Part 3 of 6 video clips taken in Sacramento on the day of International Celebration of Sign Languages. 9/27/08. In this clip, Chester Brock (Pastor), Manny Johnson (NAD Rep.), and Tom Holcomb (Ohlone College Professor) lead the Deaf Community in a spirited celebration of ASL. (Transcript below)

Transcript:

Chester: Really, basically, God has given us an open door. Not only do we have an open door, but we have these beautiful hands that we use to sign out loud. Really, that’s one of the most beautiful things in the world. It’s God’s gift to us, and today, all over the world, we take up celebrations of the gift of our hands and ASL — not just in small communities, but globally! We can sign out in the open rather than hidden away from eyes, in secret. Now we sign freely and out in the open.

Now, remember the Three Musketeeers? They had their 3 swords they held together up high, united into a triangle. Well, let’s call those swords 1) A, 2) S, 3) L. Let those letters rise to a central point, and let us call out: ‘One for all and all for one.’ (Cheering)

Manny: The sunshine is beautiful! But, what is more beautiful than the sun today? What is more beautiful? ASL! Right! ASL! ASL! ASL is more beautiful! Whoo!

You know that with ASL, so beautiful, I am so proud to say that I don’t need this microphone. No thank you. ASL is enough.

In 1880, you know the story about 1880, the Milan Conference, which was oral-based, hundreds of people attended. Who were these people? Who attended this conference? They are all hearing, except for 1 Deaf person. He was the only Deaf person to show up. That was just wrong. When he arrived, he became gravely concerned when he learned that education for Deaf people everywhere, from then on, would be oral. “No! No!” He gathered together with other Deaf people, and they put their heads together and founded the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). That’s how NAD was founded and has continued it’s efforts in the preservation of ASL.

The mission of the National Association for the Deaf is what? To Preserve, Protect and Promote the civil, human and linguistic rights for all Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in the United States of America.

My final thought: ASL is AWESOME for ALL! Whoo! (Cheering)

Tom: I’m Tom Holcomb from Fremont. I’m a professor at Ohlone College there. I am so inspired by this huge gathering today, but I’m still confused. This can’t be heaven because I’m still here on this earth! But everyone is signing here and it is perfect. Deaf, hard of hearing, hearing… all are signing! Farout! This is beautiful people! But, the culturally Deaf part of me still must know is Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing here. I have no way of knowing, so I need your help and then I’ll feel a lot more comfortable.

So, in this large crowd, those of you who are Deaf or hard of hearing, raise your hands. Whoa! There are a ton of Deaf and hard of hearing people here today. My people. I Love you all! What about interpreters? Raise your hands. I love you too. Thank you for keeping our language alive and serving as a bridge for Deaf people and the hearing world. How many of you here are ASL student or hearing people learning sign language? Wow! Thank you for your motivation and passion for learning our beautiful language and becoming a link between Deaf and hearing people.

Now, I want to change my focus a bit to the Deaf and hard of hearing people here today. I have a few questions for you. How many of you remember trying over and over to communicate with your relatives who were unable to sign… and the struggle to lipread and fail… and communication break downs the occurred over and over…. how many of you remember? Raise your hands. I remember.

How many of you remember trying to get an education from people who can’t sign… and trying to lipread them to get an education from their lips alone… how many of your remember? Raise your hands.

How many of you remember trying to get spiritual fulfillment from religious churches or temples or other places with people who can’t sign?

THAT’S NO LIFE! WE DESERVE BETTER!

So, thank heaven for people like you here today for making ASL possible, for ourselves, and more importantly, for our children who should not have to have the same experience we did. It was crummy! NO MORE. So, thank you for your support! (Cheering) (Hand waves)

Posted by LaRonda on Saturday, October 11th, 2008 at 3:40 pm.