If you haven’t been following the posts on that Australian blog, The Rebuttal, I reckon you oughta. Don’tcha reckon?
[Translation: Australian Don’tcha; don’t ya, don’t you]
Several of the recent posts have struck a raw nerve, detailing Australian issues, but which have resonance in the UK and US of A. Coupled with criticisms of the behaviour of several Deaf organisations in the UK, and their belated response to the ITV Wales Decision To Scrap The Signed Evening News, which ignored the efforts of Deaf people, who initiated this campaign, people wonder why Deafies are getting pissed off. And Jodi cries out Enough Dialogue- Build the Bridge!
Reading these posts have reminded me of yet another reason why we, Deafies, have so much trouble building bridges. In my last post, Enough Dialogue – Build The Bridge, I gave one reason, the staunchness of the oralist who refuses to engage, entertain, or concede involvement in anything that reeks of visual communication. Here I give you another. Their conspicuous absence from any campaign involving supporting Deaf Culture and Sign Language, that requires support, they usually are quick to criticise people who sign, for not including their needs when campaigning for equal access, or for challenging their choices, but are silent otherwise. Who was it that said Silence is Golden?
Yet another, is the hearing people who occupy positions of power in the Deaf community, to the detriment of Deaf people and their culture. Granted not all hearing people involved with Deaf people, have ulterior motives, nor is there anything wrong with working with hearing people as equals, but if in 2009, nearly 25 or so years, since I came out as a Deaf person, we are still beholden to the great institutions of charity and welfare, run by hearing people, something is seriously wrong.
Recommended Reading From The Rebuttal:
DEAF SERVICES AND CEOs – A FEW WORDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE By Paul Bartlett
It Could be Australia! No Wait! It is!
The Strange Deaf and HI Sector in Australia
Recommended Reading From This Blog 
ITV Wales To Scrap The Signed Evening News Headlines
ITV Wales To Scrap The Signed Evening News Headlines PII
ITV Wales To Scrap The Signed Evening News Headlines PIII
RNID takes the Credit For Grassroots Deafies Hardwork
Another Blog:
The Regency: A Deaf Person’s View Of RNID
6 Responses to “So Much Dialogue, And No Materials For Building Bridges”
[...] Reading: So Much Dialogue, And No Materials For Building Bridges Enough Dialogue – Build The Bridge Contemplating Mephisto’s Angst! Related Posts:So Much [...]
They used the materials to build a prison of silence instead of a bridge.
Who is they Richard, you aren’t making any sesne!
Typical response from the folks who dont want to face the fact that the materials intended for building bridges are being used to build prisons of silence.
Sorry Richard, if this is meant to be an illuminating comment, I’m still in the dark!
[...] Reading: So Much Dialogue, And No Materials For Building Bridges Enough Dialogue – Build The Bridge Contemplating Mephisto’s Angst! Related Posts:Enough Dialogue [...]