"And it seemed at that moment that I could hear an inner voice saying to me, ‘Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And I will be with you, even until the end of the world.’" By Martin Luther King
"The person who upset you the most is your best teacher, because they bring you face to face with who you are." By Lynn Andrews
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17 comments:
Joey is doing the right thing.
We need to put pressure on Tayler and Jared to change Deaf Read, either that, or we should leave it and join something else.
Aidan!!! I want to tell you!!! Your three vlogs you created today are really great vlogs you did a good job sending good message to the deaf community!.. GREAT JOB!!!
Aidan,
You have given me further food for thought.
To be honest, I'm torn between remaining or leaving.
Things MUST change at DR for sure.
Shel
Thank you. This is beautiful, wow... I agree, Dark Era.
We gotta get through it together and survive.
Thanks,
Ali
I made it clear to Joey Baer and Patti Durr that I will leave DeafRead if that makes them feel safer.
I know a lot of people feel angry at me and feel like i divide the community...
more can be seen at my blog.
-ben
Ben,
You may have contributed to this problem, but you alone did not divide the community. Many factors has contributed to this division.
One thing is for sure, this situation has made people think of what they have done, and said.
This is a positive thing for a change. :-)
Shel
Hi!
I am with Shel. I have been considering about leaving DR after saw a few vloggers / bloggers, who suddenly opposed led to negative sayings to DBC, that I had come to respect now dissolved... and then the feeling of safety turned fear....
*still debating-self* :-(
Just wanted to acknowledge that I saw your vlog. :) Yes, definitely a good one. I will just stay away for while because it was my PERSONAL decision.
You always inspire me many times - you never failed me especially maybe one or two vlogs I didnt agree. haha.
Aidan....I feel you! Surf the difficult waves and then we come out beating them!!! Your last three vlogs were and are sending good messages to the Deaf community as a whole!
I, like Shel, am torn between leaving and staying at DR but my gut hunch tells me to STAY even though we have not vlogged for a while!
Thank you, thank you, Aidan!
Aidan,
I agree that we should stick together to work through the issues.
However, you too contributed to the problem by throwing darts at Amy in your post. It added fuel to the fire on top of everything else! Ben, Barry, et al should not be the only ones apologizing!
I admire and appreciate your passion. The problem is that our Deaf community is very small, and when there is a "dark time," where do we go while it cools off? No place, unfortunately.
Some of us simply are choosing other things worthy to focus on. It makes no sense in staying and combating with irrational people. It is OK to have disagreements, and have discussions BUT in respectful manner. There have been none.
The DeafRead does not stick with its guideline, because in the email, DR said that some people would still complain and accuse the DR of censorship, and find other ways to get nasty personal-attack posts across to us. Imagine that, those hateful posts and comments even got to DeafRead into making bad judgmental calls!
No matter what, DeafRead MUST stick with the guideline, period. No bending around the guideline to accommodate the hatred-filled posts. Bad principle, and I cannot support that. Sorry, DeafRead!
Hi,
I hope DR can revise and add the policy. I understand your point to keep deaf community together and stay strong unity. Perhaps it takes a while until things gets settle down.
Hope Tayler and Jared can review it soon as possible. Thanks for your vlogs. Good job. wow you have great energy!!
I am truly saddened by watching DeafRead being confused like those people in the Tower of Babel where their tongues were twisted in thousands and a language.
Of course, I am not surprised that more common it happened to one of any organization or deaf club can be collopsed. I strongly agreed with your express that all of us should be strenght and got solution instead of avoiding. I am tired to see that it happened. thanks for bring it up. winks
Billy
Hi Everyone:
Thank you for making these comments. We shouldn't have an attitude of just giving up or say, "That's Deaf people's way." We must put a stop to it, get through, and learn, and to do better in the future. If we continue to avoid doing what is necessary to face the possibility of going through another dark era, the cycle of destruction will only become stronger and stronger. We put a stop to it, face it, get through it, and make it better. We Deaf people are not made of quitters. :o)
Hi Sheri,
I was thrilled to receive your comment. I value your opinion. You are an example of a woman who is an inspiration to me. When I read your comment and you used the word "dart." It stings me to know that you look at me as if I am a person who has a violent motive. I feel sad to see your conclusion of who I am. I accept and respect your opinion.
You told me to apologize to Amy without giving me a chance to defend myself. Publishing that vlog was the hardest decision I ever made. Can't you see that I am pointing out impropriety on Amy's part and that it was very necessary to do so? It's because of what she attempted to do the DBC recently.
As a CEO, How do you feel if someone announced in pubic that he or she resigned from NORCAL? You pour your heart into your organization in order to earn the Deaf community's trust. Due to a disagreement, the employee chose to take the dispute public to harm the image of NORCAL.
Imagine the unfairness that these DBC leaders have been subjected to, and especially Deaf people who finally get out and do something about the oppression only to get stabbed in the back by members of their own community. We complain that there is apathy in the Deaf community, and now these good people actually get out and do good work, and then they get stabbed in the back as a "reward" for their good efforts. What kind message is that?
Amy preaches that DBC and Deafhood should not mix. Hey, did you realize that Amy is not practicing what she preaches, because she is mixing her Greatest Irony video sales with her attempted association with the DBC. She said she wanted to support both AVT and sign language and and then she resigned from the DBC. Again, What kind the message is that? It's a very hurtful and destructive message!
Please do not tell me that you do not think that the DBC core members are dedicating every second of their time to helping Deaf children and Deaf babies, because they ARE doing that. They're doing that by getting the message out regarding babies' need for visual language, in order to ensure that they will have access to sign language.
Now when Amy parlayed the name recognition she received by producing the Greatest Irony video and then used that as a steppingstone to announce that she resigned DBC--OUCH! She went too far. What she did was was attempt to destroy the DBC in order to publicize her video... That's not fair...
I made this hard decision to do to AMY what AMY was attempting to do to the DBC, iin part, to teach her a lesson and give her a taste of her own medicine, and also so that she would get idea what it is like to have done to her what she is attempting to do to others. She caused an unnecessary and inappropriate political firestorm, without thinking ahead to see what impact this would have on the Deaf community. It was necessary to splash some very, very, cold water on her, so to speak, to get her to wake up and look at herself in the mirror and think about the things she said about DBC and realize that SHE was the person who was causing problems, not the DBC.
I feel I did nothing wrong. It was an act of DEFENSE, not offense. Before I published this vlog, I knew I was taking the risk that people might judge me and call me a troublemaker. I accept this consequence in order to stop the firestorm that risked destroying opportunities for Deaf children. I knew my vlog would cause a stir, but would be worth it. I stand by the vlog and If I had to go back in time and decide whether or not to do it again, I would do it, as a defensive move to stop the destructive cycle in the Deaf community that will harms Deaf children by depriving them of opportunities, for example, as shown in this case where certain individuals attempted to destroy the DBC.
I am sorry that you are upset with my decision and I hope one day you will understand my intentions. I never realized what you thought of me until now. I admit that I am surprised to find that out. Oh well...
Take care, Aidan
After reading your last post#15, I had to reread it several times. Then I had to chuckle and shake my head several times.
The reasons are... you really do not know Amy. Amy is probably enjoying your reactions as it is at her benefit and not yours.
Knowing Amy, she will prevail and she WILL send strong messages to hearing parents of Deaf babies that ASL is the way to go than the DEAF community. I give her two years top where she will be a savvy sucessful savvy business woman and promoting ASL for babies and children and NOT DEAFHOOD. Sure she opposes to CI as she has not had one herself. It is not a secret and you do not have anything on her. Knowing Amy, she will take the high road like she did recently being transparent about DBC and DH. She did not badmouth DBC just raised a question... DBC and DH ... is like oil and water we are talking about HEARING PARENTS WHO HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT BEING DEAF and promoting ASL and Deaf role models being involved in their lives . it s very simple.
Wait and see how HEARING PARENTS will react to Amy s vision than DBC only focusing on AGBell and Deafhood. and not only that DEAF people from all walks of life will support her vision why ??? because 98 percent Deaf people nowadays are mainstreamed, have CI, and uses ASL and from HEARING PARENTS ..
If it was not for Amy s Greatest Irony ... there would not be DBC .. think about it ..
I know you will not publish this but it is for you and me.
COMMENTER: "After reading your last post #15, I had to reread it several times. Then I had to chuckle and shake my head several times."
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: Should I chuckle and shake my head several times at your comment? You're comment is based on assumptions and is ironic.
COMMENTER: "Knowing Amy, she will prevail and she WILL send strong messages to hearing parents of Deaf babies that ASL is the way to go than the DEAF community. I give her two years top where she will be a savvy successful savvy business woman and promoting ASL for babies and children and NOT DEAFHOOD."
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: I know Amy is successful with her product. I would not be surprised to find out that she has goals to be successful. She always has had that in her. Deafhood-related workshops will be successful and will inspire people. So What is your point?
COMMENTER: "She Knowing Amy, she will take the high road like she did recently being transparent about DBC and DH."
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: Why can't I am call on her to be transparent regarding her recent posts and her "Greatest Irony" video? Why is it OK (in your estimation) for her to call on the DBC to be transparent but it's not OK for me to call on her to be transparent?
COMMENTER: "Sure she opposes to CI as she has not had one herself. It is not a secret and you do not have anything on her."
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: I know that I do not have anything on her or anyone. That's not my goal. :o)
COMMENTER: "She did not badmouth DBC just raised a question... "
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: I just raised a question about Amy's integrity when she supported both sides at the same time in her greatest irony video. It is very simple.
COMMENTER: "DBC and DH ... is like oil and water we are talking about HEARING PARENTS WHO HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT BEING DEAF and promoting ASL and Deaf role models being involved in their lives. It s very simple."
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: How do you know? There was no one at the DBC conferences who complained about a brief summary about Deafhood that was given. The people who lob hollow accusations at the DBC or attempt to portray DBC in a poor light--those are the people who did not go to the conference in Milwaukee.
My hearing parents are inspired by the Deafhood book and also through my advocacy. We are able understand each other in a deep way They ask me many questions--why's, how's, what's, where's, etc, and the book answers most of their most questions.
After I went to a few Deafhood workshops, I found that I have no regrets about having hearing parents. I am so happy that I have a strong mother who is also an opinionated woman. She is a successful writer, now retired, and she is hearing. I have hearing sisters. I am glad to have grown up with them. My middle sister is daring and has a great sense of humor. I am so happy to have had this opportunity of growing up with her as sister. Without her, my life would be quite boring.
The Deafhood book has quite a lot of history in it, and explains how the various historical events have affected the Deaf community. It is important for all of us, and parents too, to understand this history, especially parents, so that they can raise their Deaf children in a better way. I am not black but I read about Black, Latino, and Native American History. The books about these history are written for everyone to read so that all can glean insights about minorities.
It is sad to see some people would so easily slip into panic mode, as if it's the end of the world, and portray DBC as if it has a hidden agenda which would hurt parents, Deaf children, and the community. That is very sad, really, that people would think that. I watched every DBC video made related to the conference in Milwaukee, and I do not see any evidence of anything like that.
I notice you keep on attempting to put through some kind of subliminal message and that you have some kind of issue with DBC and Deafhood. Did you go to DBC conference? I wonder why? I need to stress that to you that you need to find out more before you jump to false conclusions. We know what happens when people jump to conclusions. Did you ever attend a Deafhood workshop? Have you read the Deafhood book?
COMMENTER: "Wait and see how HEARING PARENTS will react to Amy s vision than DBC only focusing on AG Bell and Deafhood. And not only that DEAF people from all walks of life will support her vision why ??? because 98 percent Deaf people nowadays are mainstreamed, have CI, and uses ASL and from HEARING PARENTS."
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: Where did you get this information? 98 percent? I strongly suspect you have an unreliable source. Think about the insurance issue. Insurance companies often do not approve to pay for cochlear implants. Many parents can't afford the post-surgery costs, which involves speech training. It costs a lot of money. These groups are now currently lobbying for new laws that require all insurance companies and Medicaid to pay for pre-surgery, surgery and post-surgical expenses. So 98 percent is definitely wrong. It's true that the actual percentage is increasing, but you need to remember that the statistics include people who lost their hearing at late ages, so that skews the statistics and makes for a misleading picture.
It is not Amy's vision. It is the Deaf community's vision. Please don't get so hung up on yourself. There are other people dedicated to making a better future for the Deaf children. By the way, Amy took her idea for her video from BabySigns. We all inspire each other.
COMMENTER: "If it was not for Amy s Greatest Irony ... there would not be DBC .."
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: Amy's "Greatest Irony" video is only a small contributing factor in the big picture of things that inspired John to create the DBC. There are many other factors, small and big that led to supporting John Egbert's vision of having all Deaf babies sign. John Egbert is the founder of DBC, with help from his community, his allies, his friends, his family members, and his former and current committee members. You're not being consistent. Why is it OK for other organizations to include different types of workshops, such as when AG Bell includes AVT training, cued speech workshops, and many other types of workshops? Why should anyone feel justified in insisting that the DBC exclude Deafhood workshops? Deafhood is where we discover our center, instead of focusing on our ears, and from there, we can define the Deaf experience as it relates to the whole human being, instead of deafness from the pathological perspective. It doesn't make any sense at all why Amy and other people should object to what the DBC has been doing.
COMMENTER: "I know you will not publish this but it is for you and me."
MY (Aidan's) ANSWER: There are no reasons for me not to publish this, and it is not an issue of "you and me." This blog is geared toward the whole Deaf community.
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