Page 95 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

80 Reading Between the Signs

I’m happy with who I am and I don’t want to be “fixed.”
Would an Italian-American rather be a WASP? In our
society everyone agrees that whites have an easier time
than blacks. But do you think a black person would
undergo operations to be white? (Dolnick 1993)

A Balanced Picture of American Culture

Although it can be enlightening to hear foreigners’ observations
about American culture, we may initially feel put off when the
bulk of their comments appears to be negative. When pressed,
however, most foreign visitors will admit that many of the aspects
of American culture they enjoy would not be possible without
those that are less desirable; for example, it is our rapid pace of
life that allows us to accomplish so much. The important thing for
us as Americans is to recognize that we do, indeed, have a culture
and that every culture is a mixed bag and cannot, for the most
part, be ranked as better or worse than any other.
It has been the intent of this chapter to help make our Ameri-
can cultural selves a little more visible in the mirror. We are ready
now to look with a clearer perspective at the details of American
Deaf culture.

04 MINDESS PMKR 80 10/18/04, 11:25 AM