StEpHeN.wHiTe@p1.f853.n681.z3.fidonet.org (StEpHeN wHiTe) (05/24/91)
Index Number: 15763
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
JW> One ought not to assume to know what another understands or does
JW> not understand. Awareness of the entire events that led up to the
JW> situation would reveal much in the way of inequality in the
JW> distribution of "justice" on the issue.
Err, pardon me, but what are you talking about?
JW> Do you also have deaf aborgines who participate in the Deaf
JW> Community there?
Not that I know of... Aborigines are a discriminated-against
minority in Australia. They have a very active lobbying group, so
they get a great deal of attention.
Much of the disrepute of Aboriginals come from the fact that the
majority of Australians only see Aboriginals lying around in the
city fountains, having baths, drinking themselves blind, and
harrassing passerbys.
Most of the Aboriginals are out in the country, and are much more
deserving of a better lot in life. A lot of the trouble comes from
Aboriginals not thinking like white people - they don't think in
terms of money, property, and looking out for "Number One". It
seems to me that Aboriginals have a far better outlook at times.
JW> Do you have Deaf educators in the system there?
Not really, no. The number of deaf teachers can be counted on the
fingers of one hand. Most of the deaf educators are "teachers
assistants", and are only partially deaf.
The hearing teachers are pretty much of the opinion that they know
everything there is to do with being deaf and that they know what
is best for us.
One of the teachers at Strathmont told me that I thought like the
average deaf person, and he meant that as an insult! I replied that
I was glad that I thought like a deaf person, if the alternative
was to think like him!
JW> What is the main medium of communication among the Deaf in
JW> Australia?
Very mixed. Just about every deaf person grew up with Oralism, and
a large number reverted to Auslan (Australian Sign Language) or a
form thereof.
I'm not really in a position to comment, as I only really know of
the deaf group in the capital cities of Australia, most of which
are pretty hard-core. The natural tendency for deaf people is to go
to school for the lawful period of time, and then disappear. I've
heard about some deaf people who just sit in their rooms doing
nothing, because they are incapable of doing anything.
JW> How did you become involved with the Deaf there ( I have the
JW> impression somehow that you may be deaf or partially deaf
JW> yourself).
I'm deaf.
JW> Out of little more than curiosity, what types of exotic foods do
JW> you folks eat> I tried alligator, shark, and squid. It wasn't
JW> bad-actually quite good to tell the truth.
Heinz Baked Beans, if we're feeling really adventurous or have some
visitors we want to get rid of! :-)
Australia is a colonial country, so our food tastes are
predominantly English (potato and sausage type stuff), but Italian,
American, and Chinese foods are a major influence.
My favourite food is a traditionally cooked Lasagna. I haven't
found a restaurant that cooks lasagna properly yet, and I've been
looking for a long time. My father had a go at it, and produced the
best lasagna that I've ever had (on the third try); he's a former
chef.
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