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From: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: (2 of 2): Genetic Engineering?
Message-ID: <18400@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 28 Mar 91 05:32:24 GMT
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Index Number: 14532

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Others have predicted the demise of the Deaf Community over the years
and been wrong. Sit back and watch the show continue. Another hearie
indoctrination and anti-Deaf concept bites the dust.

You will be surprised at the number of deafies who take offense at
the idea od being made medically hearing and the same done to their
chidlren. Like many, you fail to see the distinction between deafness
as a pathology (hearie view) and deafness as a way of life (Deaf view).
Consequently, you underestimate the stubborn resistance of the grassroots
Deaf Community to  A N Y T H I N G  that poses a threat to its existence
just any people would to their way of life and sense of being. Behold
the Native American-more or less beaten, ignored, reviled, a chairty
case, liquor-fed and shunted onto some land [arcel out of sight and
mind. Yet, these people despite all things arrayed against them stubborn
hold to to their traditions, language, religion and other cultural
trappings. You will find that far more deaf people than you imagine
will react the same way to "hearing technology." Yes, there are going
to be people like me who if somehow could be made hearing would accept
it because I could hear before. Yet, even would hesitate if my unborn
kid could be made hearing by genetic engineering. Even I, if I became
hearing this very hour, would elect to stay among Deaf people simply
because I feel thatis where I belong. I would simply seek for every
way I could to put myself at the service of deaf people.

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