Re: Parenthood (re: vickie's post)

[Guest guest]

Vickie-

You know, I really feel that if a deaf child gets a cochlear implant, THAT was

how he was meant to live! I feel we all have a predestined path in life, and

whatever happens, is exactly what is supposed to happen. I do think it is unfair

for anyone (whether it be the deaf community condemning hearing parents for

helping their deaf children to hear, or whatever) to judge the parents or the

child for the personal decisions they make.

We all have our own life to live, and lessons to learn from this life. Perhaps

the challenges of being born deaf and learning to live with sound are part of

that soul's journey to gain spiritual growth.... Perhaps another was challenged

with going through their life without sound.

What do you all think?

>

> This discussion thread is exactly what I love about this forum. It gives you

so much to think about. , I always love your insight because I feel like I

am getting a view of my son in the future.

>

> When I was a bit younger I was studing American Sign Language and concidering

becoming an interpreter for the deaf. (As an aside I find it interesting that I

was always interested with the " special needs " , maybe to prepare me for my

son?). This question of " curing " disablitity was a very big one in the deaf

community. I wrote one of my papers on it. There is a large segment of the

deaf community that gets very offended at the idea that they should want to

hear. The do not see themselves as " disabled " in any way and hate being viewed

that way. This segment of the deaf population is very upset with parents that

have their children get Coclear Implants because they think that they are taking

something away from the deaf child who may not want to hear, changing them from

who they were meant to be.

>

> For most people, who are not a part of the deaf community this sounds rather

extreme. After all the ability to hear is a much bigger thing than, for

example, wearing glasses. And yet, ultimately, it is the same issue: What

defines who we are and what we become? What exactly is disabled? Do we as

parent have a right or even a responsiblity to try to " cure " our children of

what society mighn't concider a " disablity and thereby change who they were born

to be.

>

> To an extent the last of the " X-men " movies touches on this. One of the

characters " Rogue " struggles with whether or not she should give up her mutation

and be " normal " . Most of the " mutants " are very upset that anyone would want to

change but for her her mutation prevents her from having human contact with

anyone. For her, ultimately she decides that she wants to be able to touch

others even if it separates her from her " family " .

>

> Anyway, great discusstion.

>

> Vickie