Dandelion
Christie
231). Thus, not only we as a people, but also our languages, were viewed as undesirable
WEEDS.
Unfortunately, these are not attitudes that were left behind in the dark ages of
oralism. While the man is dead, the Alexander Graham Bell Association still exists working
to deprive young Deaf children of sign language using the soft language of
“communication options, hearing technology and treatment of speech and language
problems” (see https://www.agbell.org/). Advances in genetic engineering, stem cell
research, early hearing testing and surgical intervention, DNA manipulation, practices in
genetic counseling and legal restrictions concerning who can donate for In Vitro
Fertilization all call into question the right of Deaf people to exist. (See Durr’s 2011 blog
series on the Right to be Deaf and Rourke’s 2011 series of artworks of the same title). Thus,
we may be a natural part of human diversity but through these actions it is communicated
that many believe our kind should be eradicated. The smooth lawn, a symbol of genetic
purification, shows what a genocide looks like. Recognizing this is painful.
One powerful experience I had waking up to audism was related to the early
experimental cochlear implant surgeries. A group of us learned that back in the 1980s there
was a Food and Drug Administrative panel that reviewed pediatric implantation practices
and one of those involved was willing to be interviewed (see Witteborg, 2014). Dr. Laura-
Ann Petitto, who participated in this panel and is now the director of Brain and Language
Laboratory at Gallaudet University, explained that the panel was set up because twelve
Deaf children had died as a result of these early experimental surgeries. Twelve Deaf
children! That was unimaginable to me! Twelve Deaf children, whose parents felt that
living a Deaf life would be so tragic that it was worth risking their lives for an experimental
surgery. For a long time I wondered, who were these Deaf children? Who were they? What
were their names? What might they have contributed to our community? Imagine twelve
empty chairs at the next Deaf gathering you attend. When we become witnesses to tragedies
such as this, what can we do? It is a powerless feeling, but sometimes poetry helps.
Videoclip #3
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWMV4ZxWu8I)
Because of the natural elements of the rain and sun, that have greater power than
“The Man,” a dandelion has risen up once again and continue to blossom. This dandelion,
SASLJ, Vol. 2, No.1 – Spring/Summer 2018
59