Walking up to Thomas Jefferson’s Home.

The last three days has been a presidential journey with three most important presidents in American history—deep thinking questions the movement roots in the breathtaking change for Gallaudet newest’s 11th president. First, I visited Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello, Virginia, the same Jefferson holds as a well respected philosopher-king of the American democracy that no one can bestow him or better that way, no American philosopher has surpassed him.

Then I visited Abraham Lincoln’s summer cottage where he stayed there for 13 months during his presidency, he loved to write in his private chamber, but there is a story that must be read—Lincoln as a boy, he helped his father with farm chores.

Be sure to visit Lincoln’s cottage!

When he was home, his mother encouraged him to read and write. One day there was a huge rainstorm and Abe watched the field of potatoes being washed away by the flood but his father started to plant potatoes all over again. Fast-forwarded, President Lincoln experienced the loss of Americans during the Civil War, and he moved on to rebuild the nation. The same time that he as a president to be grand patron for National Deaf-Mute College known as Gallaudet University needs Gallaudet president to rebuild Gallaudet University today and in the future. The grand patron waits for the change.

Finally, the third president I visited—Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. The house on the Potomac River is stunning. In his first Inaugural address, Washington hoped in his own words, “a reverence for the characteristic rights of freeman, and a regard for public harmony, will sufficiently influence your deliberations on the question” What does it mean? Washington meant is that it is our human right to live without any obstacle whatsoever. He used the term reverence to imply that this human right is to be respected to the fullest. Will the next Gallaudet president understand that power dynamics of human rights on the campus?

Between one of three candidates for Gallaudet University president that needs to have high interest in preserving, archiving, collecting past occurrences and more of a focus on this life as a process—her potential. The important voice for Deaf community, the questions needs to be discussed:

-Do you believe that the lack of mention of the 1988 Deaf President Now was intentional or not?

-Could one of those candidates have enough experience in university setting—be the work of an educated and diligent and creative scholar?

-Like Washington and Jefferson, they had difficulties with public speaking, what is the most difficult impression do you think one of those candidates are qualified on her leadership through public speaking?

Let me wrap this up. Whoever the candidate have been chosen, Gallaudet University is obviously wants to turn into an effective document, drafted to expose the wishes of Gallaudet alumni and Deaf community at least the governing body of Deaf people and is still regarded as one of the most important documents to American history today. What my opinion even as an alumni matters the most to me, I write of my need and would like to see Gallaudet improve higher education needs. Since 1988, I had seen stories from Deaf people I meet whom was there if not, had became my stories.

The beautiful Potomac River.

-JT

Copyright © Jason Tozier

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