The Ten Commandments of the Culturally Deaf

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Submitted by Elaine Gale - Kent State University

Uploaded by Elaine Gale - Kent State University

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FROM A DEAF BEING *

1. I am a proud Deaf Being who brought you out of pure oralism, out of oppression

2. Thou shalt have no languages but ASL and English. Thou shalt use ASL through the air and English through reading and writing. You must not make a likeness of anything on your hands and mangle it, for I am a concerned and caring Deaf Being.

3. Thou shalt not take my languages and cultures in vain. My world is precious. You must not use it lightly or use it in the making of false hopes.

4. Thou shalt keep pure the History and Culture of Deaf people. Remember the NAD and DPN (alright Jack, and DCARA! **). Be excused from your daily struggles and celebrate these days.

5. Thou shalt honor thy mother and father, diverse Deaf role models and hearing allies.

6. Thou shalt not kill the spirit of the Deaf Community and Culture.

7. Thou shalt not go back and fourth over the fence. You must stand on your own two feet and make waves.

8. Thou shalt not steal the languages and cultures of Deaf People not bear false witness against the true welfare of Deaf people.

9. Thou shalt not covet. Thou must not tell lies about the doings of Deaf people and their hearing allies.

10. Thou shalt not set your heart on controlling and taking over Deaf people's worked, or to change or destroy anything that belongs to Deaf people.

* My most sincere apologies to those who embrace the Lord and the most sacred Ten Commandments. Adapted May, 1993. By Janet S. Weinstock.

The above was extracted from the "Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency" (DCARA) serving the deaf and hard of hearing community: of, by and for the deaf. August 1993 issue.

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