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Deaf Ministry does not merely change your life, it DEFINES it!

"Show your fear of God by treating the Deaf with respect
 ... I am the LORD."  Lev 19:14  The Book (version of the Bible)

International Mother Language Day
February 21

In November 17, 1999 UNESCO proclaimed 21 February as The International Mother Language Day, to be observed throughout the world. The day is celebrated to promote mother tongues and encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education. Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our observable and unobservable heritage. Today, about half of the 6,000 or so languages spoken in the world are under threat. (From Wikipedia.com - emphasis added)

Very often overlooked as a "Mother Language" is the sign languages of the Deaf of the world. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing make up approximately 8-10% of the world's population. The Deaf people's sign language is one that needs respected and included when we consider International Mother Language Day.

Many people, called "audists" are attacking sign language in an attempt to bring the Deaf into oralism. But, because language is central to group and self identity, culture, and heritage Deaf and supporters of the Deaf must make a stand to protect sign languages. 

In the United States, we must protect ASL (American Sign Language) and the right to keep it as the "Mother Language" of the Deaf.  To speak against or work against ASL as a first language, is to deny the Deaf their culture, heritage and their core self-identity!

The use of SEE and other manual codes (because it and such like it, are not real languages, but only codes for words), oralism and such must be resisted. The real heart language of the Deaf in the USA is ASL. It is polluted by audists who "think" they know best for the Deaf.  See the book by Harlan Lane, "The Mask of Benevolence" for a greater understanding of raping of the Deaf world's heart/mother languages.

The various sign languages of the world, must be respected and promoted to maintain the cultural wellness of the Deaf in their respective nations.
 

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