Another Letter to the Editor of the New Scientist magazine
One of the magazines I subscribe to, New Scientist, pissed me off yet again with their blatant bias against the deaf, while at the same time glorifying blindness. In the print edition I subscribe to, they had an article declaring the success of restoring hearing to deaf gunea pigs via gene therapy. Yet another example of a pathological attempt to "cure" deafness. In a recent issue, they glorified the increased "brainpower" of those blind, such as Ray Charles. It apparently never occurred to them that Deaf people have extra brainpower, too. Even more so if uncorrupted by repeated and conflicted attempts to minimize the "deafness" via oral-aural regimens.
It is perplexing to me and many others how the mainstream population has an extreme bias towards blindness as opposed to deafness. It is no secret that nearly everyone would prefer be blind rather than deaf. I can perfectly sympathize with the viewpoint that the loss of the ability to enjoy the sensation of music is a profound loss. Being Deaf myself, I naturally want to understand the beauty of music just like I'd imagine a blind person might long to see, and understand, the eccentric beauty of a Salvador Dali painting or to simply partake in the everyday privilege of driving that I am able to enjoy.
In your recent issue, (29 January 2005), your coverage of the human body's wide array of at least 21 senses was very informative. However, much to my dismay, your magazine again glorified the disability of blindness, showing how blind people effectively use their lost sense of vision as additional brainpower for other activities (i.e. Ray Charles). In addition, you showed how blind people are able to use alternative senses to compensate for their lost sense of vision. It would have been great if there was a piece on how deaf people, instead of trying to be pathologically cured of their deafness, effectively use technology to make up for their lost sense of vision.
I, for one, would NEVER give up my sense of vision to simply hear music. I simply love driving too much, or watching TV, going SCUBA diving and being able to engage in a philosophical dialogue underwater in my native sign language, or even being able to see the Cassini Division while viewing Saturn up-close in my new backyard telescope, none of which require any hearing at all.
Thank you,
Jason Lamberton
***
Dear Editor,
It is perplexing to me and many others how the mainstream population has an extreme bias towards blindness as opposed to deafness. It is no secret that nearly everyone would prefer be blind rather than deaf. I can perfectly sympathize with the viewpoint that the loss of the ability to enjoy the sensation of music is a profound loss. Being Deaf myself, I naturally want to understand the beauty of music just like I'd imagine a blind person might long to see, and understand, the eccentric beauty of a Salvador Dali painting or to simply partake in the everyday privilege of driving that I am able to enjoy.
In your recent issue, (29 January 2005), your coverage of the human body's wide array of at least 21 senses was very informative. However, much to my dismay, your magazine again glorified the disability of blindness, showing how blind people effectively use their lost sense of vision as additional brainpower for other activities (i.e. Ray Charles). In addition, you showed how blind people are able to use alternative senses to compensate for their lost sense of vision. It would have been great if there was a piece on how deaf people, instead of trying to be pathologically cured of their deafness, effectively use technology to make up for their lost sense of vision.
I, for one, would NEVER give up my sense of vision to simply hear music. I simply love driving too much, or watching TV, going SCUBA diving and being able to engage in a philosophical dialogue underwater in my native sign language, or even being able to see the Cassini Division while viewing Saturn up-close in my new backyard telescope, none of which require any hearing at all.
Thank you,
Jason Lamberton
4 Comments:
Hey Jason,
You have interesting point there... Please don't hate me for this but as you know that I have been travelling alone. I do find myself wishing that I could hear or talk. I find that they (the backpackers) fortunate because they get to meet lots of people and they can exchange lots of things about things that they have been to. Whereas I sit among them trying to understand what they are saying. As we all know that lip-reading requires vigor and endurance. By now I won't be surprised if I could qualify as a gynecologist because I have become a good lip-reader! That aside... I do find myself wondering what it would've been if they all knew how to sign... perhaps I should change my paradigm into that sense where I think that everyone should accommodate to my need. But I kept on reminding myself that we re minor which makes it all the more harder! If and only if!! So I am asking you if they were fixed, would they have known any difference? Would they be happier? Would I have enjoyed myself more when travelling? These questions I do often wonder...
And I totally agree with you that he has no idea what he s talking about! In no way will I want to lose my visual sense!! They're far most the precious sense if comparing with all other senses!!
hmm - I didn't hear about that (pun intended). will definitely watch the next issue or two in hopes that your letter would be printed..
It's sad that the magazine is willing to embrace the blindness out of convenience.
Hello there! Your reply to the editor is very good because it shows the truth that you represent many deaf people who function well without feeling the need to hear. We depend on the life of using our eyes, and it provides us more activities than we could imagine.
thanks for being blunt to the editor!
- terri :)
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