I know, it's been forever since I've been on my blog.....many reasons, no good excuse. Then to make it better, the first time I blog is going to be a "lecture". I only have a few people that read my blog and those 2 or 3 have heard this stuff before......so here goes.
I have a "friend", acquaintance really that posted this video to is FB page. I, of course had to watch and then post a comment......so watch, then I'll go on:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/HTzTt1VnHRM"
I also know there is some way to....embed I believe, to your blog, but I do not know how to do that...Micah, I believe you MIGHT be one to read this and can teach me ;0)
Below is my comment to the wall of my "friend":
Me;
This is me pushing dislike button!! :( I'm afraid you don't understand Deaf culture to feel this is so amazing.
Here are some responses that I received to my comment:
#1- Obviously Burlene Duncan Greer does not understand how the parents of a deaf child feel about that child hearing sound for the first time. I am aware of a portion of the deaf community who would deny the deaf child the experience to hear sound for the first time. A family I know had Cochlear Implants for their oldest child and it was a joyous day for them
The parents were joyous, did anyone take into consideration how this child felt? How they will feel. Invasive surgery, into the brain, by choice? The child will still be deaf when the processor is not on or if batteries die......some situations will not allow for the processor to be worn, i.e. the shower, swimming (they say they are making water proof now, but do you risk $5000 to see?) plus if a boy wants to play sports, like football, not recommended because it can break the internal equipment. Since it does not "hear" the thousands of frequencies hearing people hear, there will be sounds unvailable as well as undiscernalble, so these "cured" children will still need to be taught some coping skills of reading lips and when a room or gym is too loud, trying to find the person speaking because the ability to locate where sound is eminating from is gone.
Me:
I know more than you think I know, concerning all sides of this situation.
#2I'm sure you do. All I know is the smiling face of a little child who can hear his mothers voice. It may not be that every child or deaf adult is able to have a cochlear implant but for those who can, celebrate their joy!
I really wanted to say....we do not know if the child turned and responded because he heard his moms voice, or because he finally saw love and acceptance of a mother that has looked at him as broken and in need of repair. That is a selfish and self gratifiying response that happiness is equated to hearing a voice. So sad actually!!
Me:
I can celebrate that child looked into his mother's face saw joy and happiness and responded. Celebrate he has a mother to love and care for him....beyond that is for another forum.
In between we a comment this woman deleted.....she said something to the effect of how grateful she was her son was cured (yes her words) with his surgery. Him being able to speak, hear and gain knowledge so he could grow......I believe she used the word "normally".
I believe she deleted this comment, and I hope, because she realized she was implying a Deaf person could not learn or gain knowledge......I can't even express how that makes me feel!! ugh
#3 Having been the mother of a deaf child this brought me joy. I am so grateful our son was able to be cured. But as a result he learned sing language as an adult and used it on his mission. So maybe it was a blessing in the long run. It's sad to see Mac going deaf and not being able to have the implant. We checked into it.
I don't know this woman, nor the details of the situation with her son other than he was deaf until age 5, with surgery was "cured". I can see from her profile info that I can read, she is an older woman, her graduation from high school was 1956, she is older than my own mother.....old school thinking. So I didn't want to continue to add fuel to the fire, but so much I wanted to say, plus I wanted to add so many of my friends and colleagues thoughts to some forum and send it to this woman. I finally decided to put my thoughts here.....it will have to suffice. :0)
For those who suffered through this post, thank you. If you had some feelings, let me know. I hope to have another.....lighthearted, good post soon!!! ;)
