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.)
