Marlee Matlin – …And the Truth Shall Set You Free.

Another Hearing Privilege in Hollywood Industry

September 19, 2018September 19, 2018 The Last HiccupLeave a comment

Honestly, when I learned about the movie, “The Silence”, the hearing actress would play a role as Deaf person. It’s another language war. The term of war comes from old English, “wyrre”—bringing into confusion. It is also an insult to Deaf culture. It’s the bandwagon of hearing privileges that always the stronghold to overcome. Deaf people should never been confused. It’s the hearing people who are confusing.

I do not really understand this social phenomenon why hearing people keep denying by unpacking own privileges. I mean…it’s no excuse! What is so special about Deaf community? Deaf actors and actresses are talented and attuned to their people.

I remember when I was selected to act as Hansel in Deaf program in 1983, that time I was 9 years old. The joy and excitement of learning as much acting as possible through which it can be understand, intellectually and emotionally, that Deaf people can act and understand the presence in their life experience is the consequence of those learning experiences so we are better prepared to act once we leave the acting experience.

It was a big deal for me even I realized just now. It’s really big deal. You know, Deaf children are precious to be given and empowered with acting skills. The study of acting as Deaf person had shown that the study of ASL is a creative process based upon the analysis of linguistic/cultural evidence, which results in a conversation between ASL and its users.

When I become an actor for Deafhood Monologues, it was a learning experience at Gallaudet. I believe that not only in ASL but in all areas Deaf actresses and Deaf actors should have the opportunity to reach their full potential as informed and knowledge young women and men. As they have chosen to learn about the language and culture.

It’s just impossible and unthinkable that hearing actresses and actors would deprive away from Deaf talent. It’s an invisible tool that Deaf community continues to be oppressed. We all need to be reminding of Homer’s Odyssey, Deaf people are challenged to overcome the unknown. It’s the same that goes to Hollywood industry.

Deaf actresses and actors had a joy of learning something novel—something mind-blowing. They are the ones who have gained from the learning journey that shall furnish their home. Back in 2011, I attended Toronto International Deaf Film + Arts Festival, the Gala event was a huge insult to Deaf community, the gala film was showing 88 minutes of hearing actresses and actors until three minutes left in the movie, finally Deaf actress. What does it mean?

What happened to the safe and rigorous, one that empowers Deaf actresses and actors in pursing ASL for Hollywood industry? After Gala night, the film festival begun and the opening of the festival, I’m Deaf and I Didn’t Know made by French Deaf filmmaker was the best film of the festival that morning that I decided to write down this film as best film and sure enough, the film won the best film of festival. It should be in the gala first place!

Yet, SEVEN years later, the film industry is still dominated by hearing privileges. Oh yeah, 30 years later after Marlee Matlin won Academy Award for the movie, Children of a Lesser God is still oppressed in the name of hearing privileges. I mean, what’s worst the most of all? The Silence.

The term: silence—complete absence of sound and cause to become silent; prohibit or prevent from speaking.

Yes, speaking from pain. Speaking from experience. Speaking from truth. It’s really unbelievable and insulting that Deaf culture continues to be oppressed from the absence of sound and prevent from showing Deaf talent. It’s quite shameful, hmm?

-JT

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“Retarded” Stigma in American Culture

October 14, 2016December 25, 2017 The Last Hiccup1 Comment

Donald Trump called Marlee Matlin “retarded”—a derogatory term in broadest human mind. That makes Trump a deficit thinker and a bully, too. The proof of torture and cruelty on Deaf people is overwhelming and incontrovertible. detailing an unlawful practice that was far more brutal and unnecessary than previously known.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/13/donald-trump-called-deaf-apprentice-marlee-matlin-retarded.html

Among the abusive tactics by Trump on many people has forced stressed positions, torturing and depriving Deaf people’s civil rights which has resulted in long-last psychological pain and suffering—in addition to deal with emotional trauma is the most dangerous thing when they were growing up and deal with bullying in schools. The link would be helpful to read:

http://www.deafcounseling.com/sticks-and-stones-bullying-and-deaf-people/

Mr. Donald Trump is entitled to a full, public accounting of the torture and cruelty done in his name and the consequences of his actions. I write upon to write this and stop hate-motivated attitude toward Deaf people who work hard to change their lives around to destigmatize them as Deaf people. No more “retarded”—Deaf people are still the most marginalized group practiced by torture and abuse and should not be subjected to harsh conditions.

“Retarded”—is also a hate speech then his behavior becomes weak. In our human minds, we see a bully walking past the street, and the bully sneer at us, then will become invariably disappear. To our human mind, the awareness works. The goal is to teach people awareness who calls Deaf people “retarded” like Mr. Trump did, and it is vital that we need to manage the toxic environment to prevent this from happening.

Hate is about conflict. Conflict with themselves. It shows hate embodied with all of these other personalities; they are faces that seem to struggle with themselves despite being callous to their own experiences. It is a strange paradox that screams out of depth and power in pure, unadulterated self-reflection.

Deaf people who taught how to self-hate for being Deaf even calling other Deaf people “retarded”, it is the most focal key of the invisible hate like a core. Self-hate has scratches all over Deaf people that force the viewers to do two things: recognize the depths in the face and examine the sociological problem. Each scratch has a layer of contrasting pain underneath the first skin layer.

Marlee Matlin do not deserve something like this at all. Shame on Donald Trump!

-JT

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Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/13/donald-trump-called-deaf-apprentice-marlee-matlin-retarded.html

http://www.deafcounseling.com/sticks-and-stones-bullying-and-deaf-people/

The Daily Moth, Marlee and Nyle: Crisis in Journalism

September 22, 2016March 12, 2017 The Last Hiccup1 Comment

The power of journalism is not the same like it used to be today in Deaf community. Exploring different frameworks of journalism analysis, and learning tools to recognize these frameworks, greatly enhanced my reading of journalism texts related to The Daily Moth. I was previously aware that The Daily Moth and its host Alex Abenchuchan made an inappropriate joke about Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump to use Marlee Matlin in his advertisement and mislead the public to make people think that Marlee supports Trump.

Flash news: Marlee had been a stanch supporter of Hillary Clinton before Nyle DiMarco even existed. There was a tweet that Marlee supports Hillary in the beginning of the year. It means….Marlee supports Hillary ever since.

I am also aware that The Daily Moth that the host, consciously, employed its bad journalism in the school of thought, in the public to educate Deaf community and in his journalistic skills. The Daily Moth allowed to make bad judgements in his own values and predispositions and created a self-deception of how The Daily Moth might have employed these things in his own agenda.

I am a daily viewer of The Daily Moth myself, became baffled not only by the vague, rambling journalism styles of how they treat Marlee but also by the exact mocking intended. As each story progressed, the flaws and bad character traits of American society—especially Deaf community became manifest. Almost everyone can remember a bed time story being read to them when they all are humans. Frequently these works of journalism happen to be myth or fairy tale what The Daily Moth did.

We would pick a bed time story because of its many moral lessons and the positive influence the tale can have on our lives. Sometimes the fable uses negative reinforcement and could help to condition Deaf community by what The Daily Moth scares us. The question, did The Daily Moth shows in a passive manner, how to handle issues ranging from love, respect and vanity to discipline, labor and tact?

Every experience impresses strongly upon a maturing intellect, and fairy tales are simple but powerful in the messages. Journalism provokes us to use these stories to teach Deaf community multiple positive lessons about culture and at the same time attempt to develop a humanity in a practical and positive way. These tales are a vital and important tool and are extremely useful in our upbringing. Fairy tales and myths were originally created to reinforce our current culture and highlight the habits and personality of a developing mind.

The Daily Moth lacked a certain continuity that would have allowed the journalism to flow in logical argument that Marlee was a Trump supporter. The mistake that they did was an overdependence upon the journalism honesty or qualities to convey symbolism. The Daily Moth needs to issue a public apology for Marlee Matlin. Will it even happen?

-JT

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