those Hearing people…
And of course, Deaf-Mutes have held the Deaf World together through the hardest times!
But while you’re at the center of gravity, could you please arrange for me to lose just a few pounds?
- Linda Slovick
March 18th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
think about the ASL sign for “hearing”
it is a index finger moving in circular motion in front of the lips – clearly to indicate speech
nothing about ear and the ability to actually hear is conveyed in the sign
- the distinguishing characteristic between Deaf and hearing people way back then was not about sound but rather about speech – this is why Deaf-Mute was really a cultural signifier. Even the term Semi-mute was used often in Deaf writings – hard of hearing wasnt used but rather there was an inner stratisfication based on speaking not hearing degree
Veditz the great ASL orator and agitator may have been able to speak – he became deaf and learned sign language at about 9 years old; yet, he was very proud and valued being a Deaf-mute!
i once taught a student from a Deaf family and she proudly said “i choose NOT to speak there is a difference – it is a choice!”
The “not speaking” is what CREATES FOSTERS and PERPETUATES Deaf culture and ASL more than just the circumstance of being unable to hear – being physically deaf
Veditz said about Deaf-mutes … “They are facing not a theory but a condition, for they are first, last, and all the time the people of the eye.” – 1910
not being able to hear can arguably mean that a person must rely on their vision – to lip read to look around and guess, interpret, misunderstand etc
but Veditz calling Deaf-mutes a “PEOPLE” this is the notion of a class, a group, an ethnicity and “OF the EYE” not of the closed EAR or of the closed MOUTH. Being both “ear mouth” leads them rely on their eyes as a PEOPLE – not to lip read but to “READ” sign language
if being deaf was simply a physical condition then oralism, cochlear implants, genetic counseling would win the day where mastering how to speak would lead to the demise of Deaf culture and ASL
some people with hearing loss (mild to profound) do, can and choose to live in a world without sign
but since being Deaf-MUTE is a cultural condition – because it represents part of the HUMAN condition and spirit – HOW? through sign language – through the eyes, it is something we must “jealously guard,” and “cherish and defend.” (veditz, 1910 and 1913)
in Veditz speech when he signs “As long as we have deaf people on earth, we will have signs.” he REALLY signs Deaf-MUTES
this is ella’s central point – Deaf-Mutes – Deaf folks who do not speak are the primary cultural carriers – they are the native speakers, the elders, the shamans
this is not to “dis” the non-native, the newly initiated, the deaf of hearing families, the deaf with CI, the hard of hearing, the CODA, etc – i myself am what many would call “very hard of hearing” and have been called “hearing minded.” Being able to hear and speak imperfectly put me more in a disability category and move me further away from being a person of the eye. seeing the difference between a true cultural condition and a physical one – it makes me see my inadequacies and heightens my respect, appreciation and awe for our “mothers, fathers, and future Deaf-mutes to come” – respecting the central cultural carriers does not say those who are not true Deaf-MUTES can not embark on Deafhod – it just means that we stand a bit further way from the fire but still get its warmth and glow and we thoroughly honor and thanks those who are the true keepers of the fire
it is essential to recognize a central truth that is often overlooked
Veditz said as long as we have Deaf-MUTES… we will have our beautiful sign language – without the Mutes – sign language might continue but it would not be in the pure form he was advocating for
more and more Deaf children are being raised without sign language or with PSE, SEE, and cued speech. Even many Deaf people are still disavowing ASL – still believing myths that it is inferior, a street language, broken english, picture language, ok for remedial purposes, only for those militant crazy Deaf people, leads to bad English, makes their speaking skills deteriorate etc YIKES when these myths literally come pouring out of our OWN people’s mouths – i have seen it so many times in Deaf ed – it makes me weep and feel hopeless
veditz in 1913 stated: “A new race of pharaohs that knew not Joseph” are taking over the land …”
it seems to me it is very very hard to see ASL these days in the everyday Deaf community – it is particularly absent from Deaf schools where sim-com and TC are the generally accepted mode of communication -grrr
recognizing the importance of Deaf-MUTES and putting them in direct contact with Deaf children – our future will ensure that the “new race of Pharohs (audists) that knew not Joseph (true ASL)do not take over the land
this is a central truth we must understand and find creative, productive and peaceful ways to ensure that our Deaf-mute elders come into contact with our posterity
otherwise Veditz’s glorious address and all his advocacy will have been in vain and another beautiful and amazing indigenious / disenfranchised culture will loose its language and thus with it its true “voice”
peace
p
March 26th, 2007 at 4:21 am
*turns on flashlight*
*click, click, click*
Hope you vlog again soon!!!
*click, click, click*
March 30th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Hi Ella,I understand your point about gravity…It is like as we come out naturally to communicate in ASL without any kind of obligations or hearie’s thoughts are not deafies’s thoughts.Looking at some Indians used their kind of sigh language even tho they are hearing a long long time ago even way before we were born…. I have no idea why they used sign language. It must be gravity then. I love your treasure…I know you way back in Gally .smiles great job!!! KH
March 31st, 2007 at 10:47 am
Hi Ella,
I’m from Italy.
You’re good person and I’m interest you.
You have a good point of “in and out and Moving on”.
You are right about DeafMute.
Here, in Italy, last year, the law has changed the term “Deaf”, until 2005 the term was used DeafMutes.
But I’ve noticed all ENS (like NAD)shows term DeafMutes still remained on the public display. Some deaf people said the term will remain memory of past what the deaf people had done.
So I analyse the term DeafMutes is not meaning who deaf people cannot speak.
In the past who deaf people have been very cherished about Deaf World ( sign language, value, norm, tradition, events etc..)and they were true bulwark.
As today we prefer to term word DEAF is meaning as same thing DeafMutes in the past.
But I believe today we aren’t bulwark like past, because we are new generation and who deaf people have attented School for the Deaf.
Then we are always doing some activities, fights, heritage to next deaf children.
I wonder who deaf people have attented in the mainstream school and I never see they aren’t doing something for it maybe few people have done but it’s the most neither. Future ???
Instead Deafness is view from pathologic becasue the medical focus on level of decibel hearing.
Hearing Loss is meaning probably lesion of hearing. Like lesion eyesight, the term should is appropriate word BLIND.
That’s my opinion!
Will see next vlogs.
Nice to see your vlog and and learnt something new. Keept continue Vlog.
April 12th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
wow..a long sabbatical from blogosphere…
hope you’re doing well and do come back!
Der Sankt
April 19th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Sigh…spring cleaning time.
That means new batteries…
*inserts new batteries in flashlights*
*click click click*
Hello?
*click click click*
Hmm. I wonder if your house “records” the light messages?
I hope the message came out as “Hey!! We missed you!! Come back!”
Hmm. Maybe I’ll leave an extra flashlight here on your porch for the next person who needs to send you a message…
April 30th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Ella, you are more reasons to love vlogs.
May 11th, 2007 at 4:57 am
Real Crab Theory
I’m not sure this is the right place to post this, but my partner AJ and I went to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.
I was curious to see how real crabs in buckets behaved, but the crab guy told us that they only have them in buckets during “crab season,” which is December through March.
He explained that when they keep crabs in buckets, the crabs are in a bucket of water.
When the water is aerated with one of those little bubble-making tubes that people use in fish tanks, the crabs are all happy and do not try to escape at all.
But many places keep crabs in buckets of standing water, so the water quickly runs out of oxygen. This causes the crabs to struggle, not to get all the way out, but to get to somewhere where they can breathe.
I don’t know if it’s generally true (we just talked to the one crab guy), but just thought you might find his take on “Crab Theory” interesting…
June 20th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Ella,
I was glad, we had the opportunity to have a short conversation at the OAD convention. During your workshop you expressed apart of the Deaf National Anthem which inspired the community. Now that I have seen the whole anthem, not just apart of it, I’ll say it’s really BEAUTIFUL and UPLIFTING. In the future, when the hearies sing the national anthem, i’ll keep my eyes closed and think of the Deaf National Anthem!!!
Hope to see and visit with you again!!
Jr.
June 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Your presentation is very execellant for us to understand why the term “Deaf Mutes” issues. I know that some hearing world labels us like “deaf mute” and think we are limited and can’t do nothing than the hearing world is. That is lot of incorrect on hearing world’s view of point! We have to educate the hearing world about it but take it a while…. never end in this world till they will understand!
August 20th, 2007 at 2:53 am
Ella,
Thank you for your e-mail. You asked me if I saw your vlogs about In and Out.
It’s true I don’t move my mouth either and mute is a right word. Your point is well-input.
Love your ASL vlogs!
September 10th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
i respect your opinion but i wont use deaf-mute. yes we deaf do not need voice and speech to communicate each other. sign language is our light.
h
December 16th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
[...] to see a few favorites: Joey Baer’s What would you do?Staying Neutral David Eberwein’s Deaf POWER Militants: Top Five Myths Ella Mae Lentz’s In and Out and Moving On [...]
October 27th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Ella,
I watched you tonight. After promoting you proudly for years,(VISTA)….
(I am NOT savvy even with simple email, however….in response to one of your “flashlight” entries…..)
Ella, do you know what feelings and emotions you are provoking?
I am aghast that you are talking about actual wars in the same context as warring about word prefixes or suffixes? (….ness)
Ella, your observations and insights are worth sharing. However, the last thing this world needs right now is another complaint.
Most of us learn to chose our battles. Word endings are not usually worth going to war over, Ella.
This world’s children are in need of peace and structure. You have added yet another personal issue into the Deaf world and Hearing world ‘discussion’ that we really do
not need at this time. Not now.
Do you have anything substantive to add to the big picture of problems today??
Adopt an orphan. Donate to a worthy charity.
Check in on a neighbor. Pay your taxes.
Ella, use your status in a worthy way.
“Not proud tonight.”
BWG
Hearing say, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”
Is this really worth a WAR. Ella!