Like all living things,
trees communicate.
--Morgan Llywelyn
With the coming of the James Lee Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC), do you think the name of Mary Thornberry--a "deaf mute" mother of the Honorable Judge William Homer Thornberry--shall perish? Then you are doubly and grossly a fool.
"Deaf mute" mothers will always be honored and cherished. Mary Thornberry was among well-claimed "deaf mute" mothers of CODAs: Sophie Fowler Gallaudet (Edward Miner Gallaudet) and Emma Chaney (Lon Chaney). Who else understands the rhythms of her CODA children and the strength from them? Who knows what sacrifices are to feed and reward the intellectual life of all the CODAs? Mary Thornberry, Sophie Gallaudet and Emma Chaney were "deaf mute" mothers who knew!
Without "deaf mute" mothers, I am telling you here, people in their ignorance would simply oppress and destroy the language and culture of the Deaf as Julius Caesar raped and plundered Celtic tribes. There was disaster when these Celts shook their fists in the face of Caesar. Those who opposed Caesar suffered more when he overran them than those who acceded to Rome from the beginning. Today, I dare to say, there is a new Julius Caesar in the Deaf community who wouldn't get down off his high horse because he simply wants both the namesake building and the human exhibition of ASL. We need to rally Deaf people against the encroaching might of Caesar and the soulless supporters of SLCC ideology that speech and language professionals be exposed, not necessarily experienced through the language and culture of the Deaf.
Now let's capture the Mary Thornberry Building! Renovate the Mary Thornberry Building and bring our language and culture to it! Honor all "deaf mute" mothers! Celebrate all CODAs! Buy and wear the SUPPORT ASL wristband. Be like the oaks standing with their arms upraised against oblivion.
10 comments:
Do you have other list who are well known CODA that needs to be honored or recognized?
How about Louise Fletcher, an actress. Her father is DEAF and graduated from Gallaudet. I am not sure about Tracy Spencer, someone told me several years ago that his son was deaf. Lou Fant? More?
Also think good idea to put names of well known CODA at Mary Thornberry Building. It is a good example how much Mary Thornberry's son loves his mother even though she did not graduate from Gallaudet but he donated Gallaudet. James Lee Sorenson did something so he donated Gallaudet but wonder did his deaf brother in law graduate from Gallaudet? GUSAA will do something about Mary Thornberry building before Gallaudet University officers decide to destroy the building.
Not intending to flatter you, not at all! Your words
are truly profound that I find myself --- sign-less
(not speechless). Words fail me. Thank you for
giving me much to think about & restructuring my
thoughts as well.
Deaf-mute is very different from deaf & dumb. My
husband Barry remembers Western Pa. School for the
Deaf had stone carving of pseudo-formalism, "The
Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and Dvmb."
Not a typo error. I have been analyzing by accident
as things come unbidden on why Barry's mother used to
talk to people on the street telling everybody how
smart her son was. Needless to say, Barry suffered
acute embarrasment & wished he was somewhere else. I
was debating with him as I finally understood her
psyche that she knew from Talmud that the deaf was
identified with idiots; therefore, the deaf just don't
count nor matter as they are idiots. Barry was unable
to be Bar Mitzvahed because of that kind of mentality
back in the bad old days in Pittsburgh. I cannot even
begin to imagine how his parents must feel that they
had to see ... & Dvmb every time they bring their
little deaf boy to that institution. To begin with,
people just cannot understand what that word conveys,
so thus, we are stuck with that misaprehension
forever.
Thank you for your vlogs as you echo my thoughts & my
hurts. You have hit the heart of the matter. God
bless you, my friend.
Yours & shalom, Vonne.
Barry just remarked that IKJ literally practiced
"1984" Big Brother Stalinist. Josef Stalin changed
names of Russian cities. He also mentions that it
really shows that IKJ had no respect for the older
generation, in other words, no respect for Deaf
history.
Vonne
"Veni,
Vidi,
Vici!"
See my painting of Sophie Fowler at
http://www.rit.edu/~420www/data.htm
Then click "Artists" and
look for "B" and then click
Jean Boutcher. (You will also my painting of French deaf signers with de l'Epée and Emperor Josef in Paris in the late 1700s.
Jean Boutcher!
WOW-Fabulous paintings! Thanks for showing it!!!
Yes! This is a long-awaited thing and CODAs deserve some recognization at Gallaudet too. There are many of them such as:
Thomas Bull
Louise Fletcher
Lou Fant
many more that I cannot remember out of my head.
I also suggested that there be abuilding named for Mary THornberry and be used for research on koda/coda, ASL instruction for koda children, social/party room for koda and families to get together, and to help bolster their self-identity/confidence about being a hearing child in deaf family and to learn about deaf heritage/culture/sign language and not to be ashamed of it. I also would like to see books/films/poetry/art written by CODAs to be displayed as well. ALso maybe have counseliing/family therapy centers for koda children and their families too. I think that would be a great idea!
beautiful analysis! definitely food for thought. and i’m excited about your analysis!
Teyrl
www.deafloves.com/blogs/blog_messages?blog_id=18480
I didn't know about Mary Thornberry, Deaf.. Thanks Carl!
Michelle, I feel that your suggestion is wonderful idea and it will be great healthy family education and therapy!
Let's save Mary Thornberry's building!
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