Deaf Sneetches?

Here's a subtitled video "The Sneetches".

If you know the story about The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss then you'd already know about the story on tolerance and acceptance rather than to think one way is the better way. It's the senselessness of prejudice, discrimination and vanity. In other words, don't act all "snooty" or "snotty." I grew up reading all of the books by Dr. Suess. I suppose you guys have done that as well. But eating green eggs and ham are hazardous to your health. Chomping down a plate full of  green, moldy food isn't a smart thing to do.



And so, this led me to realize that even some Deaf, deaf, hh and hearing people aren't immune from being a "Sneetch" because "The Sneetches" story is about the human condition and frailty in us all regardless of hearing status or cultural affiliation. Elitism is an apt description, too. I even see a bit of "Zax" in them refusing to budge in some instances as well.

The Zax are characters from the Dr. Seuss books. They are stubborn and arguable and have messy hair and hairy bodies. They live in the Prairie of Prax. Varieties of Zax include a north-going Zax and a south going Zax. Due to their stubbornness, they refuse to go in any direction other than their assigned directions. If a south-going Zax encounters a north-going Zax, they cannot solve their issue and the world progresses without them, such as a highway being built over them.

But here's my view I've had for years now. I accept people regardless of their mode of communication. I understand the roles and decisions parents must face for their children with hearing loss with the hope they make informed decisions. I don't  go around calling parents "monsters" or "child abusers" for the hard decisions they had to make.  I don't go around and call people "Deficit Thinkers" just because of a difference of opinion or accuse them using the a-wordism, either. I believe babies, deaf, hard of hearing or hearing, knowing how to sign would be advantageous for them when it comes to communicating. And I also understand the fact that early intervention is key as well when it comes to auditory training and speech skills. I believe that communication access is essential to anyone with a hearing loss be it mild or profound and there are a variety of mode of communication and methods available for all of us, especially in a world where communication access technology is growing by the leaps and bounds.  But to call people as "sneetches" or "snooty" or "snotty" is at risk for using terminological exactitude in a world of constant labeling.  I don't act "snooty" if somebody prefers to use his or her voice and accuse the guy using the a-wordism. Nor would I act that way if a person prefers to sign, either.  But a Sneetch would say your signing isn't a "language" but my signing is a bonafide language signing while using English word order with his nose in the air.  Are you sure you're not a "Sneetch"? Really, it wouldn't matter how one signs or whether it must pass the language muster as long as people are able to understand each other, right? Wouldn't that make me "Sneetchless"?

Like I said before, isn't diversity great?

And now, go and take a vote in my poll whether I should continue blogging or not.