I don’t know about ya… but lemme ask ya something here… just what is your definition of deafhood and/or unity? These are the catchwords in the deaf community these days and while all that’s good, I can’t help but wonder just how long the idealogies behind those two words will last. Even after the advent of Deafhood, there have already been clear (and loud) evidence of the ‘crab theory’ on display in a blog.
Don’t get me wrong.. I am for unity and all that.. but in the face of the protests and its results in the aftermath, I have to wonder where this will lead us. From what I can surmise so far, the practice of unity seems to be stronger in some areas and in others, weaker. VERY weak. Why is that?
For lack of a better way to put it.. I’d say that the practice of ‘cliches’ within the deaf world have their own set of problems. If that’s the case, then how in the hell can there be a sense of unity if there is still conflicts ongoing within those groups?
Yeah.. I like to play the Devil’s Advocate 
I think of it this way from an artist’s viewpoint. It’s easy to look upon a painting and marvel at how it’s been put all together into a singular sense of harmony. BUT it has to start somewhere and that first step begins with a blank canvas. Right? Damned right. It takes time to consider what needs to be done.. and what NOT to be done when trying to come up with an idea for a painting. That’s the first problem.
Wait.. I ain’t done yet! Once the sketch is drawn out on the canvas, all one has to do is to ’slap paint’ on it…… right? Uh uh.. not so fast… color has to be taken into consideration and there are thousands of ways to come up with a solution. Hence, another potentional conflict can come up. Pick the wrong colors and what do you have? You may have a great sketch/ composition but the painting is screwed up already because of the colors. IF you decide to be satisfied with the colors and move on to the third problem.. which is value (light and darks). A lot of thought has to be put into this if you want to be accurate. (in terms of light direction and the degree of darkness that is needed). Make a wrong decision and it’s likely to mess up the entire painting – even if you got a great sketch AND colors.
Don’t mean to make a pun here.. but are you getting the picture yet?
What do you mean, you don’t get it?
I am using the problems encountered while producing a painting as an analogy to the friction going on in the sub- groups within the deaf world.
OH.. now you get it….right?
That’s why I question how it’s going to work in the long run with Deafhood and Unity.
Care to comment? post away!
Welcome to the deaf blogosphere!
True! Once something is painted, it is meant for someone to care for, when it is burned or destroyed, it was in the hands of someone being uncared of. That’s my brand new quote…. thank you for the inspirtation.
Look forward to seeing more of your posts.
Welcome.
I love to read any blog that says the Devil’s Advocate. If the politicans do not use it, they would make lousy politicans.
I am looking forward to reading more of your blogs. =)
Okay, let’s hope this doesn’t disappear this time!
All funnies aside, I do believe you have have made some very valid points about Deafhood and the kind of unity we’ve been “enjoying.” Your painting analog makes so much sense.
Maybe some people have very wonderful ideas (sketches and canvases) about Deafhood and its unity, but why aren’t everyone else getting along (color and contrast)? How do we achieve a good solution to unite such important elements? How can we identify the conflicts and the problems to start looking for a solution or two to execute?
Maybe some would say that we can’t please everyone and that it’s okay to exclude the naysayers or the ones who do not agree with our vision of Deafhood.
Would it not be worth the try, at least, to have an outreach or mutual goal where it makes sense to everyone like a beautiful and well done painting out of co-creation? What will it take to make that happen? Million dollar question, right?
I wouldn’t want to see us living out a shortlived “victors write history” thing, either. It would seem like an empty victory and mere lipservice for others with interior motives to take advantage of later on. *tongue in cheek*
I also think that things are still early at this point. The “leaders” or at least the loudest voices of the movement are certainly making their best effort, but they can’t do it without all of us. We are still talking about it!