LeviathanC's Side Blog

Hey, move the camera closer to you!!

Deaf Power ? Come on, we have toooo much audism here!

You should be more “black heart”

You can see the famous photograph of Tommie Smith and John Carlos who made the gesture for “Black power” (one arm straight up) at the 1968 Olympics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Power

Whoever invented the one for deaf got the idea from this, the gesture for black power, i.e., left arm straight up (not outward).

It’s probably not good for public relations, but you’re confusing gestures and that are not historically related.

Hi Levi.

I get what you are saying. There will be some people who disagree, but I understand where you are coming from. Thanks for sharing your opinion.

I think there are times when symbols can be very positive. Yet, there are also times when they can be intimidating, harmful and even destructive.

In my eyes, we are all created equal and should be treated with respect, not intimidation. Yes, “nice” matters.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

~ LaRonda

REMEMBER BACK IN BLACK SLAVES HISTORY THERE IS HUMAN RIGHTS TO BE STAND FOR FREEDOM SAME AS DEAF POWER WILL BE SAME AS BLACK HISTORY BUT DEAF POWER IS FIGHT FOR ALRIGHTS HUMAN OUR NEEDS SAME AS BLACK HISTORY LONG TIME AGO DEAF SLAVES TO BE WHIP BACK IN 1800 I HEARD ONE OF STORY BUT NOW WE ARE PRESENT HAVE EVERYTHINGS BUILD STRONG SHOW HEARING PEOPLE WE CAN DO IT AND “DONT TELL ME CANNOT DO ” WORLD HAVE BEEN CHANGE LOTS BY STAND UP HUMAN RIGHTS ” GO DEAF POWER BEING PROUD AND RIGHTS HUMAN ” WORLD IS NOT PERFECT PEROID SAME AS DEAF SUPPORT BLACK BEING FEEL SAME PROBLEMS IN PAST AND BOOM CHANGE WE CAN STAND OUR LIFETIME

DONT WORRY ABOUT THE WAR BECAUSE THEY USE WEAPONS FIGHT IS WRONG PATH IS NOT PART OF HUMAN RIGHT THAT ALL TELL I BETTER THAN YOU THERE IS TRASH THROW THE WEAPONS IN TRASH IN OCEAN AND PEACEMIND LIFE FUTURE DEAF IS BETTER THAN HEARING BECAUSE DEAF LOTS OF PEACEMIND THAN HEARING MUST GO WAR ANOTHER COUNTIES MEAN NOTHING WEAPONS TRASH TALK

[..YouTube..] I feel you but however you got a wrong idea abt deaf power we have many different ways to say the deaf power but we re no hitler or anything like that let me suggest you watch a guy’s screen name “teeteeluck” called “damn proud deaf” look at his end of vlog thats DEAF POWER!!! anyway you complain abt people dont undy you when you write sumthing to order some foods thats an insult to spanish people or whoever cant read or dont undy deaf people so i hope you got the picture :}

I have a different thought, when it comes to the words, “Deaf Power.”

My thinking has nothing to do with militant Deaf people, who demand rights, etc. Nor does my thinking have anything to do with Deaf people, who are struggling to survie in a world that is made for hearing people.

Let me begin by explaining that I am 46 years old and, before I was deafened, at the age of ten, music was my life.

My family seemed to think of me as second class, simply because I could no longer join a church choir, or sing specials.

Well, during my Junior year in high school, I not only began memorizing songs and performing them in signs, but also became interested in learning to play the drums.

Can you begin to imagine having my entire (hearing) family tell me Deaf people can’t do that?
Well, when I began college, I found a drum teacher, who believed I could and he taught me the basics.

So, when I think of Deaf Power, I think of “Deaf Can Do!!!!”

I agree with Deep Ears– Wikipedia has a page dedicated to the actual gesture at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_Salute

In the end, the gesture is all about “power.” The Nazi salute was about power. Black power salute is about power. Deaf Power sign is about power. You mention it makes people look at the deaf-power signer funny, same with people looking at KKK funny, etc.

It *IS* about “LOOK AT ME!” People can’t make changes until the people who are in power, at the top, stop and look at the small group who wants rights or changes. For over 100 years, hearing people have been ignoring Deaf people and not listening to them about what they want or need. So it makes sense that Deaf-Power sign will make people LOOK at them, LISTEN to them.

You do make a good argument about sometimes attention is not always good attention. Sometimes it just makes it easier for people to ignore– “they’re crazy, don’t look at them, don’t listen to them.” Or even to say “oh they are just reverse-discriminating, that is just immature and crazy now.” It is very hard to judge where standing up for rights becomes reverse discrimination.

But does that mean Deaf people should stop trying to get attention?

And another question: When the smaller group (minority) is asking for more power, more rights, from the dominant group (majority), is that always reverse discrimination? You mentioned women asking for more rights– I’m sorry but there is no way you can call that reverse-sexism. Women were asking to be considered equal to men after hundreds of years of inequality. A simpler way to look at reverse discrimination is to say that is when the smaller group wants to become the dominant group– wants to “switch places” with the people in authority. Women weren’t asking to be in charge of the country, they just wanted equal pay and opportunities.

Deaf Power isn’ saying that all Deaf people are superior to hearing people, [although I am sure there are groups of Deaf people who are saying that]. Deaf power is generally about getting equality. Like the last commenter, Gary, said– Deaf power is more about “Deaf CAN DO!” other than “Deaf Can’t Do.”

[..YouTube..] I think he makes a good point. Deaf Power is important, he’s just saying be careful cuz these mvmnts often BECOME hateful/intolerant twrds the other group, even if they don’t start that way. Then he gave examples where that happened. It’s just a good warning.

Every time we try stand up for our fight and now this person seem trying to stop us or what?