A Tsunami of Deaf Pride-Paul Singleton

A tsunami of Deaf Pride, a tsunami of Deaf Oppression and Trustees of Tsunamis

Today’s rally at the U.S. Capitol:

The earliest I could come to the rally was when the march to the Capitol arrived at 1st street/Constitution ave NW.  I saw a TV helicopter hovering above, and trying to capture it while shooting a picture of the first marchers– it was a miserable attempt so I gave up on this idea quickly, put my camera in my pocket and immediately joined the marchers.

About 3,000 strong and it was growing.  5 blocks back were still more marchers. My Deaf Gallaudet pride burst out 100 buttons on my shirt.

First up was the Hunger Strike 8 folks in Sean Markel’s truck, resting. They deserved the front-ride.

Right behind Sean’s truck, and rightfully in the front of 3,000 others- the student, faculty and alumni leaders joined their elbows in solidarity.  JKF resign! JKF resign! was the main motto of signing marchers.

I was counting on only one hour of participation- I have to go to my last son’s 5th birthday party, 25 kids were expecting me to show up (I should add- demanding). I end up staying for 2.5 hours under beautiful cloudless sky (like it was when it was DPN1).  I hit the gas and made it to my son’s birthday party with minutes to spare.

DPN 1 march to the capitol paled in comparison in numbers.  If we thought it was really important to have a deaf president back then, it was more important to have a better president who wouldn’t divide up the community and manage by intimidation.

Having a deaf president isn’t enough.  Having one who cares about the Deaf community, who is proactive (not reactive) about racism and audism, who unifies the community instead of dividing it up, were more important than having a deaf president.

A tsunami of Deaf Pride came into my mind.  I thought I’d drown, but I was able to swim like a Deaf Olympic swimmer and made it to the hills of Deafhood for safety.

Finding out about Ken Levinson’s comments–  ”I thought deaf sign language users are dumb, but I found out they are not”– really simmered me.  We not only have problems with Gallaudet’s President, but we also have attitudinal problems with Galladuet’s Board of Trustees who think sign language users are dumb, but oh they are not.  Now, thats a tsunami of oppression!  We now have one additional level of administration to deal with in terms of accepting what IKJordan said- Deaf people can do anything but hear. 

This is why we need 67% of Trustees being a Gallaudet alumni and the Board Chair to be a Gallaudet alumni.  At that point, we can ensure the Trustees behave in the best interests of Gallaudet Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumnis, Deafhood and the use of American Sign Language.  Until then, we have Trustees of Tsunamis.

GallyNet-L@gallynet.org

Reprinted with the permission of listserv moderator