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From: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Hardliners
Message-ID: <15847@handicap.news>
Date: 30 May 91 04:03:00 GMT
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Index Number: 15847

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

I "hear" you, Tim and agree. I too would rather not turn on afterburners.
The fact is the oral and mainstreaming camp does have people who despite
lip service to the contrary; do indeed gun down the beliefs of the
other side. Then when the other side draws a line and says come no
farther; the opposing camp cries "FOUL!"

One nice thing is that in my job at the local community college, I
have had the privilege of discussing the same ASL and mainstreaming
issues with members of the opposing camp on very friendly terms. I
am proud to say that their honesty and truly listening tomore than
just themselves making noises led to my shifting my ideas about certain
things. I am just as proud to say that these same people also shifted.
It shows the two sides can really communicate if there is a desire
to do so in the first place. Ilearned from them and theylearned from
me. As a consequence, one mainstreaming school engaged ina  teacher
exchange program to promote better understanding between residential
and mainstreaming programs. No lip service, just honesty and willingness
to see that there was more than one side of an issue. And no being
glad to see residential schools being shut down because they saw the
value of Deaf togetherness; especially in the early years and for certain
teenagers who needed to develop a sense of self. I am proud to have
associated with these members of the opposite camp. They are the real
flexible people on their side of the fence.

I wish the true inflexibles who label folks like you and I inflexible
and Deaf Apartheits, etc could be like these good folks at Pueblo and
other schools I know here. Hang in there. Stick to your goods and just
ne honest and fair. There are lots of good guys out there who truly
understand what this is all about. They are from all corners of the
field.

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