Q2 - Are you Happy Being Deaf?
Are you happy being deaf? How come? This is probably the fundamental question to the whole deafhood process.
The way you answer both questions above is your own deafhood process. The more you delve into thinking about being deaf and mediate on it, then should you consider it something spiritual being deaf? Huh? No . . . well . . . hmmm . . . maybe yes . . .
People have signed to me, “Yes, I do feel spiritual being deaf.” But what do they mean? Should we use the word, spirituality, to denote all those emotions and experiences being deaf? Probably not. Our answers, clear and vague, are part of the dDeafhood discourse. This blogsite is one of the places where the discourse on the dDeafhood concept within the prism of spirituality, can begin.
it is the beginning . . . .
. . . silence . . .
. . . Here is the second question of the blogsite, Spirituality of Being Deaf.
Q2 - Are You Happy Being Deaf? How come?
If you say no, delve into it why. If you say yes, how come? If you feel both yes and no, how come you have mixed feelings? Are you embarrassed being deaf, then look into why you felt that way. Are you feeling proud being Deaf, then should you keep this pride in check? Your answers, in all shades, probably do revolve around the spiritual process of being deaf.
If we feel protective over us being Deaf, our own dDeaf children, and our dDeaf schools, should we impose those feelings onto others? Should we impose our feelings being Deaf on other (deaf) people? Should we impose our feelings being human on others? In order for a pluralistic, diverse - multilingual and multicultural - world to operate in harmony, our answers to the above should be resoundingly NO!
Every one of us live on the only ship we have. This ship, namely the Planet Earth, is our only home, very precious. Yes, there are much beauty and ugliness about that ship. Peoples and nations agree and disagree, sometimes violently, with one another. Our ship rocks from one side to another in its circular journey into the future. Billions of people, in guise of religions and other practices, have hope for ourselves, humyns, in our future. Deaf people are very much passengers, as for every one of us, on our Ship of Destiny. Who are the stewards of this ship? Who should lead in healing and maintaining our precious habitat? Native indigenous peoples like the Aboriginals or the Native Americans? Politicans and heads of state of countries all over the world? Deaf peoples? The answer is - EVERY ONE OF US!
To quote one of our sages, Paddy Ladd.
Motion 23. Given the special abilities of Deaf Peoples of the world to communicate across national boundaries, we give to them the responsibility for worldwide face to face, video to video communication, with the intention of mediating and solving any disputes or misunderstandings that may arise between different national coalitions and cultures. Furthermore, in our search for symbols the peoples of Planet Earth to work towards global harmony, we designate Deaf Peoples of the Earth as a group truly represented in each nation on the planet, whose own harmony serves as a model for us all.
July 1st, 2007 at 12:17 am
This is an excellent article.
I personally am happy with being Deaf. Why?
Because that’s who I am. If I cannot be happy being Deaf, then I cannot be happy with myself.
I do not view being Deaf as a disability. I view it as an advantage.
I only feel disabled when society imposes its will on me to be hearing and to behave the way they want me to.
So, who’s really Deaf to the world- Deaf people or hearing people that want Deaf people to conform?
Cheers,
Erick
July 1st, 2007 at 1:16 am
I thought Paddy Ladd was one of OUR sages but…. this man’s view is unkown to most deaf people here, it’s ‘In’ reading for those into the cultural thing. With respect (Really !), I think allying spirtual approaches to deafness is going too far, primarliy the majority view it (deaf people), as a disability ,only cultural deaf view it differently, and it’s not known how many of them share that view.
While there is no possibility of this developing into some ‘cult’ status, we need to be mindful of deaf extremism and using ‘religious’ approaches.
While quoting deaf in History, we also need to be mindful, that the deaf are ‘re-invented’ every generation, while that is unique, there are few direct links deaf to deaf with the past.
People who acquire a deafness, will never subscribe to Mr Ladd’s view, or others like him, because they feel deafness and loss needs to be addressed, which is NOT what Mr Ladd would be advocating !
If you are putting tis concept to deaf people it helps to identify who your view is aimed at. Deaf.read has a growing number of contributors not allied with deaf culture.
July 1st, 2007 at 2:15 am
I am not happy about it.
I am not sad about it.
IT JUST IS.
July 1st, 2007 at 5:12 am
Actually, I feel more spiritual as a PERSON… not a DEAF PERSON. I’d be limiting myself by defining myself as a deaf person… if I just say, “a person”, that leaves the door wide open to all the possibilities.
We all share the light/energy/force/vibration and we all vibrate with energy… even the trees, rocks, soil, uranium, etc. We all are people first… then labels come… black, white, red, etc. Nationalities next… disabilities… personality quirks. If we focus a lot on labels, there would be a lot of agreeing and disagreeing. I guess that defines cultures :o)
July 1st, 2007 at 7:23 am
It’s hard to find the spiritual person deaf or otherwise. I think we have the American coca-cola culture much to blame for that. Where the pursuit of personal fame and wealth is far more a goal, than finding peace with oneself, and how you relate peacefully and fairly with others. Me being deaf or hearing would have no basis in that. It’s not how you judge yourself, but how others, judge YOU.
July 1st, 2007 at 7:53 am
Well said, MM. I grinned at your dry humor (or in your country, humour) about “American coca-cola”.
If anyone’s opinion does not fit anyone’s beliefs, he/she gets scorned and dissed. I feel that there is almost too much emphasis on what “Deaf” means, which leads to diversity in the deaf community… positive and negative.
July 1st, 2007 at 8:22 am
Thanks Karen, it is perhaps unfair of me, in that I always tend to assume Americans do not understand dry humour/humor , and Irony, I stand humbled….
July 1st, 2007 at 11:16 am
Hi,
Well, when in mainstreming school, I was confused about the deafhood, actually at that time, deafness. There was so much confusion what I could do as a deaf person. So, once I accepted my deafhood (deafness), I started to enjoy myself as a person. The burden was lifted. I focused on myself what I really need for the person and then the deafhood.
So much for role modeling much needed in that school.
It is important that you understand that you are taking care of yourself first of all, that is accepting your deafhood. Then you can move on from there.
Yes, I am happy being Deaf!
deafk
July 1st, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Your blogsite gets me to think about anonymity. I am wondering why you need to be anonymous. Can you please identify yourself? That would seem more spiritual. Identifying oneself welcomes connection. Anonymity doesnt seem to welcome connection. I decide to remain anonymous because you are anonymous.
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:56 am
I LOVE to be DEAF. I thank God everyday for giving me this most beautiful gift.. I always celebrate when Deaf baby is born. I jump up and down excitedly. I would love to see Deaf population to be expanded. Deaf people are beautiful. I think myself as DEAF first, WOMYN, then as a HUMAN BEING. THANK GOD for me as a Deaf person.
Yes we need to improve our community for better education, place, and many more for Deaf children.. The system really screwed us up like Black and Indian communities. It’s time for us to reclaim our Deaf community and clean up the mess that the system made.
Aidan
July 6th, 2007 at 3:55 am
My cup runneth overmuch too…
April 14th, 2008 at 4:54 am
hello, i am deaf from nigeria like to join with you. thank you.