Is hearing all that it's cracked up to be?

Is hearing all that it's cracked up to be?  

The Gist

A great video of a mom and son (pictured) dancing has been making the rounds as of late. The son/dancer is Mark Villaver, who has been a backup dancer for Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. What makes the video great is the fact that his mom can not only dance better than the son, she can’t hear the music. Breakthroughs, such as cochlear implants, have allowed many to hear again (or for the first time). Many Americans don’t realize that a debate has been raging in the deaf community over how much they are willing to give up of the culture and community they have created. Protests erupted at the nation’s premier deaf college, Gallaudet University, in 2006 when it was announced that Jane Fernandes would be taking over as president of the school. Students were outraged that a person who was not fluent in American Sign Language was being placed at the helm of a deaf university; her offer was later withdrawn. Many people who cannot hear (referred to as Deaf people, with a capital “D”) feel like a distinct people group with their own cultural norms, proud history and traditions. One only has to see this video (minute 2:20) of a little boy hearing for the first time to see the joy that can be experienced when one is able to hear for the first time. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it’s the right decision for everyone. A quote from a Deaf person in a British newspaper is telling, “I actually feel bad for hearing people,” he says. “I wish that more people could experience the power and peace of utter silence.”….and now you know the gist.