I just saw a movie of Mighty Mouth, the super unhoo, strolling near Dog Canyon in the Sacramento Mountains. In this cartoon Mighty explains the difficulty of being a cartoon in a real world. He explains to the many illustrators that they should not worry how their cartoons turn out because they can always modify or change what they don't like about them as they draw them up.
Throughout the movie, I sat amused by some of the things this cartoon had to say as a lot of it related to my own deafness. Here I was, watching this blue-coated cartoon talking in a real and natural environment about how frustrating it is to be "in-between". In other words, having human feelings as a cartoon but not having them be wholly recognized like humans do one to another.
You see, he looked like a normal person only he didn't seem to fit in with the octillos and the sotols of the Chihuahuan Desert.
He was just a cartoon.
A cartoon that was sort of belligerent and manipulative.
I also noticed in the movie that the clouds didn't show up until he started to say the very words his illustrator had always given to him:
"Don't listen to them, you're stronger, louder, and brighter. They are NOTHING! Blabber away!"
He was drawn up under this very mantra so to better face the adversity that was laid out on his journey towards accepting the fact that he will never be a real human being.
Just a cartoon!
But...
The clouds are getting thicker and denser...
Perhaps when the summer monsoons come,.. they'll likely wash old Mighty's ink away and only then shall we know what really lies beneath the illustration.
The Natural.
Deaf.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Just gotta say something here...
Mike uses the words "hearing loss" and "deaf" interchangeably. I think this is a large misunderstanding and misgiving to hearing parents. There are significant differences in the identity and nature of babies who are deaf and who have hearing loss. This should be clarified in his vlog. Otherwise, grieving parents will have false hopes for their deaf babies.
This happens with me on occasion, when hearing parents with newly identified deaf babies meet me. They see and hear me use my voice on occasion and say, "Oh, well she's deaf and can speak so clearly, so maybe my deaf child will be just like her."
They fail to ask my story. They do not know I was hearing for 17 years before becoming deaf. I hasten to clarify this for them and also to let them know I use ASL, that it is my preferred mode of communication, that I have completely accepted myself as a bi-lingual Deaf individual, and that I feel content in that identity.
Parents, love your deaf children as they are. Love them by exposing them to ASL while they are young. Yes, McConnell has a point about early intervention. This is true for ASL as well! Give your child this gift! It is not a curse. It is who they are. They are not hoo like you.
I get you Jeff. It's all about loving who we are, not hoo we are.
~ LaRonda
Wanna see a video of me hiking above Dog Canyon on the Sacramento Mountains in February 2008? It's only 20 miles away from where I live. My video is about deafness and adversity.
click on my video.
http://kokonutpundits.blogspot.com/2008/02/adversity-andthe-audacity-of-hope.html
Laronda,
*smile*
Mike,
I'm pleased you stopped by. Thank you for your confirmation on the location. Now I have a clue as to why you think the way you do.
Maybe it is the exposure to low levels of radiation.
I know one thing you have failed to do acknowledge about yourself is that you're using your abilities to belittle those without the same abilities.
You sound like a supremist and an audist. I thought better of you until I saw these videos. I'd like to say one thing:
Please change your attitude about these abilities of yours if you want to have a positive effect on the world.
If you want to educate the hearing world about their options,...
Please include all options.
I noticed you missed a big one:
ASL
Now, I'm sorry you feel the way you do and I hope you will forgive those deaf people who have hurt you in the past.
Also, I think it was cool to see you hiking outside in the beloved desert.
Interesting that this took place in Feb. of '08. I took my own little trip about the same time.
Check it out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=remDoB-3Tn4
Anyhow,.. let's think about what we all have in common before we celebrate our own unique qualities.
Nice getting word from you.
Gracias para todo!
Post a Comment