"Someone told me that Deaf people and hearing people aren't that different; we all want the same thing, nice friendly service, just like you get at McDonald's. Others feel that Deaf people are lucky to be living in the enlightened 21st century, where the Americans with Disablilties Act (ADA) guarantees them the right to have an interpreter who will translate English into sign and vice versa." mindness pg 14
What do you think of this statement? Is this an appropriate perspective of recognizing cultural differences? How is this statement harmful? Support your responses.
I look forward to reading your comments!
I think this statement doesn’t make much sense at all. Deaf people and hard of hearing people are the same. They don’t have hearing; I don’t understand why people with hearing think that deaf people are lucky that they get an interpreter. They should all be giving the opportunity to be able to understand what is happening in the conversation. It’s harmful because some people are jealous of others and really nobody is normal and everyone should have the same opportunity to learn and succeed in life as each other. I think that the name for the Deaf act is harmful too they don’t have a disability they can still understand everyday life. At the same time I am happy that they do have an act that gives them rights.
ReplyDeleteThis statement actually gives off the vibe that hearing people are the most important, just because they don’t need an interpreter. Hearing people might need other services to help them succeed, so why is Deaf put in a special category. How are Deaf people “lucky” to live this century? Deaf people usually are used to adapting to the “hearing world” and have lived with it for a long time. Plus why does it have to be referred to as a disability, I think that an interpreter should be considered a person to help people communicate effectively (even the playing ground). I am glad that everyone has the ability to get services to help them when needed by this act. I don’t believe that anyone should be referred to as “better” or normal because as this statement says “we all want the same thing.”
ReplyDeleteI believe everybody wants to be treated with respect. Nobody wants to be disrespected. Nobody wants to be looked down upon. I believe we all want to be treated like human beings who are equals and not "better" than others. Anybody can do anything they want and it doesn't matter what culture you are from or what you look like. I feel that the statement that some people think that deaf people are "lucky" to being living in the 21st century is offensive. This statement is harmful because it is saying that hearing people are better than Deaf people. It is saying that there is something wrong with Deaf people. There isn't anything wrong with Deaf people. They are just like everybody else. They have their own culture and their own language. People have no right to look down on others for any reason. People would get an interpreter for a business meeting with Chinese people. Does that mean that Chinese people are "lucky" too? Doesn't everybody deserve to have the same rights no matter who they are or what culture they are from?
ReplyDeleteI don’t think this is a respectful way of looking at cultural differences. We are all different and we all deserve respect no matter what our differences are. I think that we all need to be more open minded and respectful of different cultures. This statement is harmful to the deaf community in that it states that deaf people are “lucky” to be living in a time where they are guaranteed the right to an interpreter. Deaf people have the right just like everyone else to be understood and to be able to understand what is going on in their surroundings. I feel as though this statement is offensive because it seems to suggest that hearing people are superior to deaf people.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why people would have the courage to say that "Deaf people are lucky to be living in the enlightened 21st century." We are all human and we all have feelings. Deaf individuals are not "lucky" to be living in the 21 century; they are blessed just like the individuals that can hear. The only thing that separates the Deaf from those that are able to hear is one of our five senses: hearing. Deaf individuals should have the opportunity to get an interpreter whenever needed, and not be considered "lucky" to have this resource.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tiff, this statement is so disrespectful! It's not that were different in any way its that we all should be treated the same way. It's not a gift to have hearing or to not hear at all, the world be weird if we were all the same.
ReplyDeleteTo say that deaf people are lucky to have the ADA is insulting and unintelligent. I think that those people who think this are jealous of the deaf community for overcoming this communication barrier. We live in a cutthroat world where people do whatever it takes to succeed; Whether it’s buying your way to the top, using someone you know to get your foot in the door at a job, or having an interpreter to allow you to communicate smoothly with another person, you shouldn’t be denied your resources as a person. This statement is harmful to the deaf community because it makes it seem like they are being accused of cheating through life by using what is available to them. I don’t see myself lucky if I use a tutor to help me understand my homework so why should someone who is deaf be considered lucky if they use an interpreter to help break the communication barrier between the deaf and hearing world? Using what resources are available to you is smart, not lucky.
ReplyDeleteI think there are some ideas wrong in this statement. When I first read it I understood that the act would help people but after re-reading the statement I feel differently. From the little experience I have with Deaf people I have noticed not all have interpreters. Many read lips or find other means of communication, like they probably had to do when no interpreter was there to help them. I think putting the bit about the act into this statement probably gives readers the wrong idea, because I am not sure this act really helped deaf people like the statement says. In a general sense Deaf and hearing people want the same thing but I don’t think what we all want is properly expressed using friendly service at McDonalds. Yes, we all want that, but we want so much more. I think people don’t want to be thought of as scary or that they have a disability. Like we talked about in class, nobody is normal, but we all think we are normal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jeff. To think that deaf people are lucky to have ADA is insulting and unintelligent. I don't think it's becuase they are jealous. I think it might have more to do with the fact that certain people don't know how to communicate or act around deaf people. I believe this has to do with a lack of education about the Deaf community/culture. That is where we can come in and educate those individuals on how to act or communicate with the Deaf community. We can apply what we learn in this class and from our experiences to help others who may not know anything about the Deaf culture.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aubrey that the statement is offensive because of the word “lucky.” The way they put made it seem like Deaf people should be grateful that someone decided that maybe we should offer them a little extra help because they are different from the majority. Instead of pointing out that those who are Deaf can now have an interpreter so they will have an easier time having hearing people communicate with, the speaker should have pointed out how hearing people should realize the concessions the Deaf culture makes in order to be understood in our society and try to meet them half way.
ReplyDeleteConnie,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you added a paragraph about everyone being treated equally. I couldn't agree more. We all deserve the same rights no matter what our culture or language. Well said!
I really don't think this makes much sense at all. Sure they might be right when they say that we all want friendly service at the places we go but Deaf people are lucky that that can happen for them? Deaf people are lucky that they are given this through the ADA? I don't get it. Shouldn't everyone be respected for who they are as people even if the same language isn't spoken? This person is contradicting in the things said in this quote and it makes it awkward.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Connie.
ReplyDeleteDeaf people made it through to the 21st century just the same as other cultures did. They definitely deserve the right to an interpreter especially in times of real importance but in other less important times too. I mean, haven't we had interpreters for other languages longer than we have had them for Sign Language? I dont know if I'm right there but after reading this quote I feel like that was the case.
April
ReplyDeleteI agree, there comments about luckiness of the right they are given by ADA makes it awkward in the way that it is shocking. It is shocking that someone could say that and not notice how wrong it sounds. It is one of those moments that you think, did they really just say that.
Aubrey- I like your last sentence about the statement making it seem as though hearing people are superior to Deaf people. I do not agree that this is true, but the way the statement is worded makes it seem as though this is the view of the writer. By adding the part about the act the author gives a negative connotation to Deaf people.
ReplyDeleteBrittany
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you this statement is saying that hearing people are most important to people. Which should not be true deaf people are no different that hearing people. I am also glad that deaf people do have the service to be able to have an interpreter so they know exactly what is going on.
I agree with John when he said "I believe everybody wants to be treated with respect. Nobody wants to be disrespected. Nobody wants to be looked down upon. I believe we all want to be treated like human beings who are equals and not "better" than others." because no matter if your deaf,hearing, blind or whatever you should be treated equally no matter what the circumstances are.
ReplyDeleteSorry this is so late I just figured out the blog and my gmail account!
ReplyDeleteI do not like this statement at all. Something about it is just "off" to me. It gives me the vibe that the person who wrote it is obviously hearing and thinks they are above a deaf person. I also think that everyone is lucky to live in the 21st century. I'm obviously girl and I am in college and sports, something that was not accepted before this time. Every single person in this world is equal in every way, and they should be treated so. The ADA is a good thing, but the way it was presented was in the totally wrong manner.
Rebecca-
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your statement "People who are Deaf and people who are hearing are all still people". No one should be treated differently because of it. I also agree that all of us are lucky to be living in the 21st century. I also think the statement presented would be offensive if I were deaf or hard of hearing.
I think the first part of this statement is somewhat true; that everyone wants the same thing. But to say that deaf people are lucky is just like saying hearing people are lucky, or black people are lucky. This is not an appropriate perspective of recognizing this culture and it’s harmful because people should not have to conform to what “American culture” is. The statement doesn’t make sense and it gives an air that hearing people are superior and are “giving deaf people rights”, as if they rule them and deaf people are their subjects. Saying that they are “lucky” to have that right is like saying black people and/or women are lucky to have the right to vote because the people opposite them gave them that right.
ReplyDeleteMelissa,
ReplyDeleteWhat you stated about people wanting so much more is right on! They want rights and good service, just as everyone else does, but they also want to be recognized as equal, not different, and to be treated that way. They do not want to be perceived as scary or disabled. It is exactly how women and black people were treated before they got rights- scary or disabled. People thought they couldn’t amount to their opposite counterparts, and that they were subject to their rule. The same goes for deaf people. Yes, everyone deserves rights, but they also deserve to be respected, understood, and treated fairly.
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you said! The fact that they considered deaf people to be lucky to have the resources that they should be granted anyway is like saying that a young boy is lucky to have a tutor for his homework. Everyone should have resources available to them, no matter what the circumstance. The resources are at your disposal and aren’t considered to be different from person to person, therefore being “lucky”. You aren’t “lucky” to have ARMS to help you with academics or a library for checking out books, and deaf people aren’t lucky to have interpreters. They go hand in hand. The term “lucky” was misused and therefore offensive, and it just made the author seem uneducated in that area.