Learing from our betters....

Not elders, not teachers, not wise men or leaders. Betters: students, activists, our children. That is what I have been thinking about. I feel like an idiot. I learned something about being hearing impaired from my daughter. On the surface, it doesn't sound bad. It is bad though.

I have been hearing impaired all my life. Well, actually since I was five, but at 48, that is basically all my life. The only things I can remember bothering me were the butt whippings I got for not listening to my mother before the impairment was discovered ( but it makes for great stories! so I thought) and realizing, with the help of a caring teacher who had been in the Air Force, that I couldn't fly fighter jets. Other than that, I am pretty clueless.

My daughter told me of a hearing impaired student in her film class, who asked for captioning because the sound was so poor on the outdated equipment. The teacher said no, it would annoy the other students. He dropped the class. Two weeks later, the teacher, who was now annoyed with the crappy sound quality turned on the captioning. I have to admit this story brought tears to my eyes. I hate dream crushers on principle, but especially when they are the people who are supposed to foster the dreams of those who turn to the education system to pursue them.

And now I have to admit that I am taking a college class for the first time in decades. Yes plural. I am taking a 7 unit EMT class. I tried to see if the school had a hearing impaired stethoscope I could use. I wanted to try one before spending $500 dollars on something that might not work. The nursing program didn't have one; the EMT school didn't have one; and Disabled Student Services didn't have one. So I bought one and it works well. Could the average community college student buy one? Probably not. But they work well. I am thinking everyone should have one. Of course, I don't know how loud things are for the rest of you. I have never heard a heart or lung sound through a stethoscope. I remember as a kids saying that yes, I could hear the sounds, but only because everyone else could.

And now that my eyes have been opened I see this sort of treatment everywhere. For all kinds of people with different abilities. And looking over the vast wasteland that is my life, I see a lot of pain, discomfort, and even broken dreams. And not particularly mine. Now I know why, in various jobs, hearing impaired people seemed so relieved to see my hearing aids. "Oh thank god" they must have thought, "some one who speaks my language". They were disappointed. What is most embarrassing about this is that my job is, to some degree, responsible for the care of thousands (yes thousands) of elderly and disabled who need assistance.

I think about a friends son, who because of Turets gets maced and arrested routinely because he freezes up when he gets pulled over. He hands a card to the officer explaining his condition. To no avail. He simply cannot respond to the police commands. Recently, he was told by officers at the jail to rinse his face with water after having been maced. This, of course, makes it worse. This isn't just law enforcement shenanigans, this is torture.

I have been reflecting on the plight of those who struggle with mental illness. So many struggle, only to be ostracized by their family. They are treated badly by society. rejected socially. Do you have people in your family that struggle with mental illness? Do you and yours treat them with compassion? Or do you criticize them? Calling them crazy? or drunk? "they refuse to take their meds" we say...but you probably wouldn't want to take them yourself.

So to my betters: Brooke, Brendan, Helen, Gifford, Mike, Tony, and so many more I should name: Thank you for schooling me. I just hope I can really learn.

Up the Revolution

I am proud of both my children. Though not the same, they both care passionately about the weak, the poor, the oppressed. They are passionate and courageous. My daughter, who is not overly fond of me referring to her as an artist, wrote an amazing piece defending her brother in a facebook anti-gay tirade. It was brilliant, maybe astounding, in its execution. And she was censored!! Yes Monet, Van Gough and Joyce, my daughter has joined your ranks. What is especially amusing is that I was once accused of inappropriately sheltering my children from reality (friends, don’t laugh, I am not making this up). So to honor my daughter, I am reposting her work. It is graphic, and may be offensive to those who: are Christians; theists; hate gays the poor and the oppressed; those who hate reality; and will certainly offend those who cling to a revisionist history of this Country. The woman she is referring to is a public speaker, and you should research her on the internet if you really want to understand what Brooke is saying. ******Warning: Adult themes and Language**** Christians, creationists, sensitive people, and children should probably unfriend me now!****

"Dear Kimberly Alyn,

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you my two year old died of bitterness/abortion today. First of all you need some UP TIME if you want to be down with the queer community you need to do a few things. If you see a pussy eat it up, If you see a cock suck it up, If you see a bra burn it up, if you see dildo stick it up, if you see a bible burn it up, if you choose to comment again shut it up(or clam it up). Honestly now that I know you make money off of speaking to working class people telling them they are complainers, I don't see anything you say as valid. First of all flight attendants who hate their jobs are not "wussies" not everyone can get their ego off with creepy leadership, second rate stand up comedy acts. You get to do what you want because your a privileged white woman. You even police what people. You are racist and misogynistic. Telling people they can't wear baggy pants is code "Black man look whiter and wear "acceptable" clothing". Telling women to cover up is sexist, not every woman would like to wear pantsuits. Do you think your mythical god would police what people wear. Do you think God was a capitalist who ran businesses that told people to be power hungry leaders? Telling people they are not entitled to things is ironic coming from your white mouth. But two things bring people together a common vision(hetero normative family, car, house, pointless possessions) and a common enemy(queer community, immigrants, baggy pants,people of color, busty bitter women, flight attendants who hate their shitty job, and those who can't man it up or woman it up. But you can't motivate people, thats what I've learned. Lil' Kim you got to do it on your own. Cause I really want to find out what you are hungry for(sort of like the mouse going after the cheese). I feel that power and being in charge of people is really important to you. I can see that you want people to think your a passionate leader. Because you repeatedly tell them that.....over and over again.....which gives me as your husband says so often.....a great big belly laugh. You obviously love oppression, you continually tell people to accept their shitty situations. You tell people to suck it up and that they are not entitled to things.......That sounds like a power money hungry oppressor to me. You can't group people into four groups of annoying people. That is not life Kimberly. Life is not that simple. People don't fit into a few categories that society picks out for them. You seem to hate petty things in your "motivational" leadership plan. You seem pretty bitter about baggy pants and annoying people who hate their situation in life. People struggle Kimberly, you will never understand this struggle. And the God thing kimmy Kim Kim if you have to tell people he exists over and over he probably doesn't. You kind of scare me Lil' Kim, you talk about RE-BRAINWASHING people! You want people to be leaders and have power over one another. But I think we are both Drivers Kim, I think we would both love to pump up our wholesome christian music.(Side note most Butch lesbians are also Drivers, femmes are more expressive). But really why I wrote this is I want you to speak at my event, but make sure Josh does not reveal his BA to the chp officer. My brother that little queer exhibitionist used to do that all the time. And you know what your God is an awesome God he rains from heaven above but he isn't wise enough to explain dinosaurs. I would like to end with some UP TIME cause girl you need it! If you only like your hubbies dick switch it up, If you think Jesus was a capitalist you dumb as fuck, If your government fucks you over love it up, If your feeling me call me up, If you don't understand queer issues look them up, If you don't have a political consciousness wake it up, If you don't know what our country was built on(slavery and genocide) read it up, and if you fuck with my brother I'll fuck you up!!!!!"

Brooke McHugh

Up the revolution!