I say, I say, I say, have you heard the one about..... welcome to the silly season.
So they have just voted against an edict of 1880 in Canada, let no-one say we are backward in coming forward, or not forward in going backward for that matter. As I've been berated for not understanding it is an 'Symbolic' gesture (Really ? I thought they just had their dates mixed up, thought they were in Ohio, and spelt symbolic incorrectly), we now need an explanation from those who attended (Obviously suffering the confined space syndrome, and over-imbibing on the Vimto), as to the point of rejecting an edict that was made 130 years ago and which they have no visible or hereditary affiliation or connection with ? What is this thing that happens when you get too many deaf people in one space ? do they think,"We're bored.. let's put forward a motion to make Milan illegal ? invoke the death sentence for Signed english Advocates and a life-term imprisonment for members of A G Bell... ? gotta be more interesting than dear awareness."
If we are to vote on things we didn't agree with that long ago (I wasn't there so I will have to take their word for it, it wasn't a good thing), then where do we stop ? In reality a lot of GOOD came out of Milan, including the rise of deaf culture, deaf schools, and sign language, without some silly people passing a rule you cannot use sign, no-one would have gone the other way, think about it. It's not as if most in the civilised world took much notice anyway, of a few Italians with a signing bee in their bonnet. Without deprivation/oppression (Not that I endorse it), no aspiration to fight your corner, is one way you can look at it. 1880 they said no to sign, but from 1880 onwards an explosion of deaf clubs created here in the UK anyway, so not all bad news, if deaf community is your thing.
We were most amused the RLM blog has now also got completely carried away with the euphoria of denial, and is going for broke with a "Deaf Declaration Of Independence", let us hope there are less casualities than the first time around, (And the British do it differently next time, we win, you all drink tea), OK, you can have this one on Great Britain too RLM, bear in mind there were welsh people who signed your American dream, and at the Alamo.. If we are going to revert to fighting ancient battles, it's gonna be a long day isn't it ? Perhaps I'll vote against the Romans (Those Italians always doing something to annoy lol)....they did a lot of damage here. I suppose the next stop, is to put forward a law banning oralism, cochlear implants, and a total demolition of inclusive education, but hold on isn't that anti-choice ?
I think the best idea we read so far is that with this declaration of deaf independence, is they might turn California into a deaf-only state or something, that Dakota is being a bit too bloody cold, and not such an attractive destination for the revolution. I would suggest Hawaii personally, and you get grass skirts. Strange this weird 'vote' came from a country with one of the LARGEST CI implantation programs under way, and enough snow to keep most amused. Just like eskimos have 200 words for snow, they have hundreds of deaf people determined to be modern, by inventing 200 words or terms for being deaf, and voting against ancient edicts.
Perhaps we really do need to get out more....I may have over-focused on British and American areas, it seems all the weird and wonderful happenings are happening oop North. I'd be more interested if they were addressing pressing modern-day access issues. It's what we call in the Uk "Friday Syndrome" where most people are tired, awaiting the end of the day, and working week, and will rubber stamp any crackpot idea so they can go home early. Ominously this is how the British Disability Act was passed ! OK Milan rejection IS a good idea, (how about Kabul ?), now, where is the bar...
I've just realised it is the deaf version of "Back to the Future.." isn't it...
Did you know, 80% of husbands cheat on their wives in America ? (the other 20% cheat on them in Europe...).
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