MovieChat Forums > Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008) Discussion > my way of explaining 'why not?'

my way of explaining 'why not?'

posted 16 years ago by anomalousdarling
7 replies | jump to latest

A lot of hearing people dont understand why someone would be against giving a child a cochlear implant. i thought this movie did an AMAZING job explaining it, but i guess it didn't get through to some people.

this is how i've discovered how to explain it.

You (person who doesn't see why not) see being deaf as a disability. Ok, fine, thats your problem. But being deaf is its own culture and thats who they are. there's nothing wrong with it.

think of it as if you were a black person.

(next statement is not meant to be racist in the least. its just the closest thing i can think of to be used to help explain)

'black' people have been looked down upon for a long time. They still feel they face discrimination just because of the color of their skin. Do you have the right to say they're any less likely to succeed or be any less human?

There are surgeries that can change the color of ones skin. So... if it'd be 'easier' to be white, why dont they just change the color of their skin?

You wouldn't ask someone that. People are proud of their heritage and who they are. Its an insult to tell them to be something their not and hide what they are.

Also, it would be like telling the whole world to speak to english because it'd be easier for everyone to speak the same language. You'd be destroying the heritage and pride of all those other languages and ethnicities.

i know its a bit rash, but its close to what you're saying.

[–] daveyandgoliath 16 years ago

I didn't even know there was a debate before I watched this wonderful movie tonight. To me, this movie explained it perfectly. I understand exactly what you are saying, too.

I think you will love this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCto3PCn8wo

[–] AhuraMazdaHO 16 years ago

You can slant this argument anyway you would like, but the reality is
being deaf *is* a disability, to compare being deaf to ones color is a
terrible analogy:

You don't hear me calling you from across the room
You don't hear the firetruck coming down the street

You don't hear....

You're at a disability, the degree of disability may be slight and
even at an advantage at time, this is not statement of your worth or
a condemnation of being deaf, it's great that you fight for equality
and refuse to see being deaf as a disadvantage...but, all ego aside
if you are near sighted, you get glasses. It's insipid to deny a
child a right/chance to hear simply because one can't relate to
the world without the fear that their own inadequacies may be confirmed.

[–] crazykidster 16 years ago

THANK YOU AHURA.

I am sick of people comparing implants to changing skin color. I can understand why deaf people do not want to consider themselves disabled. They are fortunate because they are so functional in society, but to pretend they are not disabled is just dumb. Denying treatment to their children because they want to force deaf culture on them is wrong.

[–] offroadrider5258 16 years ago

I somewhat agree with you crazykidster. I don't really like the whole analogy with skin color and deafness. And I also agree that denying treatment to their child just because of Deaf Pride is wrong as well.

However, disabled is more of a medical term. It doesn't have to be applied to a culture. That is what deaf people don't like. They feel that people apply "disablity" to anything related to deaf people including the culture. While they are actually disabled in medical terms, they are not disabled as human beings. That is a common misunderstanding and I am only speaking from my opinion and perspective. We (I am deaf myself) do not consider ourselves handicapped since we don't HAVE to rely on adjustments all the time, (would people with glasses be considered disabled?).

I know it's a bit off topic but it just popped in mind after reading some comments.

[–] crazykidster 16 years ago

Disabled is a difficult word and I can understand why people don't like it applied to them. It is a medical term with a clear definition. Just because you are disabled, though, it doesn't mean that defines you as a person, it just defines an ability you lack.

I cringe every time someone compares being deaf to being black, or homosexual. It's not a good argument and it's just plain dumb. But people resort to it because they think it proves their point. In my mind, it just shows how clueless they are.

[–] lakealice 16 years ago

Why is deafness called a "culture"?

[–] osu_ftw 16 years ago

The deaf have dealt with a lot of things that make them a minority in this country. They have been discriminated against, which is the main thing. Unfortunately history shows that deaf people were thrown into asylums and things like that. I really don't have a LOT of knowledge here, but being a speech and hearing major I can tell you that they don't always see being deaf as a problem. It's so hard to explain to people... my roommate and my other roommate's boyfriend were watching with me, and even after I tried to explain it to them they still didn't get it. This movie helps explain it, but I think it's mainly the history involved with being deaf that makes them prideful of their culture.