Archive for » July 26th, 2010 «

26
Jul

ICED 2010: FORGIVENESS


ENGLISH VERSION (loosely translated from ASL):

Once upon a time, in an Italian city far, far away, the Milan 1880 Resolution was passed that removed the use of sign languages from educational programs for the Deaf around the world.  Just last Monday, thanks to the hard work of the BC Deaf committee, supported by the Deaf community, Canadian and international, paid off in the rejection of the Milan 1880 Resolution by Vancouver ICED 2010 committee.

Now what??? FORGIVENESS!

I must add this vlog as a postscript to my previous vlog: ICED 2010, the New Era: What do We do?  Markku Jokinen, the president of World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), gave a speech.  One statement he made that made an impression on me is as follows:

“We must forgive ourselves.”  He gave the Finnish sign for forgiveness.  (view vlog at 1:09)  ”We must forgive ourselves first.  Then, we can forgive the Hearing for all those 130 years of terrible oppression.”

He is correct.

Look at us, the Deaf community, both online and offline, in the real word.  We have been engaged in much infighting and horizontal oppression.  Much pulling down of individuals (Crab theory is one explanation) and antagonism has divided us all.  This fragmentation is getting us nowhere.

United, we will succeed in obtaining what we want…and need. Look at the ICED 2010 Rejection (repudiation) of the Milan 1880 Resolution.  Wow. That was quite powerful.  The BC Deaf committee could not have been successful in its negotiations with the ICED 2010 committee if they did not have the backing of the BC Deaf community  or the international Deaf community at large.  We, the united Deaf community sent them a deluge of email letters of encouragement.  This accomplished much.

True, the New Era document is not perfect, but WE GOT SOMEWHERE!

Interestingly enough, I received an email letter from a friend who is Deaf.  He  made a point related to the clause containing the terms “all forms of communication” in the New Era document.  In full, the clause reads:

“Call upon all Nations of the world to remember history and ensure that educational programs accept and respect all languages and all forms of communication.”

My friend suggested that this clause was included to show that we are not rejecting those non-signing Deaf people who  use the following modes of communication i.e. oral, Cued speech, etc., and/or use cochlear implants.  He also suggested that if this clause was not included, it would look like we are rejecting those very people, when nothing could be further from the truth.  These non-signing Deaf are most definitely part of the Deaf community!

All those 130 years of systemic oppression! WHOA!

This same friend said that at one time he knew nothing of ASL because he was raised Oral. Now he is a fluent user of ASL.  If we had rejected him due to his being oral, he would have absolutely resisted becoming involved in the Deaf community.  This would have resulted in him becoming a solitary figure.

Hence, we MUST forgive ourselves, and unite!  Markku, who thinks in global terms, is correct when he implores us to forgive.  Forgiveness (Finnish sign 4:09).  It’s a key word. Forgive!

Forgiveness. It unites rather than divides. United, we shall educate others so that they may finally see…

Proud, confident, productive, creative and enabling Deaf citizens in respective countries*.

(*BLOGGER’S NOTE: The last line was excerpted from the New Era Document, second page.)

Category: Audism, Bilingualism, Deaf  10 Comments
26
Jul

ICED 2010, the New Era: What Do We Do Now?

ENGLISH VERSION (loosely translated from ASL):

The New Era Presentation Monday Night, July 19, 2010

The Deaf community was invited to the Douglas College for the New Era Presentation  and Global Panel ( Mon and Tues nights) offered by the BC Deaf committee.  (See the open invitation flyer in the video)

This vlog will only focus on the Monday night component of the two-night presentation and panel meetings. There was a good number of folks, not only from the BC Deaf community, but also from the international Deaf Community.  These International Deaf people came from countries such as:

Sweden

Finland

Norway

Saudi Arabia

Belgium

Germany

France

England

Portugal

What took place that Monday night?  There were voice interpreters as well as LSQ, ASL and Gestuno. The people running the meeting were Monte Hardy, Wayne Sinclair, Nigel Howard, Vincent Chauvet,  and Joe McLaughlin, WFD President Markku Jokinen (Finland) and one of the WFD board members, Tomas Hedberg (Sweden) were present as well.

The speakers, including Monte, Wayne and Joe, described how the BC Deaf committee  began negotiating with the ICED organizing committee 9 months ago, and how it culminated in the announcement that Monday morning.  I got goosebumps.  The WFD President, one of those… OK. I will list the parties that signed the New Era document. (View the blank lines on 2nd pages where names are to be signed in the vlog)

Vancouver ICED 2010 organizing committee

BC Deaf Community

Canadian Association of the Deaf

World Federation of the Deaf

The last signature, by President Markku Jokinen was finally done at 11 p.m. Sunday night… LAST SUNDAY NIGHT…before the Monday morning repudiation of the Milan 1880 Resolution! (Talk about the 11th hour timing!) The WFD President would never have signed the document if the CAD President had not signed it beforehand.  If that last signature had not been in place, that Monday morning announcement would have NEVER been made.

Now what will be done with the New Era document?

There are 4 original New Era documents signed by all four parties.  One original is given to the WFD organization to keep. The second one belongs to C.A.D.. The third original was handed to the ICED 2010 committee, according to Wayne Sinclair, to pass on to the Greece ICED 2015 committee to hold and follow.  Hereafter, that document would be passed on to  future ICED organizing committees of host nations every 5 years.  The final original goes to the BC Deaf community to be temporarily kept at the Western Institute of the Deaf until Wayne Sinclair succeeds in negotiating with the new Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for permanent placement and display.

As for the Book of Legacy, the Vancouver ICED 2010 committee, BC Deaf community committee, CAD and WFD all signed it .  Folks in the BC Deaf community , Canadian and  international Deaf communities signed it as well on both Monday and Tuesday nights.  There were a good number of signatures in that book. (UPDATE: Approximately 600 signatures)  This legacy book is then given to Markku Jokinen (WFD President) along with the New Era document to take to each WFD meeting in various nations (beginning in Johannesburg, South Africa).  This book will also be lent to future host ICED organizing committees as reminder of our agreement to include, and  to collaborate with the Deaf community.

I wish to share what Gary Malkowski, who was the first Deaf politician in Canada, and the first Deaf MPP in Ontario, said in his fiery speech to the audience (I’m paraphrasing here):

The flag of Milan 1880 is no longer up and waving. It’s down now, and thrown away!  Up with the banner of… VANCOUVER 2010!  THE NEW ERA BEGINS HENCEFORTH!

The audience applauds. *HANDS WAVE*

Category: Audism, Deaf  4 Comments