A Frank Black and White Discussion

With Kristi Merriweather's permisson I am putting this I.M. discussion we had tonight in my blog regarding the recent MSSD incident that occurred yesterday on the campus of Gallaudet University. In the one hour and 30 minute discussion Kristi presented her perspective, opinion and experience as a black person while I presented mine as a white person about the whole MSSD incident, including the Jena 6. The underlying lesson here is that there must be an open and honest dialogue to take place in order to understand and learn certain but crucially important issues. In this case it is about racism. Racism issues will never go away unless we somehow address them right down to the core, uninhibited. This is the kind of dialogue we both see that is seriously lacking or conspicuously absent on the campus of Gallaudet University. And, of course, in the classrooms of MSSD considering what just had happened yesterday. It was an ugly event. It shouldn't have happened. Many people were surprised. Even hurt. But at the same time many blacks weren't surprised much so but rather they were disappointed on seeing it happened. Enjoy the IM discussion (note: I added in the links on certain subjects in the IM text copy below). And for the record, I was the one who approached Kristi to have this frank and open discussion.


Kristi Merriweather (7:09:25 PM): Okay, now about MSSD.
Mike McConnell (7:09:38 PM): yeah...would like to hear your perspective.
Mike McConnell (7:09:57 PM): which blogs have you read so far?
Kristi Merriweather (7:09:57 PM): When I first heard of it, I wasn't surprised
Mike McConnell (7:10:07 PM): Not surprised?
Kristi Merriweather (7:10:16 PM): I've read yours and DeafDC and Miskena
Kristi Merriweather (7:10:31 PM): No, not surprised at all and you will find the same
Kristi Merriweather (7:10:48 PM): Sentiments from several black people over age 30
Mike McConnell (7:10:54 PM): Interesting.
Kristi Merriweather (7:11:05 PM): I wasn't surprised for 2 reasons-
Kristi Merriweather (7:11:30 PM): A parent of a black MSSD student told me that he
Kristi Merriweather (7:12:02 PM): Said that fights between black and white students were ridiculously common,
Mike McConnell (7:12:14 PM): before I forget do you mind after we're done talking I copy the pertinent discussion into my blog but replace your IM name with your name?
Mike McConnell (7:12:29 PM): just your typical fight, right?
Kristi Merriweather (7:12:38 PM): So we're talking about an environment already...sure, you have my go ahead...
Mike McConnell (7:12:59 PM): Ok. Great. It's important that people hear your perspective.
Kristi Merriweather (7:13:07 PM): Well, I don't know what a typical fight is, but
Mike McConnell (7:13:07 PM): go ahead
Mike McConnell (7:13:25 PM): when I say "typical" it's not about race. Just, you know, plain old fights.
Kristi Merriweather (7:13:33 PM): We're talking about an environment that was already under racial tension on some level, and
Kristi Merriweather (7:14:00 PM): ...no, the mother was implying to me that those were not your typical fights and
Kristi Merriweather (7:14:28 PM): She was implying that there was little punishment being meted out for those fights
Mike McConnell (7:14:55 PM): Punishment? Explain, pls.
Mike McConnell (7:15:52 PM): are u there?
Kristi Merriweather (7:15:59 PM): I don't remember exactly what she said, only what she was implying, was that those fights were not being followed with your normal discipline measures for
Kristi Merriweather (7:16:10 PM): Fights, like suspensions, etc
Mike McConnell (7:16:23 PM): Oh, MSSD doing the punishment.
Mike McConnell (7:16:26 PM): ok.
Kristi Merriweather (7:16:29 PM): Right, right
Mike McConnell (7:16:33 PM): go ahead
Kristi Merriweather (7:16:47 PM): And we both know that
Kristi Merriweather (7:17:21 PM): MSSD is on Gallaudet campus and is in some way connected to the culture at Gallaudet, so knowing what happened
Kristi Merriweather (7:17:46 PM): Last year with the protest, the low rate of mea culpa,
Mike McConnell (7:18:07 PM): In other words, we're seeing similar behaviors of some form of racism throughout the campus?
Kristi Merriweather (7:18:22 PM): The slowness of people to concerns about what had happened to Dr.Anderson, I wasn't really surprised what had transpired at MSSD
Mike McConnell (7:18:28 PM): yeah...hardly any "mea culpa's"
Mike McConnell (7:18:49 PM): Exactly. The Dr. Anderson thing.
Mike McConnell (7:19:13 PM): Only Noah, as far as I know, publicly did his "mea culpa" last year.
Kristi Merriweather (7:19:13 PM): I am not a student at Gally now, I'm not qualified to
Kristi Merriweather (7:19:49 PM): Answer the question about whether similar acts happened on Gallaudet campus. Yes you're right about Noah and I
Kristi Merriweather (7:20:06 PM): Believe it was because of Lindsay Dunn breaking it down for him,
Kristi Merriweather (7:20:42 PM): Noah got caught up in the mass mentality, but he eventually got his head back together
Kristi Merriweather (7:20:49 PM): Unlike some folks (grin)
Mike McConnell (7:20:59 PM): Sad.
Kristi Merriweather (7:21:11 PM): But do you understand why I wasn't surprised now?
Mike McConnell (7:22:13 PM): Well, in a way. But I was suprised to hear about how one black kid participated in the KKK scrawling business even though we're not even sure who did the actually scrawling in the first place.
Kristi Merriweather (7:22:47 PM): It is troublesome but it's not entirely strange either. You see,
Kristi Merriweather (7:23:56 PM): Black people who have positive racial identity would not feel compelled to write KKK on another black person, it's just too emotional-laden for them. I believe that this
Kristi Merriweather (7:24:46 PM): Boy had little positive racial identity, can you imagine a deaf person with strong positive deaf identity
Kristi Merriweather (7:25:07 PM): Writing hearing-impaired and dumb on a deaf person's body?
Kristi Merriweather (7:25:31 PM): It's not even the same because the word "KKK" is usually
Kristi Merriweather (7:25:53 PM): Associated with, you know, lynchings and all that, but you get the point.
Kristi Merriweather (7:26:23 PM): This boy is staying at the dorm. He is not
Mike McConnell (7:26:54 PM): Yeah. But I am wondering whether it could also be a lack of knowledge, knowing the history behind the "KKK" and the Swastikas. If you don't know your history, you cannot appreciate them. And
Kristi Merriweather (7:27:11 PM): With his black parents. Who is teaching him black history, importance of being content with his blackness? We don't know but we can see how that can happen.
Mike McConnell (7:27:17 PM): I am also wondering just what kind of history does MSSD teach at the high school anyway?
Kristi Merriweather (7:27:28 PM): No, no, that boy had to know. How can you write
Kristi Merriweather (7:28:24 PM): Something and know it was negative, it wasn't liek they were trying to draw flowers and peace symbols on him, the intent was not of a positive nature. He had to know.
Mike McConnell (7:28:33 PM): We don't know who wrote that "KKK" down. But I believe they were playing "war" and one group was named "KKK" or something like that?
Kristi Merriweather (7:29:05 PM): Your question about teaching history at MSSD-
Mike McConnell (7:29:16 PM): They might know the "history" but do they really know the history and understand the seriousness? Well, they do now.
Kristi Merriweather (7:30:03 PM): Most likely it's your general history, and it does cover slavery, Civil War, Reconstruction, Civil Rights, but often it's told in a way
Kristi Merriweather (7:31:06 PM): that overlooks the innumerous ways of resistances we employed during these times. It's framed in a way like we were all victims all the time. Black people who were schooled in
Kristi Merriweather (7:31:34 PM): Black history knows about the other framwork.
Kristi Merriweather (7:31:54 PM): Well, how can they not know? Katherine J said that
Kristi Merriweather (7:32:32 PM): MSSD had discussions about Jena 6 (for real? We don't know), and how can we discuss Jena without
Kristi Merriweather (7:32:50 PM): Mentioning the nooses? They had to know.
Kristi Merriweather (7:33:06 PM): Perhaps not to what extent, but they knew enough that
Mike McConnell (7:33:20 PM): who are "they"?
Mike McConnell (7:33:43 PM): oh, the MSSD students.
Kristi Merriweather (7:33:45 PM): Those symbols were of very negative nature. "They"- the seven students now in trouble.
Kristi Merriweather (7:34:02 PM): All of them should be expelled, my opinion.
Kristi Merriweather (7:34:28 PM): Even without hate crime, they committed a crime of
Kristi Merriweather (7:34:47 PM): Kidnapping, holding someone hostage against their will.
Mike McConnell (7:35:19 PM): Perhaps but first all of the facts must be gathered first and see exactly what really and how it happened.
Mike McConnell (7:35:44 PM): If it turns out the way you think happened, sure, expulsion is one severe option.
Kristi Merriweather (7:36:14 PM): I agree. And if it turns out as the media reported it, then expulsion would be a viable option.
Mike McConnell (7:36:46 PM): Well, the media isn't always factual. Better to wait and see the next MSSD memo from Jankowski.
Kristi Merriweather (7:36:55 PM): It's 2007. We ought to have less patience for such things.
Kristi Merriweather (7:37:42 PM): I know, I know. Wait and see.
Mike McConnell (7:37:44 PM): Sure. Derogatory symbols, intimidation or just plain attacking without provocation should not be tolerated at all.
Mike McConnell (7:38:28 PM): What was the first thought that went through your mind when you first heard the news. And where did that news come from?
Kristi Merriweather (7:38:33 PM): You have to wonder why the boys were sent home and why KJ had to call in a national diversity expert if it wasn't true.
Kristi Merriweather (7:39:19 PM): I found out early this morning while getting ready for work, and my first thought was
Kristi Merriweather (7:39:53 PM): "Why am I not shocked? That's not good."
Mike McConnell (7:40:01 PM): Well, I'm sure after all this MSSD will probably have to design a mandatory course work covering areas about KKK, racism, etc..
Mike McConnell (7:40:17 PM): Not good?
Kristi Merriweather (7:40:23 PM): I hope so.
Kristi Merriweather (7:40:33 PM): It is not good that I am not surprised.
Mike McConnell (7:40:36 PM): And you said that your other black friends and family had the same reaction?
Mike McConnell (7:41:00 PM): as yours?
Kristi Merriweather (7:41:13 PM): I didn't ask my family, my black friends were
Kristi Merriweather (7:41:49 PM): more like, those who did not go to Gallaudet raised their eyebrows and say "I see", and
Mike McConnell (7:42:08 PM): One thing I'm thinking. Do you think that deafness may have played a role on ignorance or lack of understanding the seriousness of the KKK symbol and such?
Kristi Merriweather (7:42:30 PM): Threw a "knowing look". Those who went to Gallaudet- heck no, they weren't surprised.
Kristi Merriweather (7:43:43 PM): Not really. I think deafness may make audism a more important issue for white deaf people but it is also
Mike McConnell (7:43:53 PM): So, those who didn't go to Gallaudet were suprised but not those who once attended Gallaudet? Is that what you're saying?
Kristi Merriweather (7:44:26 PM): The fact that we are not setting up an environment where different forms of racism is part of the discussion is causing the problems.
Kristi Merriweather (7:45:01 PM): Yes, those who didn't go to Gallaudet were surprised but *up to a certain point.*
Mike McConnell (7:45:25 PM): I believe that's true on the campus of Gallaudet. A lack of real serious discussion and discovery.
Kristi Merriweather (7:45:25 PM): Am I making sense?
Mike McConnell (7:45:44 PM): kind of..surprised but not really that surprised.
Kristi Merriweather (7:45:53 PM): Right, right
Mike McConnell (7:45:58 PM): more of in a disappointed way I guess.
Kristi Merriweather (7:46:07 PM): Bingo!
Mike McConnell (7:46:37 PM): I think a lot of the alumni people felt that way, too.
Kristi Merriweather (7:46:50 PM): And at the heels of Jena, it was like okay, here we go...
Mike McConnell (7:46:54 PM): What did you think of my blog?
Mike McConnell (7:46:58 PM): yeah...here we go again.
Kristi Merriweather (7:47:02 PM): Oh I'm sure!
Kristi Merriweather (7:47:56 PM): Hold a sec because I read a blog after yours, need to separate the two
Mike McConnell (7:48:14 PM): would you be disappointed if no black leader come to the campus of Gallaudet in light of the MSSD incident?
Mike McConnell (7:48:15 PM): ok
Kristi Merriweather (7:49:08 PM): I would be disappointed if nobody from NBDA investigated it but
Mike McConnell (7:49:51 PM): Have you tried to contact the NBDA?
Kristi Merriweather (7:49:55 PM): I've spoken with the new President- Fred Beam- who just took office 3 days ago and he is in communications with one of the Board member trying to get to the bottom of it. He
Kristi Merriweather (7:50:18 PM): Is not one to jump the gun, wants to have all the facts first, which is good.
Mike McConnell (7:50:50 PM): Right. People need to be calm in situations like this and gather the facts first.
Kristi Merriweather (7:51:07 PM): Okay, your blog, I am aware of the
Kristi Merriweather (7:51:53 PM): Complexies surrounding the Jena 6 situation, and while I'm not crazy about Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson using it to
Kristi Merriweather (7:52:19 PM): Make themselves feel important again, it doesn't
Kristi Merriweather (7:52:59 PM): Remove the fact that there were blantant imbalances in how punishments/charges were being meted out, and
Kristi Merriweather (7:53:45 PM): I do not consider the fact that nobody reported the nooses until a year later as a statement that there was no significant relevancy, keep in mind that
Kristi Merriweather (7:54:21 PM): Black people take into consideration of who they are likely to deal with if they want to report something
Kristi Merriweather (7:55:16 PM): Of that nature, and if we're talking about them reporting the incident to the DA, the very same man who charged the boys with attempted murder, then you can see why they didn't bother to report it.
Kristi Merriweather (7:55:43 PM): Really, those white boys should have been expelled and that would have been the end of it. Ironically enough,
Mike McConnell (7:55:48 PM): Almost like a catch-22 situation.
Kristi Merriweather (7:56:09 PM): Most if not all of those 3 boys were expelled for something else later on.
Kristi Merriweather (7:56:41 PM): Right, right. So that's why I can see how things like that can
Kristi Merriweather (7:57:52 PM): Go unchallenged, that's how systematic racism works because you have some people in the system that makes those kind of incidents hard to be resolved. And people are surprised at the end!
Kristi Merriweather (7:58:28 PM): They can't see it because the system worked for them at their end.
Mike McConnell (7:58:33 PM): Well, the principal wanted the boys expelled but the board turned that decision around regarding the noose incident.
Kristi Merriweather (7:59:27 PM): Yes, based on the superintedent's "advice", yes. It didn't help matters any that only one member on the board was black.
Kristi Merriweather (7:59:44 PM): Today, the board is saying,
Mike McConnell (8:00:32 PM): But then again the Jena 6 situation, 6 guys going after one guy and cold cocked the guy from behind ("sucker punch") of which the guy had nothing to do with the noose thing. Which makes it a bit puzzling why bring up the noose which happened months earlier.
Kristi Merriweather (8:00:37 PM): In hindsight, they should have expelled those three boys, but they were, according to them, following "wise counsel" from both the superientedent and the DA.
Mike McConnell (8:00:54 PM): maybe fearing a lawsuit?
Mike McConnell (8:00:59 PM): over the expulsion?
Kristi Merriweather (8:01:25 PM): *shrugs* or maybe they were being chickens.
Kristi Merriweather (8:01:31 PM): Now about your noose question,
Kristi Merriweather (8:02:39 PM): Keep in mind that things happened in a sequential manner, and keep in mind that black adults *do not* forget something like nooses, burning crosses, KKK easily, even a year later-
Kristi Merriweather (8:03:29 PM): It's been one year and I still remember the image of the burning effigy of JKF. But really what happened to that white guy was that
Mike McConnell (8:04:02 PM): yes. I understand that but that isn't justification for attacking anybody unprovoked, as far as I have read so far, who had nothing to do with it.
Kristi Merriweather (8:04:36 PM): 2 days earlier, some of the Jena 6- including Mycheal Bell- were at a convenience store and a white young man who had some connection with some white Jena students
Kristi Merriweather (8:05:00 PM): Got into words with them and he went out to get his shotgun,
Kristi Merriweather (8:05:54 PM): Bell and his boys grabbed ahold of it and then beated him up. The police charged the black boys with theft and charged the white boy with nothing.
Kristi Merriweather (8:07:20 PM): Keep that in mind, that was just 2 days before. Justin, the white boy who got beated, bragged outloud that the white boy from 2 days ago beated up Bell and his friends. What state of mind do you think Bell and his friends were at that moment they overheard him?
Mike McConnell (8:08:22 PM): They have a right to be angry but it's not justification to attack a person.
Kristi Merriweather (8:08:46 PM): Does that make it right, no, but I can see how some immature boys can just lose it just like that, after seeing unfair consquences.
Kristi Merriweather (8:09:24 PM): It's not about justification. It's about understanding how things can be connected to the nooses. The nooses
Kristi Merriweather (8:10:02 PM): Sent a certain message, which was never resolved, and manifested itself into a series of fights, culminating into this incident.
Kristi Merriweather (8:10:35 PM): And let's not forget we can't really believe Justin's word either. He went to a party the same night.
Mike McConnell (8:10:35 PM): Sure, they can lose it. But there are consequences afterwards. What if that person died because they were angry in the first place? I don't care who or what color of the skin, there is no justification to attack a person.
Kristi Merriweather (8:11:27 PM): I understand that. But you don't throw a match into a room full of gas and then claim no mea culpa.
Kristi Merriweather (8:12:21 PM): Would you go into a KKK room and say you love black people and then expect to walk without a scratch on you? Legally,
Kristi Merriweather (8:12:46 PM): You should expect that, but in the real world, you know you're playing with fire if you do that.
Mike McConnell (8:13:09 PM): Like I said, there are consequences to one's own action...anybody's. A physical attack is still not justified. I'm sure it's hard to hold back when people get angry and that's the nature of the game. But it shouldn't be an excuse is what I'm saying.
Kristi Merriweather (8:13:38 PM): Oh I agree with that
Kristi Merriweather (8:13:50 PM): That wasn't the reason we protested
Mike McConnell (8:14:10 PM): yes, I know. In the real world those things happen and people do play with fire. Does it make it right? No. But, as the old popular phrase go, shit happens.
Kristi Merriweather (8:14:32 PM): The reason we protested was the disparties in how white people and black people were being punished.
Mike McConnell (8:15:31 PM): I agree that disparities do exist. Unequal treatment.
Kristi Merriweather (8:15:48 PM): Well, Justin got his ass kicked because he played with fire, fine, the boys are in trouble, but attempted murder with sneakers as murder weapon while the white boy with the shotgun going scotfree is wrong
Kristi Merriweather (8:16:04 PM): Wrong, and that was the true reason we protested.
Kristi Merriweather (8:17:22 PM): Even the courts agreed that they shouldn't have been charged as adults and such, makes you wonder about the DA's mentality. Really. He ought to be fired.
Mike McConnell (8:18:28 PM): Well, all I can is that it was unfortunate to see these series of events take place. We can only hope to learn from them.
Mike McConnell (8:18:40 PM): BTW, what did you think about my use of "Gally 7"?
Mike McConnell (8:18:45 PM): just curious.
Kristi Merriweather (8:19:26 PM): I could see why it was used, although
Kristi Merriweather (8:20:08 PM): People will argue those are not Gallaudet students, "technically". I don't see a separation, not culturally anyway.
Kristi Merriweather (8:20:29 PM): But Gally 7 is the wrong term, know why?
Kristi Merriweather (8:21:05 PM): Jena 6, Little Rock 9, Scottsboro 7- those are victims. Those students are not victims.
Mike McConnell (8:22:13 PM): Yeah, I know but the irony was that there was a black student involved in the attack. Just putting a twist on this and get people to discuss this problematic racism issue.
Kristi Merriweather (8:22:26 PM): I'm sorry, it's Scottsboro 9, not 7
Kristi Merriweather (8:22:40 PM): Not really
Kristi Merriweather (8:23:00 PM): If you apply my point about racial identity development
Kristi Merriweather (8:24:14 PM): , it's still a hate crime even when he's in the picture.
Kristi Merriweather (8:24:33 PM): Let me use your gay example, if you'll humor me
Mike McConnell (8:24:35 PM): yes, i see what you mean.
Kristi Merriweather (8:24:44 PM): Let's say we have a gay man, and
Mike McConnell (8:24:49 PM): I may humor you...but others might not.
Kristi Merriweather (8:26:11 PM): (Smile) and he hates being gay, why, well maybe he's in some rural country, or in some strict religious home, whatever, he just doesn't have positive gay identity. Is it possible that he could be involved
Kristi Merriweather (8:26:26 PM): In a hate crime against another gays? Absolutely.
Kristi Merriweather (8:27:35 PM): He killed a gay person because they were gay, so it doesn't really matter that he was gay himself.
Mike McConnell (8:27:38 PM): Reverse-identity of some sort? Projecting himself in some way?
Kristi Merriweather (8:28:21 PM): I guess so but more like lack of exposure to messages that gayness is okay
Mike McConnell (8:28:26 PM): Not a psychologist here...heh.
Mike McConnell (8:29:31 PM): Ok...well, maybe we can continue with this discussion some more at a later time. Lots of info here for me to separate and organize for my blog.
Kristi Merriweather (8:30:01 PM): Sure, good idea! Anytime
Kristi Merriweather (8:30:14 PM): Hope Some things were clarified
Mike McConnell (8:30:20 PM): It's great share perspectives here. very important!
Mike McConnell (8:30:40 PM): yes, many were clarified. if there's more question or need of discussion I'll let you know.
Kristi Merriweather (8:31:01 PM): Alrighty, and thank you for asking me for my opinion
Kristi Merriweather (8:31:08 PM): I appreciate that
Kristi Merriweather (8:31:19 PM): We'll be in touch then!
Mike McConnell (8:31:44 PM): yep!
Mike McConnell (8:31:51 PM): great talking to you!
Mike McConnell (8:31:58 PM): don't be a stranger.
Kristi Merriweather (8:32:07 PM): Same here, you take care!


I met Kristi for the first time in person earlier this year while at Gallaudet University's vlog/blog conference after we had informally gotten to know each other through blogs, emails, VPs and forum discussions. We both hit it off quite well and naturally respected each other's opinion and perspective. So, if you ever get the chance to meet her, please do.

The Gally 6 or 7?

Here's a story just breaking over the last several hours that could rival that of the "Jena 6" incident that took place not too long ago. This incident may be a racially motivated attack against a Deaf black high school student that took place at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD - see map) which is a deaf high school located on the campus of Gallaudet University. Mishka Zena has the info on the MSSD Official Memo to the Deaf community about the grave matter that took place on the campus of Gallaudet University on Wednesday, October 3rd.

This "hate attack" occurred when seven Deaf high school students held against one Deaf black high school student against his will in one of the MSSD dormitory room for 45 minutes. The seven students used markers to scrawl "KKK" and a swastika on the black student. Officials are investigating this and say that this may lead to charges of hate crime. But the irony in all of this is that the seven students involved, six of them are white and one is black. CNN reports this breaking news as a national story.

A black student was held against his will and then released with "KKK" and swastikas drawn on him in marker at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf on Sunday, she said.

No charges have been filed, and no names have been released, Lanier said.

The incident began when a group of black students and a group of white students were in a dorm. "My understanding is the two groups engaged in friendly horseplay," she said.

But, she said, the groups got "angry with each other."

The two groups separated, she said, but later, six white students and one black student -- all between the ages of 15 and 19 -- took one of the black students into a dorm room and "held him there against his will."

"They used markers to write 'KKK' and draw swastikas on the student," Lanier said.

The student was released after about 45 minutes. He notified dorm and school authorities, who called police.

Lanier said police have identified and interviewed the students involved and the "investigation is ongoing."

"The support we've received from the campus and from the school employees has been tremendous," Lanier said. "And I think they're supporting us in making a very strong statement that this investigation may lead to charges that could have enhanced penalties for a hate crime."

It was only last year that Gallaudet University was national news when a protest broke out that lasted for months over the selection of the first ever Deaf woman university president, Dr. Jane K. Fernandes. The protest resulted in the arrests of some 133 protesters, mostly students.

But prior to the 2006 Gallaudet University's protest, the six remaining potential candidates were to be selected to be a part of the three finalists. All five candidates were white (4 males and one female named Dr. Jane K. Fernandes) with one black candidate, the highly respected Dr. Glenn Anderson. Soon, the Presidential Search Committee removed Dr. Glenn Anderson from consideration to be among the top three finalists for the university president position, leaving 2 white males and one white female, Dr. Jane K. Fernandes who was soon selected to become the first ever Deaf woman Gallaudet University president.

After the selection, a campus wide protest ensued. But the interesting twist here was that there were very little protest, campus wide, over the removal of Dr. Glenn Anderson for consideration for selection. This move prompted an organization called National Black Deaf Advocates to formally lodge a written protest to Gallaudet University Board of Trustees over the removal of Dr. Anderson from consideration to be among the top 3 finalists for the university president position. Racisim on the campus of Gallaudet University has often been sidelined or even ignored to a certain degree seeing it as not an issue by many people for many years. Even including the issue of rapes on campus.

So, in asking this, how is this different from the "Jena 6" incident? Well, the "Jena 6" was an entirely over-blown incident where 6 black students attacked, unprovoked, a white student. Why? Well, Jason Whitlock, a well known black sportswriter, wrote an opinion piece in the Kansas City Star explaining exactly why the mainstream media ignore the real story and made the "Jena 6" look like a racially motived hated crime. He wrote a piece called "Lessons From Jena, LA" where he brilliantly exposed the mainstream media, including people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who purposely withheld the real story of the "Jena 6" incident just to cause more racial tension rather than reduce it. If it was indeed a racially motivated hate crime then the 6 black athletes who "cold cocked" the white student from behind ought to be the ones charged with a hate crime along with other criminal charges, however. Jason Whitlock explains:

There are undeniable racial and economic inequities in our criminal justice system, and from afar the "Jena Six" rallies certainly looked and felt like the righteous protests of the 1960s.

But the reality is Thursday's protests are just another sign that we remain deeply locked in denial about the path we need to travel today for true American liberation, equality and power in the new millennium.

There was no "schoolyard fight" as a result of nooses being hung on a whites-only tree.

Justin Barker, the white victim, was cold-cocked from behind, knocked unconscious and stomped by six black athletes. Barker, luckily, sustained no life-threatening injuries and was released from the hospital three hours after the attack.

The mainstream media, as usual, have almost universally ignored or downplayed the real story behind the "Jena 6" case. But there's more:

A black U.S. attorney, Don Washington, investigated the "Jena Six" case and concluded that the attack on Barker had absolutely nothing to do with the noose-hanging incident three months before. The nooses and two off-campus incidents were tied to Barker's assault by people wanting to gain sympathy for the "Jena Six" in reaction to [Jena District Attorney Reed] Walters' extreme charges of attempted murder.

Will the "Gally 7" become another over-blown "racially-motivated" incident but with the ironic twist where you have a Deaf black student who was part of the 7 attackers? And I ask this question. How can a hate-crime be applied when a black student was part of this unnecessary "hate attack"? Unless, of course, if the black victim is gay and the attack was a gay hate crime incident.

Not likely.

I'm sure investigating officials will find this to be a conundrum and figure out how can a hate crime charged? Even though the concept of a "hate crime" is in itself riddled with too many Orwellian-type of thought policing at work.

Will Jesse Jackson come to the rescue of "Gally 7" of which one black student could be charged with a serious hate crime?

Or will he support the victim? Or both?

Or will Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton politely make themselves unavailable chalking this up as nothing more than some 7 dumb Deaf high school students who didn't know any better requiring only a slap on the wrist?

Or will white advocates come to the rescue of the "Gally 7". How far will this go and how much of the mainstream media will try and twist this story only to cause more racial tension when it could have been nothing more than horseplay? And that these students really didn't understand history or the seriousness of such symbols and meanings?

Keep watching. But bloggers are going nuts over this one.


UPDATE: A letter sent to Gallaudet University almost one year ago by a former alumnus accusing the then university president of exhibiting a "plantation mentality" for 18 years.

UPDATE II: Reports are saying that it was a "war game" that went too far. In other words, horseplay that got out of hand along with bad judgement. Investigation continues.

UPDATE III: Paotie chimes in. So does DeafDC. And Lolypup about making racist jokes.

Exclusive Post Fight Interview with Matt Hamill

Exclusive post Bisping/Hamill fight interview with Matt Hamill by Mike McConnell for the Kokonut Pundit blog. Interview includes a surprise possible radio interview on the Howard Stern radio show. Did he say Howard Stern...? Yes, indeed he did say that in one of his post fight emails to me prior to the interview.


1. What was London like and how did the British people treat you before the fight?

London is a beautiful city. The sight-seeing I got to do was incredible. The British were very courteous to me and my team.. we had no problems with them.


2. How was the food? Anything unusual you ate for the first time in London?

The food was good... pancakes was the best meal I had out there.. especially since I had been in training mode for quite a bit before the fight and had to monitor my food intake. So I got to eat after the weigh-in... it was delicious.


3. Did you have time to visit the sights around London before or after the fight?

Yes.. my trainers and I had a chance to go on a journey before the press conference. It was incredible to learn the history and see the historic places.


4. Was this your first trip outside of the United States and did any of your family go with you?

No, it wasn't my first time outside of the US. I have done a lot of traveling for wrestling... my very first trip outside of the US was to Denmark in 1997 for the Deaf Olympics. I've been lucky to see a lot of different places outside of the US. My family didn't get a chance to come out to London for this fight.


5. Did you make any new British friends? Hearing or deaf?

I made new friends there very fast.. all of them were hearing except for one deaf person. All very nice.


6. Did you see a lot of deaf British fans out there in support of you?

No.. I didn't see any deaf fans there... just that one deaf guy I met that lived in London.


7. Ok. Let's get to the fight questions. That night you were very solid in Round 1 and 2. You were relentless going after Bisping with jabs and hits, and several good take downs although Bisping escaped from some of those take downs. What were some of the lessons you learned that night? Is there something you wished you'd have done differently?

It was part of my game plan.. to surprise Bisping. I had to be careful with my knee and couldn't take down as much as I would have liked to.. but I feel the way I fought him was successful in my eyes. Yes, there is always room for improvement.. and I will do such.


8. Many of the fans were expecting you to do your patented "ground and pound" routine against Bisping. Is this something that you wished you should've done more effectively when your take downs were successful?

Yes, ground and pound is my best weapon. I know it didn't happen as much in this fight but again, I had to be careful with my knee and it wouldn't have been as effective.... I was limited that night.


9. Has Dana White talked to you after that fight? We know from reading the news that Dana knew you won that fight and that you deserve a rematch. What's your take on that?

No, I didn't see Dana after the fight.


10. Has any of the big name MMA professionals contacted you (for example, Liddel, Couture, Tito, etc) in show of support that you were the real winner that night?

Yes.. I did hear from Dan Henderson, Tito Ortiz and Houston... it was great to hear from them and their feedback. I also got a lot of comments on MySpace regarding the fight. The support has been amazing.


11. Will you fight differently if you get that rematch against Bisping? Or will it be more of a stand up fight?

I may or may not. I can't tell you my game plan now, can I? But hopefully, my knee will be better and there will be a different story to be told during the rematch. .


12. What was the most memorable part of this whole UFC 75 deal?

Getting my chance to have a match against one of the best TUF3 opponents, like I had wanted to do when I was on the show.


13. The Howard Stern show is a radio show. That mean you'll be talking on the radio with Howard? Correct? Are you nervous?

Yes.. it will be on the radio... I have been in contact with the Howard Stern Show and nothing is confirmed yet. It should be fun. No, I'm not nervous. No time to be nervous.


14. I recently did a poll on my Kokonut Pundit blogsite asking the question whether your talking to hearing people such as the UFC reporters was acceptable. The results showed about 30% found it unacceptable that you used your voice to communicate but about 65% supported you (5% said "not sure") regardless whether you signed or talked. Many say that you should sign more often and speak less while others say it does not matter since you still represent the Deaf community and are seen as a Deaf role model anyway. What do you say to those people who found it unacceptable that you used your voice? And will you sign more often or will that depends on the situation?

I will always try to represent the deaf community.. after all, its my world. I do usually talk and sign for my interviews. But that night, I felt bad after I had lost the fight and remembering to sign was the last thing on my mind. I was around hearing people and I automatically shift to speaking when I am around the hearing world. I apologize if I offended the deaf community. It wasn't my intention to NOT sign. I was just overwhelmed with emotion after having had lost.


15. Do you have any last words to the readers of Kokonut Pundit?

I just wanted to say thank you for your support, I will keep you posted as to when the rematch will be.


There you go folks. Right now, I will be collecting questions from Kokonut Pundit readers for Matt Hamill to answer. Especially in light of the possible upcoming Howard Stern radio show interview. Once I have enough of your questions I will send them over to Matt. Whether he will respond or not is up to him. And if so I will have his answers posted here on my Kokonut Pundit blog. Please note, I will not accept any personal questions for Matt. Use common sense before submitting your questions. Thanks.


See previous Matt Hamill interviews by Mike McConnell.


UPDATE: See more explanations on why Hamill apologized to those who thought he was wrong on his right to use his voice to talk at the MMA fight. The poll results may have been skewed (slightly) by the few Deaf yahoos who thought it'd be fun to mess up the poll results but it (if true) would only mean they managed to hurt themselves and the Deaf community in the process.


© 2007. Kokonut Pundit. Further reproduction prohibited without permission of author, Mike McConnell.

Acting LIke a Hearing Person

Remember last week when Jesse Jackson supposedly accused Obama for “acting like he’s white” because Obama did not address the Jena 6 incident enough? This whole accusatory tone is ironic since Barak Hussein Obama is what you call a “mulatto” because of his black father and white mother. Two different ethnic cultures by which Obama had to straddle between the two while growing up. Whether he had a tough time go of it is a matter of debate. But the question comes to this. What purpose or benefit does using the accusatory label “acting white” against black or mulatto people serve?

Acting white was once a label used by scholars, writing in obscure journals, to characterize academically inclined, but allegedly snobbish, minority students who were shunned by their peers.

But exactly what does the phrase “acting white” mean?

Though not all scholars define "acting white" in precisely the same way, most definitions include a reference to situationswhere some minority adolescents ridicule their minority
peers for engaging in behaviors perceived to be characteristic of whites. For example, when psychologist Angela Neal-Barnett in 1999 asked some focus-group students to identify acting-white behavior, they listed actions that ranged from speaking standard English and enrolling in an Advanced Placement or honors class to wearing clothes from the Gap or Abercrombie & Fitch (instead of Tommy Hilfiger or FUBU) and wearing shorts in winter!

With higher grades, the less popular these minorities (blacks, Hispanics) become among their own peer group with Hispanics showing the biggest drop in popularity (ie popularity index) once they go beyond GPA of 2.0. The use of the label “acting white” creates an unwanted and even unecessary stigma among various peer groups.

Now, let’s shift our attention to a different accusatory label aimed at people who are deaf or hard of hearing who may have been accused for “acting like a hearing person.”

So, what does that mean? How did that label come about? Is it also an euphemism for “not being Deaf enough?”

Let’s take Gnarly Dorkette’s experience at one of the Deaf Professional Happy Hour in DC where she was "accused" of “acting or behaving like a hearing person” by another Deaf person while there.

Liza - “…I wanted to ask you about being accused of behaving like a hearing person. Did somebody come up to you and say it? Talk about lacking tact! If some people refuse to see positive things about you, that is their loss.”

Gnarly Dorkette – “AND YES, that guy just walked up to me and asked me for my name, then out of the BLUE he said: "Are you hearing or deaf?" I could imagine myself jump out of my seat and claw his face out but instead I was like "why does it matter? What prompts you to ask that?" "Because you sort of behaved like a hearing person"... after that, I just snapped (but I didn't BITE his head off) and gave him my lecture about people judging. That such thing just BUGS me. How could one judge a person's appearance just to decide whether s/he is Deaf or
not? WHAT DOES A DEAF PERSON LOOK LIKE?! It is so stereotypical for them to assume a person who looks/behaves "too normal" must be a hearie when in actual, that "normal" person is Deaf! (screaming!)”

In DeafDC there is a discussion going on the "proper etiquette" of talking into a cell phone in "deaf spaces" for hard of hearing users. Or is it really a case of how not to act hearing?

There was another incident of “acting like a hearing person” but this involves writing. It wasn’t so much “acting like a hearing person” but one person accused the web owner of using hearing people to write some pieces for a well known deaf grassroots political organization.

BEWARE.. Deaf Republicans website is not written by deaf people.. its language is too hearing and it is written by Republican party.. that is my impression..

A demonstrably false accussation when it is an organization entirely run by deaf people whose members are Deaf, deaf, and hard of hearing. This can be easily verified. And the Deaf person who did the accusation demonstrated an ironic belief that deaf people cannot write just as well as a hearing person. A sad person indeed.

What was even sadder is to see a 1993 article in the New York Times on Deaf culture whose first paragraph talks about a popular sign for “think like a hearing person.”

Among the rich idioms of American Sign Language, there is a sign for "hearing" -- the right index finger, held parallel to the mouth, circling forward like a rolling log. From it comes a second, related sign for a deaf person who thinks like a hearing person: the same finger, circling forward in front of the forehead. It is not a compliment.

Indeed. It is not a compliment but it is also a derogatory slap while in a world that thrives on exclusivity and limits inclusiveness.

That was in 1993. This is 2007. Some 14 years later with technology being the major player on helping level many of the playing fields for millions of deaf and hard of hearing people at work, home, and in the public. So it comes down to this. How appropriate is the use of the label "think/behave/act like a hearing person" today that gets thrown about at other Deaf, deaf and hard of hearing people? Is now the time for Deaf leaders to step up to the plate and apologize on behalf of all Deaf people who have behaved in that manner whenever they accuse people of "acting like a hearing person"?

I wonder.

*Disclaimer - If you go into a apoplectic fit after reading this, read it again just to be sure. Step back and breathe slowly before responding. And please leave your conspiracy theories at home about me and this blog piece.

John Edwards' Candidacy Death Knell Began Today

I'd say this is Edwards' major fas paux of the decade when he said this during a MTV/MySpace forum,

We cannot build enough prisons to solve this problem. And the idea that we can keep incarcerating and keep incarcerating — pretty soon we’re not going to have a young African-American male population in America. They’re all going to be in prison or dead. One of the two.

That's right, Edwards. Scare them straight about your hyperbole. Give them your vote of confidence on their own future which, ironically, took place at a MTV/MySpace which doesn't exactly inspire people about the future, while starring these young people into their eyes and bascially says "You have no future!"

I wonder what Barack Hussein Obama will say about that one? Perhaps Edwards haven't heard about how there are black Republicans who have the answer to Edwards' apocalyptic prediction? Or maybe Edwards haven't met people like "Jeremy" who want to lead as a Republican rather than follow?

Dummy Hoy: A Deaf Hero - DVD now available.

Steve Sandy informed me that the documentary, Dummy Hoy: A Deaf Hero, is now available to watch on DVD only. If you're interested on buying the DVD go to Da-Cor Pictures to purchase it via PayPal.

See the video clip here.

Deaf Blog RAGE!!

You’re familiar with the term. It’s something like “road rage” when a person uses a vehicle as way to bully other drivers on the road either to get them out of the way or to pester them like a festering pimple on the face. It is seen as an extension of the person’s personality and weapon of choice. “Road rage” is actions that are marked with heightened hostility, anger, and even blind rage where drivers simply do not think straight at all. Just like “blog rage” bloggers (or even commenters) use their blogs or internet as a way to bully others by using words of intimidation, hostility, rage, and even threat of injury or death. This sort of thing happens all the time whether the blogger (or commenter) is deaf or hearing.

But sometimes a “blog rage” is harder to ascertain if it’s really a rage thing or a blogger just being a complete idiot. Or is he or she acting like a baby? Or is this a case of an overly sensitive blogger who just doesn't know any better? Just as there are drivers who use “passive violence” (such as purposely driving slowly to irritate drivers from behind or tailgate closely behind cars) could be debated whether it is a form of “road rage” or not. And compare that with such extremes like waving a gun while driving at other drivers, cutting them off on purpose, yelling and cursing, giving other drivers the “finger,” braking suddenly forcing cars behind them to swerve out of the way and so on. Just like “blog rage” there’s a variety of responses but all of them have one purpose in mind and that is to personally try and eviscerate via words against a person’s well being rather than to debate or argue in a fashion that’s respectable.

Like a lot of people, I’ve seen several deaf blogs that exhibited a clear cut case of “blog rage” but I won’t mention them or put the links in here. Instead, I’ll let the commenters post the links if they feel a particular deaf blog they’ve chosen has the classic example of a “blog rage” gone amok. Over the past 4 or 5 years while more and more deaf/hh bloggers came onto the blogosphere scene so I’m sure there must be plenty more examples of “blog rage” that exist out there. A few have even gone completely apoplectic which was completely idiotic, insane and sad at the same time.

So, if you do choose a particular blog piece, why do you think that blog piece constitutes a “blog rage” when it could be a matter of a simple disagreement of opinions or ideas? How do you know if it’s “blog rage” or not? Can a “blog rage” be about making fun of people? Such as a blogger’s anger manifested in the form of mockery? Sort of like “passive violence” in one example I discussed above? Or is the blogger making a clear cut case of a “blog rage” by getting downright personal and nasty against another person or blogger? Exactly what is the purpose or motive behind these “blog rages” that we seen from time to time? Are these bloggers exhibiting infantile reactions or are they sadly misinformed and not know any better? Is this their way of spreading rumors? Gossiping? A rage manifested in the form of disinformation and lies? Or it is just plain “blog rage”? I’m asking you to give me some examples of “blog rage” and I’m particularly interested in blogs themselves and not by what commenters put down. I’m sure Kokonut Pundit readers are interested on what you have to say, too. Is there a serious problem in the deaf community whose deaf/hh bloggers exhibit “blog rage”? Or is this the same norm as one would expect in the hearing community? Or perhaps this “problem” is more magnified because of close knitted deaf community?

In essence, you, the readers, tell us what you think and provide any links to deaf/hh blog pieces that could be an example of a “blog rage” gone amok (or maybe very close to it) and I'll put them up in my update section.

Is it really that bad out there folks?

UPDATE: Got an email alert about how some people are actually complaining about my use of the word "deaf" in my some of my topics of my blog headline. I say to those people, please for the love of God, lighten up and stop whining at everything I write! For once, to those few readers, get some thick skin if this really bothers you! Or better yet, don't even read my blog at all! Gee whiz you folks.

Yeah, it must be bad out there, folks. Not the least bit surprised.

No Gays in Iran? What about Deaf Gays?

I can imagine the outcry but perhaps dear old Uncle Ahmadinejad is right when he said there are no gays in Iran?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, "In Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country. We don't have that in our country. In Iran, we do not have this phenomenon. I don't know who has told you that we have it."

Must be a paradise country where Iranian authorities are out and about making sure there are no gays in Iran by executing them, young and old, one by one like cleaning out rats in an old barn according Khatami, former Iranian president.

“Homosexuality is a crime in Islam and crimes are punishable,” Khatami said. “And the fact that a crime could be punished by execution is debatable.”

Maybe the second question to Uncle Ahmadinejad ought to have been asked, "Why do you act gay if you say there are no gays in Iran?" just to see his reaction for fun?

Yeah, America is so terrible. Land of the oppressed. Everybody is oppressed day in and day out if you're among the minority group. Even deaf people are so oppressed that they can't get anywhere in America much less go to school for proper learning compared to Iran; and yet deaf Iranians are certainly far better off (from getting executed) than any Iranians who are gay in Iran (how ironic).

After the 1979 Revolution, many skilled people in deaf education left Iran for the West. This situation placed the Iranian Deaf people in a difficult predicament and caused a “Dark Age” for them. Today, many Iranian Deaf people do not understand what the teachers say. The schools are all conducted orally. Fortunately, the Department of Health and Tavanbakhshi University employ some literate Deaf people. For this reason, the third edition of Iranian Sign Language dictionary has expanded since the 1979 Revolution. Today, a fourth edition of the Iranian Sign Language dictionary is being completed.

Deaf schools: Deaf children throughout Iran are shocked when they visit the deaf schools. The environment is different than what they are used to. For all students, there is compulsory religious instruction at school. Girls are taught that learning to be a good mother is more important than pursuing careers. Iranian women are discouraged from leaving their homes. The government proscribes the intermingling of men and women in public places. A dress code is mandatory for all Iranians as well. Unlike girls, boys are expected to pursue higher educational or vocational training.

Deaf women: Prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women were able to freely associate with men. However, this was no longer true afterwards. Deaf Iranian women, in particular, had difficulty in adjusting to the societal changes caused by the 1979 Islamic Revolution. For example, courtship was considerably more difficult for deaf Iranian women. During the reign of the Shah, educational and judicial reforms were put into place that lessened the influence of the religious classes and laid the basis of a modern state. Women were freed from the Hijab and Chador. (Hijab and Chador are Farsi terms meaning clothing that cover the hair and bodies of women.) Divorce laws were modified in their favor.

A good read if you're wondering about deaf Iranians in Iran. Yet I don't see any news of deaf Muslims excecuted for being deaf. Or beaten to a pulp for not using one's own voice. I wonder what would happen if one is deaf, gay and an Iranian in Iran? Does Uncle Ahmedinjad know?

But alas, I now wonder if any gay Iranians in America and elsewhere (except in Muslim countries, of course, because there are no such thing as gay Muslims! ) will rise up and publicly challenge Ahmadinejad's contention that there are no gays in Iran. Or will they?

Should be interesting to watch gay liberals against liberals who applauded Uncle Ahmedinejad at Columbia University (known for trying to invite Hitler back in 1933) with his love, peace, brotherhood and all that feel good bunkem at the end of his speech. Looks like we're about to see a repeat in Holocaust history.

*Disclaimer - If you go into a apoplectic fit after reading this, read it again just to be sure. And please leave your conspiracy theories at home about me and this story because they're idiotic enough to even consider if you haven't already noted the sarcastic tone to begin with.

Idiocy in the Blogosphere

Paotie wrote an interesting piece that was accepted at BlogCritics Magazine with the title "Idiocy in the Blogosphere" that started off with a question:

I got an email from a friend the other night asking me what I thought of a blog that asked the question of why people make negative comments on other people’s blogs. In reading the article, I came away with the impression that many bloggers despise the negative comments made by people who criticize a point, argument, perspective, poems, videos, or whatever else is published on a blog.

The article continues to describe the kind of bloggers (and commenters) that exist out there with apt descriptions including how some bloggers are simply not the Wall Street Journal types. Paotie, just as well, recognizes (as do many others) the differences between various kinds and types of blogs who are on the short end of the stick.

There's lots of other blogs that do nothing but spew trash on a daily basis, and people snort it up like lines of cocaine at a party hosted by Lindsay Lohan.

But later on into his article he links to the Style magazine which I found out that Hillary Clinton was being disparaged upon like she was the plague (she is now to the Deaf community) all because of my recent blog (I would certainly think that'd be the case) back in June that discussed her relationship with the deaf and hard of hearing community such as the cochlear implant industry, SHHH, and even AGBell. Pretty apparent that Clinton is slowly being dumped upon by many people in the the Deaf community. Looks like my effort is paying off when I dug around and found some juicy details about Billary Clinton.

Paotie even chastised a certain person for even suggesting to the Deaf community on not to call 911 for help fearing that the end result would be that of police brutality. I even laughed when the author in Style magazine said "hearing impaired." Some people in the media will never learn. Yet, no outrage over the "hearing impaired" comment?

Ok. Maybe they're not "angry" enough.

And then we see Paotie makes a valid point near the end of his article.

If you don't like a blog that you read, then don't continue reading it, and especially don't go back for more cyber-horse manure to be shoveled into your mouth.Just sit down, shut up, and open your mind.

If you're pissed off by now, then you've proved my article right. If you're not pissed off and disagree with me, then good for you. I don't care if you agree with me or not. If you feel you need to dissect this article, then you've got way too much time on your hands. If you want to post a negative comment, please do so.

BTW, Paotie is deaf, lives in Colorado, an avid MMA fan, signs and certainly gets angry upon seeing idiocy in action.

Murtha, Haditha, and Due Process

It took a common sense, gutsy blogger, Jason Mattera from the Young America's Foundation, to ask congressman Murtha about what he said about the Marines in the Haditha case. See the tape.


JASON MATTERA: Congressman Murtha? Jason Mattera, Young America's Foundation. Now that the murder charges against Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt and Steven Tatum have been dropped in the Haditha incident or are in the process of being dropped, would you like to issue an apology for saying that they "killed innocent civilians in cold blood"?

MURTHA: The trial is still going on.

JASON MATTERA: Justin Sharratt and Steven Tatum, the two men you accused of murdering innocent civilians in cold blood --

MURTHA: The trial is still going on.

JASON MATTERA: No. No, the charges are in the process of being dismissed.

MURTHA: I don't know what's going on.

JASON MATTERA: They're in the process is being dismissed.

MURTHA: Out! Out!

JASON MATTERA: Do you like besmirching our troops, sir? Do you like besmirching our troops, sir?

MURTHA: You been in the service? I enlisted in Korea, and I enlisted in Vietnam.

JASON MATTERA: Sir, you accused them of murdering innocent civilians in cold blood. That's something that would come from al-Jazeera, not a congressman, sir.


Now, there are many people who automatically declard those Marines guilty of purposely murdering inocent civilians in "cold blood" even before a trial could begin! It's an irresponsible act, just like Murtha, to declare them "guilty" by not giving these Marines their due process in court they so richly deserved.

There are at least two Deaf/deaf/hh bloggers/commenters that I know of who made references to Haditha, meaning those Marines, in a context could be seen that they were guilty..guilty...guilty of murder by just the mere mentioning of the word "Haditha." A context could be seen as one thing and that Haditha was to be used as an example of how Marines go about purposely murdering innocent civilians.

Doing so does not leave much room for any shred of doubt given to those Marines. Which can only mean one thing, those people never really believed in due process or that they are innocent until proven guilty in the first place. Otherwise they wouldn't use "Haditha" in such a context exemplifying the notion that those Marines were guilty of murder just like Murtha who believed that they are guilty until proven innocent. A dangerous concept amongst some liberals who embrace that kind of thinking which belong but to a backward world.

People who toss the word "Haditha" around in such a way by making a general reference about U.S. soldiers who purposely murder innocent civilian in "cold blood" in reminence, context-wise, of the My Lai massacre that took place in during the Vietnam war. Not good idea at this point to even suggest that. Even in the My Lai case those U.S. soldiers still deserved due process and that they were innocent until proven guilty. This Haditha case is certainly no My Lai.

What they, and Murtha, should have done is support the troops by saying that those in the Haditha case have every right to a due process and that they are to be seen as innocent until proven guilty, and not the other way around. Those two Deaf/deaf/hh bloggers/commenters are in good company with Murtha's mentality who do not really support the troops by besmirching those Marines by whispering the word "Haditha!" as if they're making a point. They are. Just that it makes them seem not very supportive of U.S. troops in the first place.

Do you like besmirching the troops, too? You know who you are.

Now, I am not going to mention names right now unless they can provide a satisfactory (unlikely at this point) explanation on why they mentioned "Haditha" in such a way it could only mean one thing. Those Marines were guilty of murder and yet, at the same time from what I can tell, never gave any thoughts about due process that all red-blooded Americans deserve to have in a U.S. or military court system.

It ain't over and charges of murder continue to drop.

Semper Fi!

Fred Thompson the Top Visited Candidate Last Week

It's not a surprise after Fred Thompson announced his official run for president '08 that his website, Fred '08, was the top visited candidate last week according to Hitwise.

Top Visited Presidential Candidate Websites
Weekly US Market Share of Visits

Weekly rankings for the week ending 09/08/2007

Rank
Candidate
Domain
Market Share %

1
Fred Thompson
www.fred08.com
34.73%

2
Barack Obama
www.barackobama.com
13.49%

3
Ron Paul
www.ronpaul2008.com
12.88%

4
Hillary Clinton
www.hillaryclinton.com
10.38%

5
John Edwards
www.johnedwards.com
6.52%

Or you can see the graphical results compared amongst the 4 Republican candidates.

Perhaps it's only an initial, ahem, surge by taking advantage of those who waited long enough to see him make the official announcement did they flock to his new website and that we shouldn't see anything more out of this? Or maybe it was an ingenious plan by Fred to wait until September while leaving the rest of the candidates to argue and bicker amongst themselves for a whole year first? Both Republicans and Democratic candidates.

But like everybody else, it's too early to tell and anything can happen from now til November 2008.

sComm Racing team meets with ARCA officials at Pit Stop

The Gunderson racing team is beginning to shape up for the 2008 ARCA racing season. Daren Havens, Director of Marketing, invited Greg Gunderson, Jason Curry of sComm, Inc, Jeff Prail (ASL interpreter for Greg), and Jerry Sears (a close friend of Jason Curry who has been a part of the racing industry for 30 years) to come to St. Louis as special guests and meet all the ARCA officials. Daren escorted them to the ARCA race on August 31 and introduced them to everyone in the ARCA organization. The location of the meeting with ARCA officials took place, appropriately so, in the pit stop at the St. Louis Gateway International Speedway.

Daren Havens, Director of Marketing for ARCA racing had this to say about Greg Gunderson and the upcoming ARCA racing series for 2008:

"This could be the most exciting and historical event ever to take place in the ARCA/NASCAR industry to bring the first deaf racing driver"

He also said he believes that once Greg enters the ARCA series, he will bring the biggest fan base to the racing scene from across the country.

This will be an unprecedented but historical racing event to have the first ever professional ARCA driver who is Deaf. But before Greg start driving on the hot asphalt he will travel to North Carolina to practice for 3 days driving a sanctioned ARCA car from November 30-Dec 2 at a racing school. If things go well Greg Gunderson will start off the 2008 year to become the first professional ARCA race car driver who happens to be Deaf.

Pictures below records the pit stop meeting with ARCA officials and Speed TV channel who is planning to do a television story on Greg Gunderson.


Jeff Prail on the left interpreting for Daren Havens at right.



L to R: Jeff Prail, Greg Gunderson, Daren Havens, Jerry Sears, Jason Curry


Jason Curry talking to Daren Havens on the UbiDuo with Jerry
looking over Jason's shoulder while they discuss plans of bringing
Greg to the ARCA racing as the first Deaf ARCA driver in 2008.



Jason talking to the officers from the Speed TV channel who plan
to do a TV special about Greg once things go well after Greg's
3-day racing practice at the North Carolina racing school later this year.


Andy Hillenburg on left in yellow shirt talking to Greg Gunderson
on the UbiDuo discussing plans to come to North Carolina for
racing school from November 30 - Dec 2. You can learn more
about Andy's racing school here.


Group picture with Andy Hillenburg (yellow shirt) after coming
to an agreement for Andy to host Greg at his racing school in
North Carolina.


ARCA race line up at St. Louise Gateway International Speedway
before the race started. Greg and Jason walked along the length
of this track admiring each race car. What an incredible experience
it was for them! *All pictures are properties of sComm Racing, LLC.*

ARCA officials first recognized Greg Gunderson's racing talent and was the first to grab him before any of the ASA officials got a hold of him. This move was a boon to Greg Gunderson's racing career since it would help move him a year closer in his transition to the NASCAR racing series. What's more, the Gunderson racing team (Sprint racing only) has decided to call their new ARCA racing team "sComm Racing, LLC" in honor of Jason Curry, president of sComm, Inc, for his hard work and savvy business approach on helping Greg achieve his life long dream to become the first Deaf NASCAR driver in the history of Deaf sports.

So, the time is now to contact Jason Curry, business manager for sComm Racing, LLC, if you are interested in sponsoring Greg Gunderson and his new ARCA racing team. Contact Jason Curry at jason@scommonline.com for more information.

Look to Kokonut Pundit for more breaking news this December if things go as planned. And if so, Deaf, deaf and hard of of hearing racing fans will not be disappointed! Stay tuned....

See more blogs on Greg Gunderson by Mike McConnell.

Greg Gunderson Sprint Car Racing Result

Greg Gunderson had not raced in a sprint car for more than a year and last night for the very first time he did well considering the time he was away from racing. Last week's race was canceled due to rain and the race had to be postponed until September 15 which was last night. I received the good news via phone text that Greg started in 19th place at the beginning of the race and throughout the night he managed to edge up and finished in 10th place. Not bad considering he hasn't raced in over a year.

Next, be sure to watch out for the year 2008 where he plans to race on asphalt for the very first time in the ARCA racing series which is a step below from racing in the NASCAR series. An ambitious plan of Greg is to climb up to the NASCAR racing circuit sometime in 2009. Now, if you are an email subscriber of Greg Gunderson's racing team you would have gotten that information first! So, sign up! Greg's racing team continues to look for sponsors to help make this a dream of his to become the first ever Deaf NASCAR driver.

Kokonut Pundit readers, there are more spectacular news in the pipeline and will release them when the time is appropriate. You ain't seen nothing yet on what's coming down the pike for 2008. So start sponsoring Greg Gunderson's racing team!

UPDATE: Photos of Greg Gunderson and Troy (owner of Sprint race car that Greg drove in the race) communicating using the Ubi Duo by sComm.














UPDATE: Check out this first historical event ever to take place in the ARCA/NASCAR industry to bring the first deaf racing driver to the racing scene. See photos of this historic news.

UPDATE II: Additional racing photos courtesy of Greg Gunderson.


Greg Gunderson at the I-90 Speedway’s “Season Points Championship”
race in Hartford, SD. September 15, 2007.


Greg Gunderson moving ahead closer to 10th place.


Greg Gunderson in action.



Christa, Greg Gunderson and Grandpa


Post race group photo.

Are You a Gym Rat?

There seems to be a lack of deaf/hh people who enjoy going to the gym and work with the weights. After all obesity is a serious issue in America and more people do not take the time to exercise. A sad fact. But for those who do workout they don't exactly advertise that fact over the internet and I wonder why. Maybe it's because they are insecure talking about it? They don't want to spend the time to discuss weightlifting or other similar sports (e.g. strongman, powerlifting, bodybuilding competitions, etc) or share tips? Or perhaps they feel it's not worth talking about it because of the perception of not enough deaf/hh people like to exercise with weights and many are not really that serious (ie gym rats) in the first place.

There are two kinds of people who work out using weights. One is generally interested in keeping fit using weights and cardio to help tone the body, reduce bodyweight and achieve the ability to climb the stairs without passing out. And to use the gym to socialize. The other kind are the ones who are interested in going just beyond fitness either to add bulk to their size and/or strength. Typically those in bodybuilding aim for size, density, and definition. Though they are strong but are in a different class when compared to a power lifter or strongman/woman.

Ok. You're wondering what's a gym rat? Well, it's somebody who constantly go to the gym to work out at least several times a week, even going twice a day. As for me, I don't see myself as a "gym rat" per se nowadays. I did when I was younger. But I only work out about 5 days a week with the weekends off. Sometimes it's 4 days a week even though I'm known to get intense in my workouts. But if that makes me a gym rat, so be it.

I do believe there are deaf/hh people out there who really do enjoy working out with weights at the gym and get their nirvana high workout burn. And then there is the question of why there are very few forums dedicated to those who are deaf/hh and like to workout with the weights? Few have tried to start a forum specifically on working out with the weights but they have largely gone to the wayside and discontinued or show very little activity due to the lack of interest such as Deaf Weightlifting or Deaf Strength. The lack of interest certainly does raise a lot of questions. Perhaps with the increase interest in Matt Hamill's UFC fight will we find more deaf/hh people flocking to nearby MMA gyms and start exercising? Who knows?

The irony in this day and age is that we can blog or vlog to our heart's content on any subjects including weightlifting, bodybuilding, powerlifting or even strongman/woman topics. A platform to discuss weightlifting or gym exercise tips, information, and knowing which gym rat we have out there. For a deaf community who likes sports, there seems to be a shortage of these deaf/hh people who are hidden away, fearful to come out from the shadows and say, "Yes, I'm a gym rat."

Paotie's Lair - When Deaf People Practice the a-wordism

Paotie has an interesting blog about how some Deaf people use "avdism" (misspelled on purpose) against other Deaf/deaf/hh people. A bit of an ironic twist that turns the table against the very people who toss this a-wordism around with regular abuse. His blog is an insightful commentary about how some Deaf people practice avdism when they want to try and "fix or cure" deaf and hard of hearing people and get them to use ASL by using the Matt Hamill pre - UFC 75 fight as an example.

Paotie is a deaf person from Colorado who visits Albuquerque, New Mexico to train and workout at a gym for MMA enthusiasts. His stare is known chill people's bones.

Matt Hamill Releases Statement about UFC Fight

From Matt Hamill's official website:

"I think MMA is a great sport and I don't believe in any kind of a fix. The two judges that scored the win for Bisping obviously need to re-evaluate the way they score a fight. You can't win a fight when you run for three rounds. They need to study the criteria for scoring an MMA fight: effective striking, grappling, takedowns, aggression and control. Bisping did none of that in my opinion."

To see Bisping's Official statement go here.


Check out all of Kokonut Pundit's blogs on Matt Hamill. Including exclusive interviews with him by Mike McConnell.

A Cordial Response to Jeff Carlson

Today's comment by Jeff Carlson in his own blog.

My response:

If you had respect for me, Jeff, then why not admit the fact that you were wrong considering how I do my YouTube search every 2 to 3 weeks using only the search tag word "deaf". YouTube has a "date added" button which leaves me only to scan two or three pages worth of videos that were recently added. Yet you desperately wanted to believe otherwise for some odd reason. Are you forming your opinion on your own or from other people interjecting into yours? Remember, you said the "deaf p0rn" search terms weren't your idea in the first place. So, who is doing the influencing on your part in forming an opinion based on false assumptions? You need to consider the sources of your bias first. It serves no purpose to blog like that in the deaf community other than to raise awareness on the libel and defamation issue. Or are you suggesting that the deaf community follow your lead that it is alright to libel and defame people on the internet? What gives?

Also, you have not explained your reason why you think that way when the method of my search is plaintively obvious by using only one word, "deaf," and then hit the button to organize the video results from earliest to latest entry. This is a commonly used method when reviewing the latest video uploads. But using the "conservative" meme as a source of your explaination (a la Senator Craig, et al), if that is the case, isn't worth a dime but an excuse to libel me on purpose, which has no merit in of itself using the party line approach.

And if you want to go about the subject of "misguided" you need to look again on what you wrote about how I did my YouTube search. The Deaf Bunny YouTube video was only 5 days old when I came across it when I used the "deaf" search term and hit the "date added" button to organize the video entry. It was on the first page when I saw it and was surprised that a deaf owned porn company even existed. I have never heard such a thing before and so I blogged about it. And because of that I learned about PoleCat Pictures from another commenter which I haven't heard before either. Otherwise your logic would be saying that I put down "deaf p0rn" every two or three weeks on YouTube to see if there's anything related to deaf porn over the last year or so when YouTube popularity was on the rise until one day I finally came across a video that actually had a deaf porn video in it. You tell me the logic in that thinking.

It's all about common sense, Jeff. There is no need for me to look at anything specific in YouTube when all I need to do is use the search tag word "deaf" and organize the list by earliest to latest and pick a few videos. An pick the ones that catches my interest and see what people are saying. This is part of my research pattern and a way for me to learn more on what's going on out there.

However, it is extremely hard for me to believe a person who says he has "tremendous respect" for me but at the same time calls me a liar and a pervert in a blog. Why should I even bother to meet with you, which would be nice as I have met many other bloggers earlier this year at the vlog/blog conference at Gally, when you have not shown any respect to me in your blog in the first place? Do you not understand the seriousness of libel and defamation? Or do you actually think it's all a big joke? And if you haven't heard what Murphy's Law is about I suggest you read up on that. And if I am "misguided" then you need to explain how I am "misguided" and in what way. But for now try and see that from my perspective for a change considering what you have done lately. Right now, Jeff, you do not have my respect at heart at all.

UPDATE: Jeff has gone off the deep end. Sorry, Jeff. You have lost total respect from me for a guy who continues to lie about his so-called respect for me.

Along with his imagination running wild. He has knowingly lied from the beginning to end. Misguided he is. With none of the wits. And for a guy who can't even get it right the first and last time using common sense certainly begs the question his IQ. No need to address this issue when I've been correct all along. Let's move this along and bury this dung.

UPDATE II: Saw just the short blurb in EXTRA Deafread rather than reading the whole thing, seems like he's having an existential meltdown, basically so. Reminds me of that caveman commercial, too. Can't help but laugh at that one commercial.

UPDATE III: Now, he's a little, ahem, "obsessed" with me. Maybe that's an understatement?

Why Throw "Avdism" as a Reason for Matt Hamill's Fight Loss?

This is probably something I will not understand the logic of how some Deaf people would throw in their "avdism" (purposely misspelled) theory as a reason why Matt Hamill loss the fight to Bisping given to him by 2 out of 3 judges. I am in the same boat as Paotie.com (another deaf New Mexico resident in Albuquerque) about the silly notion of using the a-wordism.

Yet, I have come across a few people who commented in my comment section saying it was "avdism" that resulted in Matt to lose the fight. Balderdash I say! I wouldn't waste my time discussing that. Just isn't worthy to get into that kind of hokey conspiracy theory. I believe it has more to do with favoritism to a hometown fighter than anything else than thinking along the line that Bisping was losing to a deaf fighter. Also, the judges were using a point system similar to that of a boxing system to rate hitting points given to fighters. Though not overly familiar but I have read a few articles that mentioned this and the fact that Dana White want a better scoring system that would better reflect the MMA fights and not just purely boxing. But this current scoring system simply has to be overhauled. Dana White is determined to do that in order to better reflect the MMA style of fighting. But one guy, from Fox Sports, doesn't think so and thinks the current scoring system is fine the way it is despite it's flaws (an understatement considering on what just has happened).

The 10-point must system was put in place by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board in 2000 and has become the standard for virtually every MMA promotion in the country. When New Jersey, and later Nevada, chose to regulate the sport, it saved it from near extinction in the process. But the system put in place is kind of like the Electoral College when it comes to presidential elections. It's probably not the best system.

Sometimes the guy who gets the most votes loses.

But most of the time it works fine.

The original UFC judging system from late 1995-2000 was simple. If a fight went the time limit, the judge wrote the name of the person they thought won the fight on a piece of paper. Anyone can watch a fight and decide for themselves who wins. But sometimes when you put numbers into the equation, they don't add up.

In a three-round fight, usually this happens when one guy wins a round dominantly, and the other two rounds are hard to pick. The guy who won the dominant round should win the fight, but a close round can go either way. A guy could have won the fight in the old method, but still lose on the cards 29-28 if judges gave the two close rounds to the opponent. That's largely what happened here.

In fact, Dave Meltzer said that Hamill was lucky he didn't win only because he was on Bisping's hometown turf.

People who complain Hamill got robbed have by this point missed the much larger point. Fighting is about making stars, and stars are not made on won-loss records. Hamill became a bigger star in losing, because of the post-fight sympathy factor, than he would have had he gotten the decision. And based on the skill levels both men showed in he fight, it's questionable how either man would do against the top light heavyweights. But against each other, a rematch would give both men another high profile fight that there would be great interest in.

Bisping, who may be 15-0 with only one match going to a decision, had his stock drop even though he got the decision. So, in the big picture, Bisping was a little lucky the judging went his way, and Hamill was very lucky it didn't.

Never mind the fact that it was thousands of British fans who booed at Bisping after the win believing it was Hamill who won the fight. But one MMA fan probably came up with one really good answer as to why British MMA fans at the arena booed at Bisping after the fight using the fight song theory.

Bisping comes out to "London's Calling" but he's from Liverpool, no wonder he was booed [after the fight] in London. That's like the Red Sox playing "New York, New York."

And , lastly, never mind the fact that it was Bisping himself who said that it was Matt Hamill who actually won all three rounds in his personal website. I'm sure Dave Meltzer missed that one completely already.

Yes, Dave, this current scoring system simply needs to be overhauled to fit the MMA style of fighting and not boxing.

Soldier in Iraq Reaches Out to Her Deaf Parents

This a great article to read on how a daughter who is currently a soldier in Iraq talks to her parents over the phone.

Pfc. Patti Angel faces communication barriers no amount of waiting in line or talking into a phone from Iraq can help. Her parents are deaf.

Keeping in touch back home is already tough for deployed Soldiers with friends and family members who can hear. Not being able to use conventional means of communication at her disposal makes reaching out to her parents that much harder on Angel.

The 19-year-old food service specialist from Grand Junction, Colo., Company F, 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, Angel has found a way to communicate with her hearing-impaired parents and explained how others can do the same. She uses the Sorenson Video Relay Service to “speak” visually to her mother and father.

“They have a screen with a web-cam on their phone,” Angel said. “I talk to the interpreter, then the interpreter signs what I say to my parents. My parents then sign back to the interpreter and the interpreter talks to me.”

Angel first started signing to her parents when she was 10-months-old, before she even learned to speak. She didn’t learn to communicate vocally until her older sisters taught her English.

“We all learned to sign before we could talk,” Angel said. “My older twin sisters had to go to speech school when they were 2. Then, after my brother and I were born, our sisters taught us how to talk.”

But what's also surprising, even disturbing to a degree, is how one of the older hearing children of Deaf parents had to go to speech therapy in order to speak correctly. And that the older sisters taught their youngest sister on how to talk. Is that how's it's being done today?

Bisping Calls UFC, Request Rematch Against Hamill

In a surprising turn around by Michael Bisping after he had time to cool off and soak in comments from American and British fans about Hamill's obvious win against him, Bisping called the UFC and requested a rematch against Matt Hamill. He felt that Hamill won the first round and was extremely gracious (considering what he has done and said immediately after the fight) and apologetic to Hamill in his personal web site.

As most people will of seen the fight with me and Hamil was a close one. I have seen the controversy surrounding the decision so obviously have to reply. I personally feel he won round 1 and I took rounds 2 and 3. That said it was close and can I understand how some people would think differently. On the night I was given the decision and he wasn’t, on another occasion it could of been different.

Looking at message boards it appears that some (major understatement) people are pissed off about my comments afer the fight. Looking back I should of given Hamill more credit as he fought a great fight and has improved his all round game a hell of a lot. What you have to remember is though the adrenalin was running through my veins, I had fought a hard fight and was obviously happy to get the decision. I would like to take this opportunity to say well done to Matt for fighting great and bringing the fight to me big time, I should have commented on this on the night.

I have contacted the UFC and stated I would like to rematch Hamill at everyones earliest convenience as I’m sure most of you know, no fighter wants a win when the decision is debateable. I am happy for the fight to take place where ever, and look forward to settling the score once and for all. I personally feel we put on a great fight for the fans and perhaps people should focus on this more.

I apologise to all my fans who feel let down by anyhting at the weekend, hey Im a young man with alot of emotion and sometimes say things in the heat of the moment.

I’d like to say thanks to everyone who has sent me there messages. Theres been to many to reply to them all. I will say this though, if Matt Hammils gonna cut me next time he might need a carving knife as Ive definately got thicker skin over the last few days.“

Amazing! I have now much more new founded respect for Bisping. After all it was the judges' bad call who gave the win to Bisping. It wasn't his mistake. His only mistake was his attitude immediately after the fight. But I'm sure he must've seen the video of the fight and saw just how bad he was against Matt Hamill. This fight is planned to be free for MMA fans.

One possible idea is to have the two fight for free on Spike TV as the latest installment of the “Bad Blood” series that has featured grudge rematches between Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz, and Jens Pulver and B.J. Penn. If the organization wanted to get creative, rematches between Rob Emerson and Gray Maynard, and Nate Diaz and Manny Gamburyan could fill out the undercard.

Get ready for Bisping vs Hamill II!

Hat tip: CF


Check out all of Kokonut Pundit's blogs on Matt Hamill. Including exclusive interviews with him by Mike McConnell.

Defamation and Libel

When defamation and libel actions are wrong. A case example:

Jeff Carlson,

You have no justification on purposely defaming me. I've outlined how I accidentally came across that website via YouTube. It is common sense to arrange the YouTube listings from the earliest to the latest in order to see the most recent video addition. I check up on YouTube every 2 or 3 weeks and scan only the last two or three pages to see the recent deaf video additions. This is what I did. This is how you do your research. It'd be a waste of time to type in "deaf" and and try and find the most recent videos. I have not lied in what I wrote down in my blog on how I came across that YouTube video. I didn't really believe deaf porn existed. Yet it was you who tested "deaf porn" that day to do your own little research but failed to take into consideration the "date added" tab on YouTube to arrange videos by the earliest date. And finding that video opened my eyes that day which was only 5 days old and so I blogged about it. I didn't even know about Polecat Pictures until someone told me in the comment section. We learn something new everyday, even me. What you have done was out of line. You can criticize me but to make libelous and defamatory claims that you have no evidence of is nothing short of reckless. Porn is insidious as well as it can be degrading. I'm sure you saw how one person treated Mish as discussed in Gnarly Dorkette's blog who made a sexist remark at her? That's the thing, we don't need that sort of thing on the internet.

Now, I rather not be a moron nor am I a lying pervert. I made my case and I'm known for my honesty, sometimes harsh but forward, in my blogs. But since you (Jeff) said you'd rather be a moron than a lying pervert then fine.

Moron \Mo"ron\ (m[=o]"r[o^]n), n. [Gr. mw^ros foolish, stupid.]
1. (Pedagogy) A mentally retarded person whose intellectual
development proceeds normally up to about the eighth year
of age and is then arrested so that there is little or no
further development; an adult having the mental
development of an 8-to-12-year old. A moron is considered
capable of doing routine work under supervision.
[Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

The issue here is really about how people ignore or do not understand the differences when it comes to making libel and defamatory remarks.

Scammers who are Deaf

I have heard briefly here and there over the years about scammers who are Deaf and hearing and the damages they have done to the Deaf/deaf community. I hate scammers of any kind (I'm sure everybody hates a scammer, no surprise there). So, I'll be needing your help by seeking your comments on these scammers but I am mostly interested in scammers who are Deaf and add my finding into my research for my upcoming blogs. Since I am aware that this has happened and continues to occur but at the same time I am not overly familiar with the history of scammers who are Deaf (which, by the way, would make a great book) and their preying practices they have done on their Deaf victims. Have you been a victim of a scammer who happens to be Deaf?

Greg Gunderson to Make His Racing Debut on Sept 15

Hey, big news down the road for Deaf/deaf/hh racing fans which will be revealed in due time here on Kokonut Pundit about the up and coming Greg Gunderson. You will NOT want to miss this news!

Don't forget to show your support for Greg Gunderson who is well on his way to become the first ever Deaf NASCAR driver. The year 2008 will certainly be Greg's finest and most memorable year ever. But wait until 2009 when he plan to become the first ever Deaf NASCAR driver in the Annals of Deaf history.

In 2008 Greg plans to race on asphalt tracks in ARCA Series before attempting to become a NASCAR driver in 2009. Right now he is honing his racing skills for the Sprint race in the upcoming September 15th, Saturday at 4PM race debut. The original racing date was September 8 but it was rained out.

Be sure to help Greg find sponsors so spread the word since he'll need all the support he can get for a great 2008 racing year! He must race a full year at the ARCA Series before making the transition to the NASCAR series. He will need your help and support. Send him an email or let other people known about Greg Gunderson who, just like Matt Hamill, is also another role model for the Deaf community.

UPDATE: Check out this first historical event ever to take place in the ARCA/NASCAR industry to bring the first deaf racing driver to the racing scene. See photos of this historic news.

Hamill Overwhelmed with Support from Bisping Fans

Key points:
You wouldn't think that fans of Bisping would actually go up to Matt Hamill after the fight in show of support that it was he who won the fight and not Bisping. It actually happened.

Back at the host hotel following the bout, the people showed how much they cared for Hamill, who was treated like a conquering hero by London fans despite the decision.

“We went back to the hotel and I said, ‘shower up, we’re going down to that restaurant, we’re gonna have a nice dinner and we’re gonna celebrate because you won that fight, you know it, and everybody else knows it,’” said Hamill’s trainer and manager Duff Holmes. “And we went and sat down, and there was a line at his table. People came up and said ‘we’re Bisping fans, but we just want to let you know that you won that fight and you’re in our hearts now.’ It was just great for Matt, because I was telling him all along during the fight ‘you’re winning this fight, you’re winning this fight.’ After the fight was over, I grabbed him and said, ‘you won that fight.’ And when the decision went the other way, we were just in shock. But having the people say that he won the fight was great. I told him to keep his head high and that I’ve never been more proud to be a part of his team.”

The loss still stings though.

“I was obviously disappointed with the decision,” said Hamill. “But I'm not one to complain or question judges. If they said he beat me, I accept it and move on. I know in my heart I won that fight.”

Pretty surreal and touching at the same time about those Bisping fans acknowledging that Hamill won the fight wouldn't you say?


Here are the key points in the UFC official website article:

Hamill is overwhelmed with the support he received from Internet/people who feel he deserved the win.

Bisping continues to think he won the fight.

Bisping was surprised at Hamill's strategy to go out striking.

Hamill was working on stand-up nonstop for last 18 months

Jeff Mullen, who was one of the judges who favored Bisping, explains his scorecard (pretty detailed).

Dana White reiterates that he also think it's a bad decision, and that is why he urges fighters to never leave it to the judges (in other words FINISH fights).

Bisping's fans actually approached Hamill at a restaurant and told him he won the fight in their eyes.

Bisping says Hamill is the first one to have went the distance with him (it is true.... Bisping has always submitted or TKO/KO'd others in the past).

Hamill doesn't mind having a rematch.

Overall a great article to read! And apparently we'll see lots more from Dana White on ensuring that Matt Hamill deserve the continuing chance to fight in the UFC. Hamill has already shown he has that fighting caliber when Bisping was his punching boy that night. And that's an understatement.

Good man that Dana guy.


Check out all of Kokonut Pundit's blogs on Matt Hamill. Including exclusive interviews with him by Mike McConnell.

Video - American Hero Matt Hamill defeats Michael Bisping

A cool video recap of the fight between Matt Hamill and Bisping with Matt standing while an American flag wave behind him at the beginning of the video. The rockin music called "Born in the USA" sung by Bruce Springsteen. Watch, listen and follow the song's lyrics at the same time. You can only smile seeing Bisping running around trying to avoid Matt's relentless forward attack. If that is what you call a "win" for Bisping, you're absolutely nutz.



Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said "Son, don't you understand"

I had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone

He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.

Hat tip: Mattwins


Check out all of Kokonut Pundit's blogs on Matt Hamill. Including exclusive interviews with him by Mike McConnell.