DPN20 Celebration: Personal Epiphany
Amy Cohen Efron shares her personal epiphany while watching the DPN20 Celebration Live Video Feed hosted by DeafNation last night.
Play Quicktime version 4:46 minutes long
For some who cannot view my videoclip, try this from YouTube:
To the leaders and contributors for the DPN20 Celebration, thank you for making this accessible for people like me who can be a part of the celebration.
Angel Ramos - the most persistent person who made this celebration happen! Thank you, Angel!
Thank you, CSDVRS, DeafLife, DeafNation, R&R Publishers, www.deaf.com, Angel Ramos Foundation, Equal Access Communication, Mano a Mano, Sign Language Associates, Inc., Hands On VRS en Espanol, and many others who made valuable contribution and financial support to make this DPN20 Celebration possible.
Thank you, Tim Rarus, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Greg Hlibok, Phil Bravin, Nancy Bloch, Gerald “Bummy” Burstein, Jeff Rosen, Stephen Hlibok, Allen Sussman, Dorian Fletcher, and the master of ceremonies, John Maucere for making this show entertaining! One person who is unable to appear at this show, Jerry Covell, and his spirit was at the celebration, because his name was been mentioned many times.
There are some interesting new tidbits and historical information I’ve learned from watching this celebration. I will never forget Phil Bravin’s revelation about the Board of Trustees meeting to select a new Board President after Jane Bassett Spilman resigned. Fascinating! That story is worthy analyzing and disseminated for new history books!
DeafNation - Thank you so much for making the celebration accessible for all of us who can watch the Live Video Feed!
Best,
Amy Cohen Efron
March 9th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Wow, that is so cool, Amy.
Even though I have never been in any colleges in my lifetime. However I felt very much impacted by the deaf students and older deaf people for starting a protest for Deaf President Now”. I’ve caught the bits and pieces of that protest on the news 20 years ago.
I didn’t know DeafNation was showing DPN20 on live feed until too late. I’m disappointed but it’s ok.
I can understand why you felt a bit letdown when you had tried to get your friends involved in viewing the live feed. Even though I have never lived through Gally protest as you already did, I can see why you feel like you’re a world apart. But I’m glad eventually you and your friends finally got around to discuss it.
I’d like to ask you some questions, Amy. When you were actually at protest, how did you feel? What was your take on those students, Gally’s president and Gallty’s BOT? How did you feel when it was over?
Misha
March 9th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I was on my intern job at the Dept of Defense. During the protest week, the four-star General Commander approached me, gave a sweet hug and said, “We’ve got to do something for you.”
….and then I received so many unexpected VIPs visiting, supporting and hugging me in my office. I got blushed and goosebumps so many times. (In order to the General’s information about me for being a Gallaudet Graduate, they told them all about me…..oh well.)
That was something that I never forget.
March 9th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Hello Amy
Great job on VLOG. It was touching !
Thanks for your incredible sharing.
March 9th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Amy, I enjoyed your vlog and sharing your thoughts with us. You were very lucky to know where to find a link to watch the DPN20 Celebration video. Would it be possible for Human Editors, yourself included, to borrow someone’s
video to show it on DeafRead?
March 9th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Amy, oh my god, you looked so young! We all were so young back then!
That was so awesome, a trip down the memory lane. It was a crazy week, but so alive and full of fighting spirits!
Like I told Greg in his vlog, we need to acknowledge the older Deaf leaders who paved the way and made DPN possible. This wouldn’t have been possible without these older Deaf Activists.
It’s sad that some of the d/Deaf people don’t appreciate the significance of DPN, basically because their lives are so different and they feel detached from that historic moment. Yet, when you narrated on that, I realized, I never shared with my close friends about the anniversary of DPN. I gotta look up that picture of me in that book and share them.
We still need to keep the memory alive and burning brightly, to teach both the Deaf and Hearing people.
March 9th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Oh yes, Thankful to DeafNation showing the live of DPN20. I missed about 30 minutes then watched rest of time. They told history that made me think better. They had many very good quotes. Unbelievable what they are. We still wonder where Jerry Covell now. I might miss someone told about him whereabout. One thing inspired me when they talked about Vloggers/Bloggers and DBC. Obivlous they see DeafRead, right?
March 9th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
One more thing, we, the DPN protesters, inspired the UfG protesters. We are now the older generation having paved the way for the younger generation to emulate
So the cycle of Deaf empowerment still continues…
March 9th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Your vlog is remarkable! It’s touching, Amy! I left Gallaudet before it happened.
March 9th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
DPN and Unity for Gallaudet!
March 9th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Last night, I watched most of ‘em. I wasn’t in this area or in United States during the 1988 DPN Protest. I was in Jerusalem celebrating the Purim with entire families. I read the Jerusalem Post and found out about Gallaudet’s protest. Also, I flew into London, my sister telephoned from University of Maryland telling us about the news.
I read the newspapers from London during my 2-days stay, and they also printed the news about Gallaudet too. Flew back to USA. Everyone were telling me about the protest.
The protest actually spread the news around the globe. I had seen that in two different countries!
I would agree that we should celebrate EVERY year!!
March 9th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Hello Amy:
I think Elizabeth is correct….our fight during DPN inspried the UFG Protest. As one who was involved in both of the Milestone Deaf Protests for our civil rights… I hope that NO ONE will ever forget those who gave up a lot to ensure the success of both protests.
I was there last night at the dinner- and I can tell everyone: Jerry Covell was missed.
Peace.
Raphael J. St. Johns C-87, G-00
March 9th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Yes, I felt same thing what did you ask at last. So I asked a friend and husband to watch DPN/LIVE last night, but unfortunately, I was alone to watch so the video inspired me so much. :o)
March 9th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Hello Amy,
I understand that you felt the same thing as I did, I went to the SEAAD event in Greensboro, NC on the same day as the DPN20 event was held at Gallaudet. I have a lot of my thoughts about that event and not only for DPN and 1988 is the one of my milestone years.
1988 had many things that ever happened in my life like I got married with Angela and others. That was really hard for me to believe that WAS 20 YEARS AGO! You may check on my blog: http://web.mac.com/pmrjr/PMRjr/PMRjrs_Corner/Entries/2008/3/2_1988_is_the_one_of_the_most_important_events_in_my_lifetime!_.html
I wish that I could go there, but I think that DPN25 could be the BEST event that we will ever have! I hope all of you go there in 2013!
Smile..
PMRjr
March 9th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Keep all historical facts what you did is very rememberence!!! I can understand you feel tearing up between DPN@0 and your friends. I do not think so because DPN20 is yours who was involved in your times when you were a college student! Do not forget that very important event in your life. Your friends are temporary you can forget or not to forget either one but DPN20! I visisted there at a new gym that was where there were a rally and met Greg Hlibok!
March 9th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Superb! Just superb!
I was right to set you up as my hero :D.
March 9th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Thumb up!
March 10th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Good vlog! I experienced almost all the time. I mean in religion. But speak of your experience in your vlog, wow! It is tough decision but since you were part of DPN in 1988, then it is worth it to watch it. If I were in your shoes, I would watch DPN 20 online.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:48 am
Thank you Amy for your sensitive thought! Thank Deafnation to send it streaming for us outside USA! It was so exciting to hear all speechs. Both laugh and warm tears in my eyes
I wonder if Deafnation has plan to make DVD on the speechs because it is important for people to learn what DPN means to Deaf History. Many have said good quotations we must save! They could be famous as one from Martin L King “I have a dream….”
Amy, you are my favorite!
March 10th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Hi Amy,
You made a wonderful remarkable and insightful to share with our audience. Indeed, I was at DPN20 on Saturday night. Every presenter inspired me with new quotations and I learned from them.
Fortunately, I am Gallaudet alumni and was there during Unity for Gallaudet that reflected my inspiration from DPN. They are indeed different in many approaches to save Gallaudet.
DPN is the most important history in our lives to break many barriers to our community and education around the globe. DPN will never die out! Thanks to MLK and Gandhi for many battles to accomplish for our people especially minorities and disablities.
In closing, I truly appreciate what your heart warmths to share your great reflections of DPN and discoursed with your friends on the table with positive impact.
Thank you, Amy! Thumbs UP!
Nick Vera
March 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
What a precious, heartfelt vlog, Amy. I can see how tender that night was for you. I sat in awe of your tale. Hugs.
~ LaRonda
March 11th, 2008 at 1:20 am
good post. Bummy’s a great guy.
thedeafcrab.com
March 11th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Like you said I was there, I too was there with you although I have different memories of the events especially our class of ‘88 members. I wished that I had some photos and I don’t. I sure remember helping out lock the gates that is the one I shall never forget!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Seriously, there should be a play about DPN! No, I’m not joking. How else to share the most precious history and teach the future generation about how much the past has done for them?