There’s many many different reasons why Gally is important to us in the UK. I’ve posted extracts from some of what people have been saying below. Comments are open on this page.
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I’m in the UK, why should Gallaudet affect me?
By Grumpyoldeafie
http://www.grumpyoldeafies.com/2006/10/im_in_the_uk_why_should_gallau.html
Several questions have been raised about the Gallaudet protests and why it should have any implication on you sitting in the UK. If we were go down that strand of thought, then the Middle East Crisis does not affect the world. We can safely ignore the human rights crisis in North Korea. We all know what happens in the Middle East, does have an impact on all of us and our future.
Within the UK we do not exist within a bubble, this is more evident being in a Deaf community, a community that transcends all borders. If international events took no importance, why do people, and perhaps you, attend international events such as WFD, Deafway, even Deaflympics?
One of the central arguments around this protest is around the lack of listening TO DEAF PEOPLE, and showing evidence of this by action speaks louder than words. This frequently happens in the UK too, as Deaf people, decisions are made without us and there is a distinct lack of consultation. To quote the words of the 1988 DPN Leaders in their current Manifesto, “[For] Thousands of years, we have been objectified, oppressed, discriminated against, trivialized, patronized, and dismissed.”
Something we have all experienced, and it hits harder when it is closer to home, “The last place we expected prudential and stereotypical attitudes towards the Deaf community to prevent equity and justice would be at our own Gallaudet University.”
Substitute the words Gallaudet University with a UK deaf organisation, and you will start to get what this protest is about at this stage.
Just to focus a bit on recent UK Deaf history, there has been a lack of interest in campaigning and many key activists cite the reason for this as down to lack of communication, cooperation and actually listening to us. Subsequently, we are faced with widespread apathy. The same key issues around communication, and listening bottom up exists within the UK.
To reverse this trend there needs to be fightback, and a reclaiming of the right to be listened to, which subsequently gives people the energy to actually fight the next battle.
Since the 1988 Deaf President Now protest, we have used this fight to give us confidence *here in the UK* to get on with campaigning for our own local issues. Again when the 2006 protest is over, we will look back as a defining point in our history (how many of you will actually quote it, as you did for the 1988 protest?), and as a turning point as far as change goes. To actually use this protest as a springboard, by showing support, can give us strength to go on to campaign about other things.
If you have ever quoted, or referred to the Deaf President Now protest in the past, in the context of campaigning, then events at Gallaudet affects YOU. You have already shown international events do affect you! The question is, if you are actually prepared to acknowledge this, and show your support?
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