Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Deaf Regional Personality Traits Across the U.S.

Any of you wonder whether we really have our deaf regional personality trait development within our former alta mater schools/universities and neighborhood?

The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported the scientific study of regional personality traits across America - "The United States of Mind".

The research study shown that the residents of North Dakota are most outgoing as compared to neuoritic Kentuckians and conscientous Floridians.

http://wwwonline.wsj.com/article/$B122211987961064719.html?mod-yhoof#articleTab%3Dcomments

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/05/04/where-do_all_the_neurotics_live/

www.toddshackleford.com/downloads/Schmitt-JCCP-2007.pdf

My recall about handful of deaf people informally label the graduates and students of California School of the Deaf - Fremont are most likely to be cliquey among their own kinds. Any proofs about deaf Fremontians?? Probably true or not!

When I came to Gallaudet for very first time. Many students thought that I was a Californian myself. I said "What?" I asked those students why I was considered "Californian". I was told that I was too confident, dress casually and signed pure ASL. How interesting about the first impression I made on Gallaudet students.

After telling Gallaudet students that I was from West Virginia. Many students said "Really?" I was not look like a typical hillbilly. I laughed so hard.

From my own personal observations, Maryland School for the Deaf graduates are intentionally involved in deaf activism later in life. Look at Joey Baer, Carl Schroeder and other mores.

I noticed that many deaf North Dakotans have superbu English writing and reading skills at Gallaudet University. Isolated and chilly environment contributed to their eventual polishings of the dominant language usage- the English language.

Deaf Floridians and Texans tend to be more party-minded people. Don't you agree?

Former graduates from Rochester School for the Deaf, NY and American School for the Deaf , Connecticut seems turn out most pathological liars and troublemakers from what I socialized with those people.

That seems the deaf residential school/university neighborhoods area greatly influenced the personality formations more than parents of deaf youngsters.

Fremont, California is really a modest small-town which contributed to the feelings of close-knit community and resulted in more cliquey mentality among deaf Fremontians compared to the graduates and students of Riverside California School for the Deaf .

Deaf West Virginians are noticeably overdependent on hearing people and seek their approvals more than anyone deaf across the United States. They intentionally believe that hearing people know more than deaf individuals or being right than deaf people. Of course, deaf West Virginians are politically passive as compared to Northern California deaf community. Deaf West Virginians are more likely to use the Language Contact (PSE) and SEE more than other deaf Americans.

Some deaf people consider many deaf New Yorkers to be arrogant and boasteous. Any truth to this one?

My own Deaf Regional Personality Traits Across the U.S., are purely speculational, not based on scientific observations. Any personal observance or speculation of yours?

ASlize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog

Real Shame on Laura Bush for Excluding Deaf Authors

Real shame on Laura Bush, the current First Lady for excluding deaf authors from being part of the 2008 National Book Festival this September 26th and past bookfests- seven straight years!

First Lady Laura Bush never made any attempts of being inclusive with the deaf community like inviting any deaf authors to the Texas Book Festival and National Book Festival. We have plenty of deaf authors in our literary circles!

Our first lady of America is supposed to bring out the best out of the diverse America! She never did at all. Laura Bush schmoozed the Library of Congress to support the National Book Festival at the expenses of American taxpayers! Not every American taxpayers benefit from the National Book Festival since it is in the Nation's Capitol!

The past National Book Festival usually provide the ASL interpreters for deaf attendees, not this year. Huh?

Please check out the Library of Congress web site for the 2008 National Book Festival -

http://www.loc.gov.bookfest/

Laura Bush the First Lady, never bother to visit Gallaudet University or Model Secondary School for the Deaf or any school of the deaf. Have Laura Bush or Georgie visit the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin before??

Bill and Hillary Clinton have been regularly visited the Arkansas School for the Deaf in Little Rock, AK as Governor of AK. Bill Clinton stepped on the ground of Gallaudet University to give the Gallaudet commencement in the 90s. Hillary Clinton made one or two informal visits to Gallaudet University as the First Lady.

Deaf America's Librarian - Alice Hagemeyer, a tireless advocate of library access and uses for deaf people across the United States. Ms. Hagemeyer once told me that Laura Bush was her personal favorite. Hasn't Laura Bush help anything in DC-area libraries or any deaf library programs? Nope!

Laura Bush just lend her personal support to the creation of DC City Museum at the former Carnegie Library next to the brand-new Washington Convention Center on 7th-9th and K Street, NW. Guess what? The DC City Museum suddenly closed in a year due to lack of interests among local DC residents and tourists. Laura Bush doesn't know how to choose the projects more carefully. How typical of her own hubby, Georgie for screwing up our country beyond imagination!

Not many people realize that Laura Bush is a smoker herself! She have been shamelessly promoted her own daughter, Jenna Bush's book at this year's 2008 National Book Festival. Jenna Bush's name have been omitted on the list of 70 authors featured at the 2008 book festival website. Why??

Several authors like Bob Schieffer of CBS-TV News and Salman Rushdie are being featured as this year's selected authors. Many people did not realize that Bob Schieffer is a close pal of George W. Bush's brother. Journalistic integrity with Bob Schieffer? Nah!

Salman Rushdie do not deserve to be on the list of selected authors since he is not an American citizen at all.

We must demand that some deaf authors to be featured at the 2008 National Book Festival or Laura Bush herself is really anti-deaf .

Deaf America's Librarian -Alice Hagemeyer should get some recognition from President George W. and Laura Bush for her never-ending library advocacy for deaf people. She founded the Red NoteBook directory for librarians across the United States and tirelessly pushed libraries to provide the library programs/lectures and books related to deaf people . Hagemeyer founded the Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action. She have been the current outreach coordinator for the National Literacy Society of the Deaf lately.

Alice Hagemeyer ever is a registered Republican herself. I am sure that she is rooting for John McCain this year. Despite her political party affiliation, I dearly love Alice for who and what she is.

For more info about Alice Hagemeyer's past accomplishments and awards -

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=archives&template=/contentmanagement/contentdisplay-cfm&ContentID=151

www.folda.net/libreading.hmtl

I look forward to see President George W. Bush to award Alice Hagemeyer the Presidential medal before he and Laura leave the White House for the new occupant.

ASLize yours,

Robert L. Mason
RLMDEAF blog