Kokonut Pundit

Thursday, October 11, 2007

The "I Deaf" Question.

Here's a 1998 RIT/NTID Master of Science thesis work titled "Profiles of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals Who Pursue English as a Career." This thesis contains some rather potent and salient remarks about the attitudes from many deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It's has been nearly ten years since the thesis was published, how many of the remarks made in the thesis still stand true today?

Some remarks from the author and other contributors as seen in the thesis:

Mark (born deaf): "Despite having several Deaf and hard of hearing friends who struggled with English, I have always been astonished by their attitudes towards all aspects of English, including reading and writing. At times, I felt they were offensive towards me as they mocked the English language. I somehow never felt approval from my Deaf and hard of hearing friends for wanting to run to a corner to read my favorite book. Likewise, I could not help feeling the sadness, knowing they were missing out on such tremendous joy through the English language."

- There was also a 'specialness' associated with being a Deaf English major and/or teacher.

- Positive attitudes towards English do not appear to exists among Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, or at least they are not the norm.

- Deaf and hard of hearing individuals may not choose other majors or careers due to difficulties with English. for instance, Lang found that English scores were the best predictor determining whether Deaf and hard of hearing individuals choose to enter the science fields.
- English is a language which Deaf and hard of hearing individuals need to master in order to receive appropriate educations and achieve their potentials in the work force and intellectual life of society.

- "The superintendent, actually a pleasant person and a CODA, had nothing against me, but he absolutely did not want any deaf teacher on his staff, " explained one participant. Another stated, "The only problem I ever had was that one person who interviewed me from the English Department gave me a 'grammar test.' During our one-on-one interview. This was incredibly inappropriate and I doubt the person would have done it with a hearing candidate (he was hearing)."
- When asked how people responded to their wanting to major in English, family and friends were rather comfortable. However, they received negative feedback from others. "They always give me that look." "I'd be treated differently from the way they'd treat others." One participant described the"win-lose" situation with her Deaf friends. They applauded her for wanting to improve the Deaf and hard of hearing students' English but at the same time saw her as an "oppressor who does not recognize ASL as a legitimate language."

- The belief that Deaf and hard of hearing individuals who pursue English as a career are more intelligent is somewhat prevalent today. Teachers and other professionals for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals need to encourage the mentality that Deaf and hard of hearing students are intelligent regardless of their skills in English. Yet, they also need to encourage the philosophy that Deaf and hard of hearing individuals can master English and be "loyal" to the cultural values of the Deaf community.

Any MSSD Grads Out There?

A staff writer from the Washington City Paper is looking for students who recently graduated from MSSD. Preferably male. When staff writer, Angela Valdez, contacted me via email she explained to me on the kind of information she is looking for:

1. Any hazing, teasing and/or games that go on in dormitories and on the MSSD campus?

2. The level of strictness from RAs (Resident Assistants). Are they always watching? Do they tolerate a certain level of horse-play? Etc..

She prefers those who recently graduated from MSSD but anybody from the 1990s through 2000s would do. Please contact Angela Valdez at:

avaldez@washingtoncitypaper.com

Sunday, October 07, 2007

No Words Needed

A banned commercial about Bill Clinton. A little funny clip for ya'll. But this video was eventually taken off Dutch television due to complaints from the White House. It was considered inappropriate to depict in a sitting president in any commercial, even if it was a foreign commercial. But then again we have this, so, why the complaints?

Do Terrorists Use Sign Language to Communicate?

If you haven't been watching the news over the last few days there have been some interesting developments about the "Goose Creek Two" where two Egyptian students, Magahed and Mohammed, were arrested after a routine traffic stop on charges of possessing an explosive device. Enough to be labeled as a "bomb" by experts.

Found in the car

When a routine traffic stop led police to search a car driven by Youssef Megahed, here's what was found:

- Three pieces of PVC pipe cut into various sizes, 1 foot or less, filled with potassium nitrate (used in fertilizer) and Karo syrup. Cat litter was used to bind those ingredients.

- Safety fuse, 20 feet.

- Electric drill

- Bullets

- Gasoline, 5 gallon canister

- Laptop computer reflecting visits to the following Web sites: a video file that shows Qassam rockets firing, Hamas information, a discussion of martyrdom, M-16 rifle photos

Source: U.S. Attorney's Office

How much power?

Explosive experts interviewed by the Times say the loaded PVC tubes sound like incomplete pipe bombs, lacking only detonators. Each one, while not powerful enough to blow up a house, could blow out the windows in a room. However, without a detonator, the devices would simply have burned slowly. The chemical combination would not produce what people would typically think of as fireworks.

Sources: Edward Dreizin, New Jersey Institute of Technology chemical engineering professor; Vilem Petr, Colorado School of Mines explosive engineering professor; Van Romero, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology vice president for research

The two are students of University of South Florida. Megahed, a permanent U.S. resident from Egypt, and Mohamed, who is in the U.S. on a student visa.

Recently, Megahed's brother, Yahia, tried to send some kind of sign language code through a jail-house camera, or so it seems as seen in this video. Some of the manual alphabet letters are clearly seen to be of the English language variety. Recognizable manual alphabet letters and some numbers include F (or 9), 6 (or W), F (or 9), F (or 9), 3 (or F or 9), M, I, G, C and L. Sign Language interpreters agree than many of the "signs" were quite distinct such as M, I, G, C and L. Although no one from the Deaf community has made any comments about Yahia's supposed signing.

It was clear that Yahia was acting suspiciously during the video-taping. Unless the mysterious signing is of the Egyptian Sign Language version but it sure does look more like the American signed alphabet version than anything else. But it'd be interesting to know if any ofthem took ASL at USF (or elsewhere) since courses in ASL are offered over there.

Yahia, the one who was signing in the video, was claimed by his brother that he doesn't know sign language and was only fooling around. Now, why would one want to fool around in front of the jail security camera (while looking suspiciously around the room before he started signing) knowing that getting caught doing that will only raised more questions and suspicions? Either he is an idiot or he knows what he is doing. And if it's a "secret code" of some sort to his fellow brothers, then why was the video released to the public enabling anybody to view the videotape. If it's a secret code then it's already out. If it's just "playing around," then that certainly doesn't help the jailed suspects' situation? Hmmm...?

One of the brothers was denied bail because of the potential flight risk while the other one can post $200,000 bail but must stay in jail to see if anyone objects to the bail ruling. Explosives weren't the only thing these brothers are being charged.

Megahed and Ahmed Mohamed, 26, both suspended University of South Florida students, were arrested Aug. 4, near a Goose Creek, S.C., naval base. A deputy stopped them for speeding, searched their car and found what experts say were materials for low-grade explosives.

A federal grand jury in Tampa handed up an Aug. 29 indictment charging both men with illegally transporting explosive materials. Mohamed faces an additional charge of teaching others how to make an explosive. Prosecutors say they found a laptop showing a video of Mohamed turning a remote control toy into a detonator, and that he uploaded the instructional video to YouTube.

If convicted, Megahed faces up to 10 years in prison. Mohamed could be sentenced to up to 30 years if convicted. A trial is set for December, but Fitzgibbons said it probably won't happen that soon. This is a story that bears keeping an eye on. Even though many think that the signing video tape will hurt the prosecutor's case. Did Yahia try and communicate to the outside world? Atlas Shrugs has more on this story as well.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Time to Induct "Dummy Hoy" into the National Baseball Hall of Fame

It's time for all baseball fans to let the National Baseball Hall of Fame veterans committee know about William "Dummy Hoy" Ellsworth and for him to get inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame (NBHOF). The NBHOF only gets about 25 to 50 emails a year suggesting that "Dummy Hoy" be inducted according to a recent interview with the foremost authoritative "Dummy Hoy" documentarian, Steve Sandy. Indeed, this is a very small and pathetic response. More responses need to be generated. We need hundreds of thousands of responses and let the committee know about "Dummy Hoy" and he deserve a place in baseball history.

The next election for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be in December 2008. The top 25 players will be selected and the vote for induction with the top 75% will take place in Jan/Feb 2009. The official induction will take place in July 2009.

How can you get "Dummy Hoy" inducted? Use my easy-to-follow instructions below and do you part today.

Step 1. Click on the National Baseball Hall of Fame contact information website.

Step 2. Follow the instruction seen in the screen capture picture below.

Step 3. Copy and paste below my email letter into the "Question and/or Comment" box as seen in the screen capture picture below.

Dear Veterans Committee,

I am writing to you in the hope that you will take my vote of consideration that William "Dummy Hoy" Ellsworth ought to be one of the prime candidates for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It wasn't long ago that "Dummy Hoy" was inducted into the Cincinati Reds Hall of Famer where the relatives of the Hoy family were invited to attend the ceremony
( see http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/ballpark/museum/hofers.jsp#hoy ).

Recently a DVD documentary about "Dummy Hoy" was released by Da-CorPictures detailing the rich and rewarding history of "Dummy Hoy" (see http://www.dacorpictures.com/Dummy%20Hoy.html ). Also, there is a short video clip on Yahoo video that gives a short overview history about "Dummy Hoy" (see http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=647807 ) including a short clip from the DVD documentary.

If you look into the history and contribution to baseball that "Dummy Hoy" has made, including baseball signs such as "out' and "strike," I'm sure you will agree whole-heartedly that William "Dummy Hoy" Ellsworth finally deserves a place in baseball history by inducting him into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Thank you for your time and consideration on this very important piece of baseball history.

Step 4. Hit the "submit" button and you're done!

A little clip for you to enjoy about the DVD documentary "Dummy Hoy - A Deaf Hero."

If you have any problem or questions let me know. Let's get the word out. We have until December 2008 when the election takes place to choose baseball players to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Spread the word, folks. This is your chance and don't let this opportunity pass you by!

Interview with Steve Sandy - A "Dummy Hoy" Documentarian

This was a 1 hour and 30 minutes interview on October 3, 2007 with Steve Sandy (he is Deaf) who is the most authoritative "Dummy Hoy" documentarian recently released a DVD documentary film a few weeks ago called "Dummy Hoy - A Deaf Hero."

Mike McConnell: Welcome.

Steve Sandy: Let's get busy.

Mike McConnell: Describe yourself, how you became deaf, and what modes of communication do you use and how well you use them.

Steve Sandy: Unknown how I became Deaf, mode communication is spoken English, Signing English (when necessary) and mostly ASL, very fluent in ASL.

Mike McConnell: What started your fascination with William Ellsworth or "Dummy Hoy"?

Steve Sandy: In 1989, in Toledo, deaf association, there was a Bill being omitted due to no action, so I requested to see if I could take it, then that weekend I became the President of the association, whats more Dummy Hoy was a member of the Greater Cincinnati Deaf Club and they were the key to refer me to Judson Hoy and he refer me to correct people and the rest is history.

Mike McConnell: Who is Judson Hoy? And, for clarification, did you mean that he asked to help correct people on the history about "Dummy Hoy"?

Steve Sandy: Judson Hoy was a lawyer that helped incorporated Greater Cincinnati Deaf Club, and he is the grandson of Dummy Hoy. He passed away before I gotten the chance to meet him.

Mike McConnell: Are there any surviving Hoys around?

Steve Sandy: Yes, there are currently many surviving members directly to Dummy Hoy. Few lives in Cincinnati. But Dummy Hoy's father and grandfather there many brothers and sister, so direct cousins has been contact me for the DVD. Directly to Dummy Hoy at the top of my head there is 5 generations of Dummy Hoy. But I did find a web page that shows a very large family of Hoy.

Mike McConnell: Isn't there a museum about "Dummy Hoy" and if so where is it located?

Steve Sandy: Regrettably there is no museum located that mainly displayed Dummy Hoy anywhere.

Mike McConnell: Are people talking or discussing on building a museum for "Dummy Hoy"?

Steve Sandy: No not at the current moment, in the past there were, but reality, no. I be surprised if there was one without my knowledge but to me extensive knowledge, no.

Mike McConnell: Hall of Fame. Tell the readers about this effort to help put "Dummy Hoy" into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Steve Sandy: For starters, petition is out! Every supporters is to send two things, a written letter with a letterhead of its organizations/association or an email to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Can pick only one

Mike McConnell: Is there a website where you can sign your petition online? What's the email address to the National Baseball Hall of Fame? The next election will be in December 2008 when they will vote to select top 25 players and the Vote for induction with the top 75% in Jan/Feb 2009 the induction will take place in July 2009.

Steve Sandy: I would have to send you the link tmw morning.

Mike McConnell: Ok. (Note - Click here on how to help induct "Dummy Hoy" into the National Baseball Hall of Fame)

Mike McConnell: How did you get into this documentary business covering William Ellsworth? And what is your role exactly in this documentary business? Are you a producer, editor, or something else?

Steve Sandy: Ah, the quest for knowledge! Started three years ago, A producer by the name of David Risotto (he likes to play with the odds) contacted Bruce Hoy (Dummy Hoy's grandson in California) and Bruce referred David to contact me. My role with the Da-CorPictures is quiet a few. Mainly I am an Associate Producer, Co-writer, and a researcher on Dummy Hoy. I was able to acquired Dummy Hoy album from the granddaughter of Dummy Hoy. A perfect window to the world through Dummy Hoy's eyes.

Mike McConnell: That must've contained a lot of rich history and information! Anything unusual that stood out when you peeked into that album?

Steve Sandy: Yes! It does, a reporter, Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch had dropped his jaw when he saw all the researches I had collected a number of friends Dummy Hoy had something else I didn't know he were friends with these people. Also Dummy Hoy's nephew, Paul Hoy Helms is quite a close friends to President Eisenhower and pro golfer Ben Hogan. You have to see it!

Mike McConnell: I'd love to see it! Interesting history and connection. How did you get into this documentary business covering William Ellsworth? And what is your role exactly in this documentary business? Are you a producer, editor, or something else?

Steve Sandy: Well David contacted me out of the blue. My only education was to thank MSSD for learning how to keep track and footnotes. I am quiet an expert in doing researches. Documentary business was offered and I took it.

Mike McConnell: Did you receive any kind of education to help that helped you with this documentary business? What about funding, how did that work out? How much did this whole project cost?

Steve Sandy: Funding was mostly out of scratches. David was able to get funding from supporters and a very few deaf supporters (I mean very FEW Deaf supporters has put in funds for it!). How much it cost, honestly i would assumed in $10,000 plus. But I do not know how much it had all cost

Mike McConnell: So, you guys really scraped by?

Steve Sandy: In sense, yes. The entire researches I have started I may have spent about $5,000 of my own money to gather this materials on Dummy Hoy. I was once told by a friend that an insurance appraisal stated that it would be worth $$$ (I loaned to them to write a book)

Mike McConnell: Are you saying the amount of historical materials you collected probably has an (large) appraised value? Virtually priceless in a deaf sense?

Steve Sandy: Yup!

Mike McConnell: Museum quality stuff i would suppose. When was it appraised?

Steve Sandy: Prolly in around later part of 1990's. Dummy Hoy's family album was able to secure a bid on Dummy Hoy's letter, a 1913 Oshkosh historical book.

Mike McConnell: Do you have your own business? Deaf owned? Any deaf, Deaf, or hard of hearing employees? Who are the people that did this documentary project such as David Risotto (director), Joe Roetheli, Paul Henderson, David Risotto, etc? Are they all Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing or hearing?

Steve Sandy: I do not have a business. the Dummy Hoy is purely a hobby I have grown to love and keep on doing this. Everyone in the Da-CorPictures production are all hearing (unless I am wrong). Only the people who have been film in the documentary are deaf. Dummy Hoy - Ryan Lane, Anna Lowery (later his wife)- Deanne Bray, Dummy Taylor - Try K.. (something) (Troy is married to Deanne Bray). "Dummy Hoy: A Deaf Hero, " you will see a list of names who are and acted in the documentary. But it doesn't state who is deaf and hearing.

Mike McConnell: I'll get to those people next. The Da-CorPictures production, what do they film? Documentary stuff?

Steve Sandy: Not just documentary, David does other film. If you go into http://www.dacorpictures.com/Welcome.html you will see other film he had produce and upcoming project.

Mike McConnell: Who are the actors (male and female) in this film? Tell me about Deanne Bray who starred in the documentary. What was she like? What about other actors and the person who played "Dummy Hoy"? Were there any new actors who never acted on film before?

Steve Sandy: I had the honor of meeting Deanne Bray, she was a very nice lady who signs ASL, she did in "F.B. Eye."

Mike McConnell: Yes. She is known for her role acting in F.B. Eye.

Steve Sandy: We both talk about babies as we have two daughters and she just bore a child. I was the one to suggest to David for her to take the role of Anna Lowery (Dummy Hoy's wife before she was married). Ryan Lane - the role of Dummy Hoy he was a fresh kid right out of CSDR with no acting experience and Deanne Bray taught him the reins. It was a humorous that Ryan had to kiss Deanne for the documentary. Ryan is nearing his 20's and Deanne is already married. When Ryan has to Kiss Deanne, it was something that Ryan had learned in the entertainment business.

Mike McConnell: Ha. Embarrassing? Any other funny stories?

Steve Sandy: I am trying to think of one, I was not able to be there during the production of the documentary, I had the honor of meeting Ryan Lane when I was in Long Beach 2 weeks ago for the ASL Expo. I do have some pictures of the production that was taken by a friend. When I first met David, he has no deaf culture knowledge. When we met in person, I was able to speak to him. But when we met again, he was signing and I was equally impressed of his motivation so when we meet again (and yes we will meet) will teach him more signs.

Mike McConnell: Is David pretty good at signing now?

Steve Sandy: Not fluently but he was picking up signs. He has a way to go to become fluent.

Mike McConnell: Sounds like David has an open mind.

Steve Sandy: Yes! Whats more David has a friend name Faz, you will like him, he was an actor in the Pirate of the Caribbean part 2 and 3. He was one of the Turkish guard.

Mike McConnell: Interesting. Always some connection in the film business.

Steve Sandy: Yeah I have been a friend to him for the 5 days when David and Faz was here in Ohio interviewing people that knows about Hoy, David and Faz was surprised to know that I knew many people along the travels he and faz went without me, he couldn't get anywhere. That goes to the script as well. He need something and someone who understands the ways of the Deaf and that is what I come in.

Mike McConnell: Ha ha...you were invaluable.

Steve Sandy: Yes, I was very invaluable

Mike McConnell: Also, how many deaf/hh actors played in the Dummy Hoy documentary film?

Steve Sandy: Numbers of how many is unknown, best to ask David directly.

Mike McConnell: Would it be a dream of yours to produce or see more Deaf films in the future? What about doing non-Deaf films would that be a possibility? Do you want to become a director? Producer? What role would you like to do if you were to get more involved in the film business?

Steve Sandy: Yes, there is a project being worked on, its called, "The Silent Natural" - The Dummy Hoy Story. Once Dummy Hoy becomes a feature film and everything is complete (movies and travels) I must go back to the family. My wife (deaf) and two daughters (both hearing) need me around. It would be nice to pursue further in the entertainment business but my effort is purely for Dummy Hoy, the man who didn't speak out loud but I would speak for him, the family of Dummy Hoy supports me all the way. The Silent Natural - The Dummy Hoy Story is and will be a feature film if not a blockbuster film if and once we can get necessary funds to start I mean large capitols ($$$).

Mike McConnell: What kind of films would you like do? Documentary? Fictional? Is there a particular niche you'd like to see covered besides "Dummy Hoy" if you had the chance?

Steve Sandy: I would like to create stories that would have the main character for the Deaf. For example, Harry Potter, I had been doing mind work about putting a Deaf Professor who teaches some sort of magic arts in deaf related sense, my interpreter is a mannequin when I put spells on it, it moves its mouth when I sign and when the student talks, the mannequin signs for me. There are other ways that a Deaf can be part of the film as it doesn't necessary have to have it all hearing. Another example is a horror flick, hearing people had been blaming a hearing person who was doing the killing, but no one would suspect it was a deaf person who is doing the killing.

Mike McConnell: Ah..."Silent Clue.."

Steve Sandy: Silent Clue, I like that title!

Mike McConnell: Be sure to credit me on that suggestion.

Steve Sandy: chuckle. if and once I have the agent or a writer I would sign the story and they would write it. Also I was thinking of another race flick called' "Resume Illegal Speed" with a spray pant over the "legal" almost like Mad Max. Deaf professional speed racer who out runs many racers in dangerous speeds.

Mike McConnell: Lots of ideas there.

Steve Sandy: Yeah I know, now you can understand how my mind works.

Mike McConnell: What about doing another documentary type film?

Steve Sandy: I dunno about documentary type film my mind is far fetched and bigger pictures

Mike McConnell: And any actual filming experience (e.g. director..etc)

Steve Sandy: No none of that. I have done acting at high school, I was a mime performer. The Slient Eagles was our group.

Mike McConnell: I see. Next question....do you consider yourself as a "documentarian" now that you have helped complete a film documentary on "Dummy Hoy"? Is filming in your blood?

Steve Sandy: One author stated, "You are the foremost authoritarian on "Dummy Hoy." My hearing brother agrees with me. If someone offer me to work on the next coming documentary, I would have to think long and hard but as always my family comes first.

Mike McConnell: Certainly. How many deaf/Deaf people do you know who are in the film making business? Have you come across them?

Steve Sandy: I have met a few, Howie Seago, Bernard Bragg, Jeff Bravin (And your name is Jonah) Deanne Bray, Ryan Lane I met one who made, Forget me not - a scary movie that was performed by Mandi Moore (yeah met her) Christy Smith (deaf survivor).

Mike McConnell: My wife knows Howie Seago back when she was in Seattle. Also, she knows Marlee Matlin from high school in Chicago, Hershey High.

Steve Sandy: Ah, add Marlee Matlin. I met Howie once during the NAD Conference in INdy back in 1990

Mike McConnell: Small world. So, do you know any deaf film makers?

Steve Sandy: One. We met during the gathering in Kentucky on a boat with Bobbie Beth Scoggins, current NAD President. Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing had invited few well connected deaf people and come ride the boat with dinner and all. Met quite a number of people there.

Mike McConnell: And you are saying that Bobbie Beth Scoggins is a film maker?

Steve Sandy: Negative, she happened to know several people and invited one Deaf Film maker who made "Forget Me Not," which Mandi Moore perform in it.

Mike McConnell: Ok. I see. here's one last question. Is there anything else you like to add for the readers of Kokonut Pundit to know?

Steve Sandy: David Risotto and I would appreciate sending supports to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (NBHOF), you are the key to get Hoy in. Do get the DVD documentary of Dummy Hoy: A Deaf Hero which will explain much about Dummy Hoy. People need to send their support to the NBHOF all they can say, their own words, "Want to have Dummy Hoy in the Hall of Fame!" I contacted the NBHOF to know how many people has been sending emails to them, guess what they said? Only 25 to 50 (emails) a year!

Mike McConnell: Pretty low...sad.

Steve Sandy: 25 to 50 a year, come on! We need more than 100,000! We have 28 million deaf people in USA.

Mike McConnell: That's the requirement...more than 100,000 emails?

Steve Sandy: There is no number mentioned. A million would be nice.

Mike McConnell: Ha ha...when there is a will...there is a way. How many of the existing Hoy's alive today are deaf?

Steve Sandy: ZIP. Here is an interesting thing, Dummy Hoy is 5'4" and Anna is 5' 2".

Mike McConnell: Short dude.

Steve Sandy: When Hoy was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, the Reds and the family of Dummy Hoy invited me to be on the field to honor Dummy Hoy.

Mike McConnell: That's great!

Mike McConnell: Steve, thank you for taking the time to do this interview so that everybody can get to know you better and your finished film documentary about Dummy Hoy. It is always exciting to see deaf, Deaf, and hard of hearing people who have this bootstrap mentality to do these kinds of positive, independent work and, in your case, help preserve a little bit of Deaf history regarding the soon-to-be well known Deaf professional baseball player known as William "Dummy Hoy" Ellsworth.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

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.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

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.

Saturday, September 29, 2007

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.

Friday, September 28, 2007

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?

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

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.

Do you like watching "Who Wants to be a Superhero"?
	Yes! I love it!
	Kind of.
	Not really.
	No way. A freaky show!

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