Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!oliveb!bunker!wtm
From: peters@ee.udel.edu (Shirley Peters)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: For Your Information
Message-ID: <14783@handicap.news>
Date: 12 Apr 91 14:49:15 GMT
References: <18492@bunker.isc-br.com>
Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com
Reply-To: peters@ee.udel.edu (Shirley Peters)
Organization: University of Delaware
Lines: 48
Approved: wtm@hcap.fidonet.org
Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference

Index Number: 14783

In article <18492@bunker.isc-br.com> James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org writes:
>Index Number: 14619
>
>Ralph, I won't be posting personally authored messages on Silent Talk
>henceforth. I think I have been too "Deaf" in my views and dared to
>defend some outright attacks on ASL and the culturally deaf once too
>often. I have seen ASL blamed for the low education level of deaf kids.
>I have seen statements saying all residential schools should be closed
>and all deaf kids mainstreamed and put downs on the Deaf Community.
>However, I do believe that one should follow the rules of the other
>guy's system so I will be doing that.

I would like to add my two cents here.  I am a hearing person who is
currently learning about the Deaf, their/your languages, and their/your
culture.  I think that the debate that was raging here about ASL vs.
Oralism was very instructive to all of us who were silently reading
along.  Obviously, the flaming made it a bit uncomfortable, but the
information given by all parties was very well thought out and
informative, albeit overly biased to one side or the other.  With James
giving up because of the heat, we loose the opportunity to hear
personal opinions, histories, and preferences, which will help the rest
of the readers make decisions about their own opinions.

I think that the main reason for the personal attacks is that the
people involved have such completely different experiences that they
have a hard time conceiving of the other person's views, and therefore
have a hard time accepting the other viewpoint as valid.

It's hard to put yourself in someone elses shoes, when you've gone
barefoot all your life.

I, for one, would like to beg James to stay and keep offering his
opinions.  I would also like everyone to agree to disagree, and instead
of cutting down someone elses ideas, make yours so appealing, that
everyone else will want to change their mind!  (in other words, a
positive campaign)

Keep on debating, you'd be surprised how many people are listening and
learning!

Shirley
-- 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Shirley Peters                                       peters@dewey.udel.edu
                        I'd rather be sleeping!
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+