[merry10]

My experience is that we have not been involved with these way militant deaf. So I've been lucky.

My other experience is that I do agree with you on Harlan Lane - and I heard HE doen'st even sign.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"My experience is that we have not been involved with these way militant deaf. So I've been lucky."

Maybe it's a West Coast thing? (But that wouldn't explain this Gallaudet episode!) ...I was quite the vocal advocate for the c.i. in its early days, and as I mentioned earlier I had to change my email address due to abusive messages from the capital-D deaf types, including the ones who would scream about the implant being "genocide." Similarly, at a party about a decade ago I met the family of the then-youngest recipient of a cochlear implant in the U.S., an adorable little boy not yet two years old, and his parents. He had started getting hate mail at his home, and his parents were quite frightened by it.

So yes, you (and your daughter) sound as though you've been very lucky indeed. Certainly I've known plenty of deaf folks, and only a few troublemakers. But, whoa, some of those folks can curl your hair with their invective.