Part 6 of 6 video clips taken in Sacramento on the day of International Celebration of Sign Languages. 9/27/08. In this clip, Vloggers LaRonda, Don G. and Barb Digi join the ASL festivities along with Vikee Waltrip, Bridgetta Firl and others. This is the final video in this 6 part series. (Transcript below)

Transcript:

LaRonda: Hello! Guess what? There are 3 vloggers here. Don G., myself - LaRonda, and Barb (Digi). Whoa! Hi! Hi! We’re here to celebrate ASL! Got ASL? It rocks! Whooo!

Don, Barb and LaRonda: Yeah! Whoo!

Barb: Celebrate & enjoy!

LaRonda: They’re here, in the flesh! Whoo!

Barb: We need to try to accommodate the broad diversity.

Don: I think you can accommodate diversity, yet at the same time, keep your own values.

Barb: Hmmm… but what if those values don’t fit with their values?

Barbara: I’m Barbara Morrison from the deaf school in Fremont. Yeah! (Hands waving) Really, it’s been wonderful today. MANY people have gathered here today. I feel inspired and really feel the spirit of ASL here. It’s truly wonderful among the people here.

Judy: We’re here to celebrate and we hope that our language becomes a universal language and an English equivalent language.

Woman: That’s a beautiful dog.

Woman; Thank you.

Dog: Yawn

Deaf-Blind Interpreter: … without limits… not bad…

Tanja: A deaf group got together and want to file a complaint because CSD in Fremont has to suffer a 10% budget cut, yet public schools do not have the same cuts. So here’s their petition. Please help. Come and sign your name here.

Vikee: I just moved back right on time! I’m thrilled to see the crowds of people to my right, in the back, people in the middle, and this small row in the front, and people to my left. The sun seems to hot for many of you. I feel sorry for the interpreters, really. I really, really feel sorry for them, and they’re all wearing black!

Interpreter: (Showing his brown shirt, not black)

Other Interpreter: You always have to be special.

(Interpreter talking…)

Vikee: … (signing in broken SEE signs) TO - THE - FLLLAGG - OF - THE - UUNITED - SSTATES - OF AAMERICAA - WHICH - STAAANNDS - ONE - NAAATIONN - INDIVISIBLE - WITTTHHH - LIBERTY - AAAANNND - JJUSTICE - FOR - A-L-LLLLL.

That language is simply no good! It’s really pea-brained. I felt like a nit-wit signing, over-exaggerating my mouth and speech, and sticking my tongue way out! Really, they had me really practice protruding my tongue. I was a good licker! Really! … A-S-L… That was a GIFT! It is a gift to each one of us. But we got that gift through hard work! Truly hard work! We’ve been working since 1880 when we had to accept an oral system. But we protested, and we achieved!

Sheri: Whoo! I’m getting some pretty good exercise here! I better have lost 5 lbs. after today! Haha.

Bridgetta: I was at the Deaf President Now protest at Gallaudet University and I went with the Deaf people there to our nation’s capital. I went to another protest at Gallaudet University 2 years ago called Unity For Gallaudet and joined the crowds there. But I have not yet been to the state capital here in California, and I’ve lived here for for 12 years. I still haven’t seen an Deaf event happen here at our state capital. But, Pah! It’s the first time for this kind of event here, and I get to be involved with my fellow Californians. I’m really thrilled to be here today.

Children who start signing at an early age, those who start signing in their pre-school years, grow up to have a 90% success rate of passing the high school exit exam. This means chilred deserve to have early language access. Start them early so they all can pass the California High School Exit Exam.

Olaf: I’m enjoying the ASL festival. Finally! It’s about time we got together here! Pah! My father is looking down from heaven today. (Attletweed) He’s up there.

Rossana: Hello. Hello. It’s a bright, beautiful day. Ahhh…. ILY

Felix: Hi!

Matilda: Hi!

Chriz & friends: ASL! Whoo! We support ASL! Yes! Yes! ASL-day rocks!

David E: Hi LaRonda! It’s wonderful to be here today. All these Deaf Californians gathering together here. Wow! They’re really showing their support at this event. How many? I can’t count. Maybe about 1,000. Yeah, 1,000. And, I notice many old classmates. We’ve been enjoying a reunion of sorts as we bump into each other. Some, I haven’t seen since I graduated. Leanring about their lives, their journeys, wow! I feel it in my heart. This is the place to be today. This ASL celebration event. (Hands Waving)

(Showing t-shirt: “I love ASL.”)

Posted by LaRonda on Saturday, October 11th, 2008 at 8:42 pm.