Sound and Fury

I never really noticed the difference between hearing and deaf people. Obviously I don't know what they are going through because I can hear, and in the hearing world. I have always wanted to learn sign language because I think it amazing to see people talking with their hands, expressing how they feel. It's "beautiful" like the Artinian's family said. However, Peter and Nita Artinian have a opportunity to give "the world" to Heather, their daughter. But, is a cochlear implant going to give her the world, or hurt her further? Peter and Nita are faced with a very tough choice and I think I agree with them on where they stand. 

Honestly, these kinds of documentaries are hard to watch. As the viewer it's hard to understand where these people are coming from. Most would say, "Just get the cochlear, it will make Heather's life so much easier." Well, would it? Looking at the big picture, yes... it may be easier for her to hear and be with her talking friends. She will be able to communicate and fit in. However, her whole family is deaf. Her mom, dad and brother. If Heather could talk, her parents wouldn't be able to help her with her speech. Heather would still have to sign at home- she would be in two different worlds. 

The family moved to have better schooling for their two children. It was a deaf community. Most would say they are sheltering themselves, to get away from all the chaos and confusion. I don't think they were. I cannot fathom living somewhere where I am the only one deaf. Everyone would still try to talk to you, and wont go out of there way to learn sign language. It's like what we talk about in class. There are a selected handful who are deaf, in comparison to the amount of people who can hear. Why not move to where everyone is lie you? Where even the local businesses even sign for you. I think it was a smart move, to move to where they were most comfortable living.

On the flip side, if the whole family, like Chris and Mari Artinian, were all hearing, and had a deaf child, I would do what they did and get Peter, there son, a cochlear implant. It would be so hard on Peter to grow up deaf. Chris's brother Peter was the only one deaf in their family. They showed how hard it was on both the family and Peter. I would want my child to be able to hear me, and be able to hear everyone else.

At my old school, one of my teammates was deaf. She had a cochlear implant. Without it she couldn't hear any of us talking to her. It was hard seeing her without her devise on. I saw the frustration and confusion when she couldn't hear us. It was hard. I am very thankful for technology now, that we can get the deaf community to hear if they choose. It brings on so many joys in life that many people take for granted. No one has to give up the deaf culture. People will still learn sign language since it is history. It will never go away. 

Scared of... The Dark

Scared of The Dark

 In the beginning of the world was only darkness. It wasn’t meant as a bad, scary, or obscure entity; just that there is absence of light. Why is it that humans, and some animals, adapt to sleep more at night rather than day? It’s because of time; the twelve month calendar that sets all of our daily lives into a schedule. My mom likes to stay up later at night since she feels as though she has more energy and can accomplish more since everyone else is asleep. However, is that the reason she stays up?

When I was little my mom explained what Heaven and Hell were; places you go after you die, what most people would call the afterworld. With us being Christians, my mom explained that Satin was once an angle, a beautiful one too. He however, turned from God and took some angles with him into a place called Hell. My mom went on to say that Satin can take on all forms. When you are a little kid you don’t know what to make of that. I took it that satin can “become” anything. As I grew older, I learned more and more what Hell was: a dark scary place with fire. More frightening from that, you’re separated from God for eternity.

Darkness became a huge fear, the sensation of being surrounded by blackness. Objects seem to take on a different form and shape at night, that time seems unreal.  Movement of your door or a tree branch scratching your window with the moon so dim you can barely see it in the huge sky and murky clouds.  I remember thinking Satin or one of his followers was under my bed and would grab me, take me under with no escape. Take me into the unknown, the dark unknown. They would cover my mouth so I could not scream. I would try to run but my legs collapsed under me and I fall. I would walk over to my light switch; take a deep breath, knowing that the light would help me for now. As soon as I turn it off, I know everything was fair game, including myself. I turned out the light and ran as fast as my little legs could carry me. Run so that no one could grab me. I jumped on my bed and pull the overs over me in a flash, so no one could harm me. I would take a sigh of relief, knowing that I was safe, for now. I closed my eyes, and then fall asleep.