ds_0027_bahanperformance_cap_01.mp4

ds_0027_bahanperformance_cap_01.mp4

Analysis of Birds of a Different Feather

Bahan, Benjamin J.

American Sign Language literature

Deaf, Writings of the, American

Storytelling

The 1992 video text is published by DawnSignPress and is entitled Bird of a Different Feather; A Decent Living. It includes a student video text, workbook and a teacher’s guide.

Ben Bahan discusses the original ASL Literature video text narratives he and Sam Supalla created and their analyses. Bird of a Different Feather by Ben Bahan explores the experiences of a different-looking bird within a family of eagles. For a Decent Living by Sam Supalla is a novella in which the protagonist is a Deaf boy on a journey to find his deaf identity.

Ben and Sam first analyzed the structure of their stories such as breaking up the narrative into chapters. Ben invites audience participation in analyzing the story further by applying literary and cultural analyses. Literary elements are discussed such as the story genre (his ‘Bird of a Different Feather’ is like a fable and allegory), themes and motifs such as the ‘different beak’ of the fourth baby bird, the time period of the story, the cultures in the story, the point of view of the storyteller, the mood of the story, foreshadowing, character development, characters’ names, the number of characters in the story, sign referents, body movement, facial expressions, writing and signing styles.

ASL Literature is a body of work worthy of equal consideration in the literary world. There is evidence that it has literary elements common to all literature. Ben announces the publication of their narratives through DawnSignPress and hopes that more ASL Literature works will be published along with scholarly critiques.

Rochester Institute of Technology - RIT Libraries - RIT Archive Collections

1991

2018

moving image

mp4

VHS

56 minutes

American Sign Language

English

RITDSA.0027

Sculptures in the Air: An Accessible Online Video Repository of the American Sign Language (ASL) Poetry and Literature Collections

Miriam and Kenneth Lerner ASL Poetry collection

2018-2019 CLIR Grant-ASL Poetry and Literature

https://albert.rit.…

https://archivesspa…

New York - Rochester

Henrietta Campus

RIT Libraries makes materials from its collections available for educational and research purposes pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. It is your responsibility to obtain permission from the copyright holder to publish or reproduce images in print or electronic form.

WOMAN: SO THE BIRD THAT WAS
BORN WITH THE FLAT BEAK--

HIS FAMILY HOPED AND HOPED
THAT THEY COULD FIX HIM.

AND SO THEY BROUGHT HIM TO A
SHAMAN, AND THEY WENT AND THEY

SAT AND THEY SAT
AROUND THE FIRE.

AND THE SHAMAN MADE THIS
MAGICAL POTION AND THREW

IN ALL SORTS OF THINGS--LIZARDS'
TONGUES AND SPECIAL PLANTS

AND STIRRED THE MIXTURE,
AND IT COOKED ALL NIGHT.

AND THEY TOOK A SIP, AND THEY
GAVE HIM A SIP AND HOPED

HE WOULD CHANGE.

AND THEY DANCED AND THEY
DANCED AND THEY WAITED,

AND FINALLY THE BIRD
STILL HAD A FLAT BEAK.

SO, THE FAMILY CONTINUED.
THEY TRIED EVERYTHING.

THEY WENT TO DOCTORS.

THEY WENT TO EVERY DOCTOR THEY
COULD FIND, AND THEY FINALLY

FOUND A DOCTOR WHO SAID,
"WELL, LET'S TRY AN OPERATION."

AND SO THEY SAID,
"OK, HOW MUCH?"

AND THE DOCTOR GAVE
THEM THIS NUMBER.

IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE.

AND SO THEY DECIDED TO TRY
A DIFFERENT DOCTOR.

THEY WENT TO A DIFFERENT
DOCTOR, AND IT WAS THE SAME.

IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE. THEY JUST
LOOKED AND LOOKED AND LOOKED.

AND SO FINALLY, THEY WERE TOLD
THAT THEY SHOULD GO TO AN ENT--

AN EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT
SPECIALIST--AS A LAST RESORT.

AND SO THE ENT EXAMINED HIM
AND DID ALL THE TESTS AND USED

ALL OF HIS EQUIPMENT.

AND WHAT HE DECIDED TO DO
WAS THIS SPECIAL TEST WHERE

THE BIRD WITH THE FLAT BEAK
WOULD GO INTO A GLASS ROOM.

AND HE WOULD WEAR THESE
SPECIAL THINGS ON HIS BODY.

AND WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING IN
HIS BEAK, HE SHOULD RAISE HIS

WING ON EITHER SIDE TO SHOW
WHERE HE FELT THAT SENSATION.

AND EVERY TIME HE RAISED
HIS WING, IT WAS DOCUMENTED.

AND AFTER THE TEST WAS DONE,
THE DOCTOR TOLD THE FAMILY.

"THE RESULTS ARE 100%.

HE IS A BIRD WITH A FLAT BEAK."

AND THE FAMILY WAS
SO DISAPPOINTED.

AND SO THE ENT SAID, "WELL,
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SPECIAL

SCHOOLS FOR BIRDS
WITH FLAT BEAKS."

AND THE TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
OF THESE SCHOOLS IS THAT THEY

WORK HARD.

THE FLAT-BEAK BIRDS WORK AND
WORK AND WORK AND THEN FINALLY

THEY WILL BECOME A BIRD WITH
A HOOKED BEAK, AN EAGLE.

AND SO THE FAMILY DECIDED
TO GO AND THEY WERE EXCITED.

THEY WENT AND THEY MET WITH
THE PRINCIPAL OF THAT SCHOOL.

AND ON THE WALLS OF HIS
OFFICE, HE HAD ACCOLADES

AND AWARDS, AND HE HAD A
Ph.D. IN EDUCATING BIRDS

WITH FLAT BEAKS.

AND SO THEY WERE
VERY IMPRESSED.

AND IT WAS AMAZING THE
THINGS HE HAD DONE.

HE HAD AN ACCOMMODATION FROM
THE A.G. BEAK ASSOCIATION.

SO THEY THOUGHT AND THEY SAID,
"HMM...THIS MIGHT BE THE ANSWER

TO OUR PRAYERS."

AND SO THEY TALKED WITH THAT
PRINCIPAL, AND HE EXPLAINED

THEIR PHILOSOPHY.

THEY WOULD TEACH THE BIRDS
WITH FLAT BEAKS TO BELIEVE

THEY WERE BIRDS
WITH HOOKED BEAKS.

AND THE STUDENTS WOULD THINK
AND PUSH UNTIL THEIR BEAK

BECAME HOOKED THROUGH
SHEER WILLPOWER.

AND SO COURSE, THE FAMILY
JUMPED ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE BIRD WITH THE FLAT
BEAK JOINED THE CLASS OF ALL

DIFFERENT TYPES OF
BIRDS WITH FLAT BEAKS.

AND THEY ALL LOOKED TO
THE FRONT AT THE TEACHER.

AND THE TEACHER WAS DOING THIS
MOTION OF WIPING THE BEAK,

WIPING THE BEAK.

AND THE CHILDREN WONDERED WHAT
IT WAS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED

TO BE DOING.

AND IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THEY
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE RESHAPING

THE BEAK SO THAT IT POINTS
DOWN INSTEAD OF POINTING OUT.

AND THEY DID EXERCISES LIKE
THIS EVERY DAY, AND THEY DID

EXERCISES TO EXTEND
THEIR WINGSPAN.

THEY WOULD PUSH OUT THEIR
WINGS, PUSH THEM OUT,

PUSH THEM OUT, PUSH THEM OUT.

AND THE IDEA WAS TO CREATE
THIS LARGE WINGSPAN WITH THIS

BEAUTIFUL HOOKED BEAK.

AND SO THAT BIRD WITH THE FLAT
BEAK WAS LEFT THERE, AND HIS

FAMILY WENT HOME, AND HE WAS
THERE IN THE CLASS AND HE DID

THOSE EXERCISES UNTIL HE WAS
AN EXPERT AT THE BEAK

AND WING EXERCISES.

AND HE DID THIS FOR MANY
YEARS UNTIL HE WENT THROUGH

HIGH SCHOOL.

AND FINALLY IT WAS TIME FOR
HIM TO THINK ABOUT HIS FUTURE,

AND HE HAD TO WRITE AN
ASSIGNMENT ABOUT WHAT JOB

HE WANTED TO DO
ONCE HE GRADUATED,

AND THE TEACHER COLLECTED THESE
ASSIGNMENTS FROM THE CLASS.

AND THE MORE OF THE
ASSIGNMENTS HE COLLECTED,

THE ANGRIER THE TEACHER GOT.

HE LOOKED THROUGH THEM AND HE
FINALLY STOOD UP AND YELLED

AT THE WHOLE CLASS
AND SAID, "YOU!

"WHO WROTE THIS THAT YOU
WANTED TO SING SONGS?

"WHO WROTE THAT YOU WANTED
TO COLLECT BERRIES?

"WHO SAID THIS?

"YOU ARE AN EAGLE!

"YOU'RE A HUNTER!

"YOU DON'T COLLECT WORMS
OR BERRIES OR SING SONGS!

"YOU ARE EAGLES
WITH HOOKED BEAKS.

"THE BIRDS WHO COLLECT WORMS
AND BERRIES AND SING SONGS

"LIVE IN THE VALLEY.

"THEY ARE NOT SMART LIKE YOU.

"NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO THE OTHER
ROOM WHERE YOU WILL LEARN THE

LAST PART OF YOUR TRAINING."

AND SO THE BIRDS WENT IN
AND GOT READY FOR THIS VERY

VIGOROUS TRAINING,
THIS HUNTING.

THEY HAD TO LEARN TO MOVE
THEIR HEADS DIFFERENTLY

BECAUSE THEIR EYES WERE NOT
PLACED CORRECTLY TO BE EAGLES.

AND SO THEY HAD TO LEARN
HOW TO MOVE THEIR HEADS

IN A PARTICULAR WAY
TO IMITATE EAGLES.

THEY HAD TO LEARN TO FLY
IN CIRCLES UP ABOVE,

LOOKING FOR PREY.

THEY HAD TO CIRCLE AND CIRCLE
AND THEN LOOK FOR WHAT THEY

WOULD CATCH AND FLY
DOWN GRACEFULLY.

THIS WAS NOT AN EASY CHALLENGE
FOR THESE BIRDS WHO DID NOT

HAVE THE WINGSPAN OF EAGLES
AND DID NOT HAVE THE EYESIGHT

OF EAGLES.

AND THEY WERE TAUGHT TO HUNT
MICE ON THE GROUND AND TRY TO

CATCH THEM.

BUT AS THEY CIRCLED, THE BIRDS
WITH THE FLAT BEAKS WOULD TRY

TO GRAB THE MOUSE AS THEY
FLEW DOWN, BUT THEY COULDN'T

CONTROL THEMSELVES THE
WAY AN EAGLE COULD.

AND SO THEY WOULD FALL,
FALL, FALL TO THE GROUND.

AND THE MOUSE WOULD SEE THEM
COMING AND THEY WOULD TRY TO

COME AND GRAB ONTO THE MOUSE
WITH THEIR TALONS AND PICK

THEM UP TO BRING
THEM AWAY TO EAT.

BUT AS THEY CAME, THEY WERE
FLOPPING AND GOING EVERY WHICH

WAY, AND THEIR LEGS WERE
FLAILING AND THEIR BEAKS

WERE FLAILING.

AND THEY WOULD TRY TO GRAB
ONTO THE MOUSE, AND THEY WOULD

GET THE MOUSE, BUT THEY WEREN'T
STRONG ENOUGH TO PICK UP

THE MOUSE AND FLY AWAY.

AND SO THE INSTRUCTORS DRILLED
THEM ON THESE EXERCISES.

"KEEP GOING.
FLAP YOUR WINGS.

"FLY IN CIRCLES.
TURN YOUR HEAD.

TRY TO GET THE MOUSE.
TRY TO GET THE PREY."

AND THEY KEPT TRYING FOR
SMALLER AND SMALLER PREY,

BUT IT DIDN'T WORK.

AND SO THEY KEPT TRYING TO GET
THESE BIRDS WITH FLAT BEAKS TO

THE POINT WHERE
THEY WERE EAGLES.

IT DIDN'T REALLY WORK.

BUT ANYWAYS, IT CAME TO
GRADUATION DAY, AND THEY ALL

MARCHED TO GET THEIR DIPLOMAS.

AND THE CROWD WAS CHEERING AND
THE PARENTS WERE SO EXCITED,

BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM THAT ANYONE
NOTICED THAT THE BIRDS STILL

HAD FLAT BEAKS.

AND SO OUR LITTLE BIRD
WITH THE FLAT BEAK FROM

THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY
WENT HOME AND WENT BACK

TO HIS LIFE.

AND THE FAMILY WOULD GO OUT
HUNTING AND DOING THINGS,

AND THEY DECIDED,
"COME WITH US.

WE'RE GOING TO GO ON
A TRIP TO GO HUNT."

AND HE WAS SO EXCITED TO JOIN,
AND THEY ALL GOT UP INTO THE AIR

AND THEY USED THEIR GIANT
WINGS AND THEY USED THEIR

EYESIGHT TO TRY
TO FIND THE PREY.

AND THAT LITTLE BIRD
WITH THE FLAT BEAK,

THEY SAID, "GO FOR IT!"

AND HE WENT AND HE TRIED TO
FLY DOWN AND GRAB A RABBIT.

AND HE DID FLY DOWN AND LATCH
ONTO THE RABBIT, BUT HE COULDN'T

PULL THE RABBIT UP BECAUSE
HE WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH.

AND HIS FAMILY SAID,
"JUST GO. JUST COME.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?"

AND HE SAID, "I'M TRYING."

AND HE KEPT TRYING, AND
THE RABBIT KEPT SAYING,

"GET OFF OF ME. WHY ARE
YOU CLAMPED ONTO ME?"

AND HE JUST KEPT GOING
AND GOING AND GOING.

AND IT NEVER WORKED.

HE HAD TO GIVE UP.

AND HE WENT HOME WITH HIS
FAMILY AND HE WAS ASHAMED.

AND HIS FAMILY WENT TO HIM
AND SAID, "WHY CAN'T YOU HUNT?

WE SENT YOU TO THIS SCHOOL
TO BECOME AN EAGLE."

AND HE EXPLAINED THE THINGS
THAT THEY DID AND THE TRAINING

THAT HE HAD.

AND THEY SAID, "YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE

"OF YOURSELF IF YOU CAN'T
HUNT INDEPENDENTLY.

"WE THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE
LEARNING WHAT YOU NEEDED TO

TO SURVIVE."

AND SO THEY DECIDED
SOMEONE NEEDED TO TAKE CARE

OF THE BIRD WITH THE FLAT BEAK
WHEN HIS PARENTS ARE GONE.

WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE
OF HIM FROM NOW ON?

AND SO HIS BROTHER SAID,
"I WILL DO IT."

AND SO HIS BROTHER
BECAME HIS GUARDIAN.

AND ONE DAY, HIS FAMILY
CAME HOME AND SAID,

"WE'RE ALL MOVING.

"WE FOUND A BETTER
PLACE TO LIVE.

"THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE
THAT HAS SO MUCH FOOD

"AND EVERYTHING WE NEED.

LET'S GO."

SO THEY ALL AGREED AND
THEY ALL GOT THEIR THINGS

AND PACKED THEM INTO THE
MOVING TRUCK AND THEN THEY ALL

WENT INTO THE AIR TO FLY
TOGETHER IN FORMATION.

AND THE BIRD WITH THE FLAT
BEAK WAS TRYING TO KEEP UP

BUT STARTING TO GET BEHIND.

THE EAGLES COULD
FLAP THEIR WINGS

ONE OR TWO TIMES, BUT THE
BIRD WITH THE FLAT BEAK

COULD BARELY KEEP UP.

HE HAD TO FLAP HIS WINGS
10 OR 15 TIMES

FOR EVERY ONE FLAP
OF THE EAGLE'S.

AND SO HE FELL FARTHER
AND FARTHER BEHIND

UNTIL FINALLY, HE FELL
AND COULDN'T FLY ANYMORE,

AND HE LANDED IN THE VALLEY.

AND HE TRIED TO GET HIS
FAMILY'S ATTENTION, BUT THEY

WERE TOO FAR GONE.

AND SO HE FINALLY LANDED IN
THE VALLEY AND TOOK A BREATH,

LOOKED AROUND, AND HE THOUGHT,
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

"HMM...THERE'S
BIRDS SINGING.

"THOSE ARE THOSE
AWFUL SINGING BIRDS

THEY TOLD US ABOUT IN SCHOOL."

AND HE SAID, "OH, YOU GUYS
ARE THE LOSERS, RIGHT?"

AND THEY SAID,
"WHO TOLD YOU THAT?"

AND HE SAID, "OH,
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD."

AND THEY SAID,
"YOU'RE ONE OF US.

YOU LOOK LIKE US."

AND HE SAID, "NO WAY.
I'M AN EAGLE."

AND THE BIRDS LAUGHED AND
LAUGHED AND SAID, "THIS GUY

"THINKS HE'S AN EAGLE.
HE'S JUST ONE OF US.

JOIN IN AND SING."

SO HE SAID, "OH, OK."

AND HE JOINED IN THEIR CHORUS,
AND HE STARTED TO

SING A LITTLE

AND THEN SING MORE AND THEN
SING LOUDLY, AND HE REALIZED

ALL OF THESE YEARS, HE HAD
SOMETHING TO EXPRESS, BUT HE

DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

AND IT WAS THIS!

AND SO HE SANG AND HE SANG
AND HE SANG, AND ALL THE OTHER

BIRDS LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID,
"THIS IS WONDERFUL."

AND SO HE FINALLY SAID,
"YOU KNOW WHAT.

"THANK YOU FOR THIS.

"I'M GOING TO DO YOU A
FAVOR AND I'M GONNA HUNT

SOMETHING FOR YOU."

AND THEY SAID, "OK."

AND SO HE SAID, "I'M GONNA
GRAB SOMETHING FOR YOU.

I'M GONNA GRAB YOU LIKE
A SNAKE OR SOMETHING."

AND THEY SAID, "WHY
WOULD YOU DO THAT?

WE DON'T DO THAT."

AND HE SAID,
"WHAT DO YOU EAT?"

THEY TOLD HIM,
"JUST BERRIES."

AND HE SAID, "BIRDS
WHO EAT BERRIES--UGGH!

THEY'RE THE LOSERS."

AND THEY SAID, "WHERE ARE
YOU GETTING THESE IDEAS FROM?

JUST TRY THE BERRIES."

AND SO HE TRIED THE BERRIES
AND HE SWALLOWED, AND THEY

WERE WONDERFUL.

THEY WERE DELICIOUS.

AND HE ATE THEM, AND IT WAS
SO EASY AND NATURAL.

AND SO HE BECAME IMMERSED IN
THIS VALLEY BIRD WORLD THAT HE

HAD NEVER BEEN TO AND NEVER
EXPERIENCED, AND HE FELT

SO AT HOME.

AND HE LOVED IT.

AND THEN, FINALLY, ONE DAY,
ALL THE ANIMALS IN THE VALLEY

SAID, "LOOK OUT!
LOOK OUT!

"THERE ARE EAGLES HERE!

HIDE! HIDE!"

AND SO,
THERE WERE A GROUP OF EAGLES

THAT CAME DOWN, AND THEY FOUND
THE BIRD WITH THE FLAT BEAK,

AND THEY SAID, "WHAT
ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR
YOU EVERYWHERE!"

HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN,
BUT THEY DIDN'T LISTEN.

AND THEY WERE ANGRY AND
THEY SAID, "COME HOME."

AND THEY BROUGHT HIM HOME
AND THEY PUNISHED HIM.

AND HE WAS SAD.

AND THEY STARTED TO FEED HIM,
AND HE THOUGHT, "MMM, THIS

DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT."

AND HE WAS LOCKED IN HIS ROOM,
AND HIS FAMILY THOUGHT,

"SOMETHING FUNNY IS GOING ON."

AND THEY OPENED HIS DOOR
AND HE WAS INSIDE SINGING

TO HIMSELF.

AND THEY SAID, "SINGING?

"YOU'RE AN EAGLE.

"THIS IS MY HOUSE.

YOU DON'T SING UNDER MY
ROOF. YOU ARE AN EAGLE."

AND THEY SHUT HIS
DOOR AND WALKED AWAY.

AND HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS DAYS
WITH THE OTHER BIRDS WITH FLAT

BEAKS IN THE VALLEY.

AND HE MISSED IT AND WISHED
HE WAS THERE, BUT OVER TIME,

HE STARTED TO FORGET AS HE
SOCIALIZED AND HUNG OUT

WITH EAGLES AND WAS TREATED
AS PART OF HIS EAGLE FAMILY.

AND HE MOVED FORWARD.

ONE DAY, HE FOUND OUT THAT
THERE WAS A SPECIAL DOCTOR

THAT COULD DO AN OPERATION TO
CHANGE HIM TO MAKE HIM NORMAL.

HIS FAMILY WAS SO EXCITED.

AND THEY TOLD HIM ABOUT IT.

AND HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW
THAT I REALLY WANT THIS."

AND HIS FAMILY PLEADED WITH
HIM AND SAID, "IT WILL MAKE

"YOU AN EAGLE.

"THERE'S A SURGERY THAT
WILL MAKE YOU AN EAGLE.

PLEASE DO IT."

SO FINALLY HE SAID, "OK."

HE WAS BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL,
AND HE WAS PUT ON THE GURNEY

AND BROUGHT INTO THE OPERATING
ROOM WHERE THERE WAS A SINGLE

HANGING LIGHT OVER HIS HEAD.

AND HE WAS GIVEN ANESTHESIA.

WHEN HE WOKE UP, HIS
BEAK WAS WRAPPED UP.

HIS FAMILY CAME TO HIM,
AND THE DOCTORS

UNWRAPPED HIS BEAK.

AND HIS FAMILY
SAID, "OH!

HOW WONDERFUL!"

AND THEY SHOWED HIM A MIRROR,
AND HE SAW THAT HIS BEAK WAS

HOOKED AT LAST.

AND THEY ALL CELEBRATED.

AND HIS FAMILY SAID,
"THIS IS SO WONDERFUL.

THAT'S IT. WERE GOING TO HOST
A PARTY AND INVITE EVERYONE."

AND SO THEY HELD A MASSIVE
PARTY, AND EVERYONE CAME.

AND THE ADULTS ALL SAID,
"OH, HOW WONDERFUL.

"YOUR BEAK LOOKS FABULOUS.

YOU ARE NOW AN EAGLE."

AND HE FELT GOOD.

AND THEN HE PLAYED WITH
THE OTHER CHILDREN

AND THE CHILDREN SAID,
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR BEAK?

YOU'RE NOT AN EAGLE."

AND SO HE WENT BACK TO THE
ADULTS AND SAID, "WHY ARE

"THE KIDS MAKING FUN OF ME

AND SAYING I'M NOT
REALLY AN EAGLE?"

AND THE ADULTS SAID, "OH,
THE KIDS DON'T KNOW.

THE KIDS DON'T KNOW."

AND THEY TRIED TO GIVE
HIM SOMETHING TO EAT.

AND HE SAID, "I DON'T FEEL
LIKE EATING SO MUCH."

AND SO HE WENT TO BED.

THE PARTY RAGED ON, AND HE
LAID IN BED, TOUCHING HIS BEAK

AND THINKING ABOUT HIS
FRIENDS IN THE VALLEY

AND THE RED BERRIES THAT
HE WANTED TO GO EAT

AND THE SINGING THAT HE
WISHED TO PARTICIPATE IN.

SO WHEN HE WOKE UP IN THE
MORNING, HE TOLD HIS FAMILY,

"I'M JUST GONNA GO
OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT."

AND THEY SAID,
"OK, BE BACK SOON."

SO HE TOOK OFF, AND HE
FLEW OFF TO THE VALLEY.

AND HE WENT TO VISIT HIS
FRIENDS WHO WERE ALL SINGING.

AND SO HE CAME TO THEM
AND SAID, "I'M HERE! I'M HERE!"

AND THEY ALL LOOKED AT HIM
AND SAID, "WHAT HAPPENED TO

YOUR BEAK?"

AND HE SAID, "OH, WELL. YOU
KNOW, IT'S AN ADULT THING.

"THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD--
UH, WELL, ACTUALLY, IT WAS

"AN ACCIDENT.

"I FLEW INTO SOME GLASS
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED."

DECIDED TO NOT REALLY
TELL THEM THE WHOLE STORY.

AND SO THEY SAID, "COME,
SING WITH US."

AND SO HE JOINED
IN THE CHORUS.

AND THE CONDUCTOR BIRD
WAS GOING ALONG AND SAID,

"SOMETHING DOESN'T
SOUND RIGHT."

AND SO HE TESTED EACH BIRD
TO FIND OUT WHO WAS

SINGING OFF-KEY.

AND FINALLY, HE IDENTIFIED
THAT IT WAS THE BIRD WITH

THE FLAT BEAK WHO NOW HAD
A HOOKED BEAK.

AND HE SAID, "IT'S YOU! YOU!
GET OUT OF MY CHOIR."

AND SO HE SAT WHILE
EVERYONE ELSE SANG,

AND HE FELT LONELY
AND SAD

AND WISHED HE COULD JOIN IN,
BUT HE COULDN'T.

HE COULDN'T SING ANYMORE.

AND THE REST OF THE BIRDS
SANG AND SANG AND SANG.

AND THEN, FINALLY, THEY SAID,
"OK, IT'S TIME TO EAT."

SO THEY ALL RAN LOOKING FOR
THEIR FAVORITE RED BERRIES.

AND SO THE BIRD WITH THE FLAT
BEAK WHO NOW HAD A HOOKED BEAK

RAN FOR THE BUSH AND TRIED
TO GET HIS FAVORITE BERRIES,

BUT EVERY TIME HE GRABBED
ONTO ONE, HIS NEW BEAK MADE

THEM FALL OUT.

HE COULDN'T EVEN EAT
THE BERRIES ANYMORE.

ALL OF HIS FRIENDS WERE
SINGING AND EATING BERRIES

AND HE WAS LEFT ALONE.

AND HE LOOKED OFF INTO THE
DISTANCE AND SAW EAGLES SOARING

AND LOOKED BACK TO HIS FRIENDS
IN THE VALLEY, AND HE WAS

THE ONLY ONE IN BETWEEN.

AND HE DECIDED TO TAKE
FLIGHT AND FLY OFF INTO

THE SUNSET ALONE.

I'M VERY SORRY THAT I HAD TO
TELL SUCH A SAD STORY TODAY.

AS SOMEONE HERE SAID,
"IT'S FINE. IT'S FINE."

I KNOW, RIGHT?

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?

ACCEPT CHILDREN.

IF THIS CHILD HAD BEEN
ACCEPTED, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN

A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
THINKING OVER THIS PAST WEEK.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
WORKS OF ART--POETRY

AND PAINTINGS AND PERFORMANCES
THAT ARE ALL ABOUT THESE

CONCERNS ABOUT
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS.

ARTISTS ARE VERY CONCERNED.

PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
ARE VERY CONCERNED.

WE ARE ALL TALKING
ABOUT THE SAME MESSAGE.

AND IT'S MADE ME THINK.

CAN ALL OF THOSE OF US WHO ARE
CONCERNED--CAN WE ALL COME

TOGETHER AND FIGHT
AGAINST THIS?

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

WELL, I HAVE ANOTHER STORY THAT
MIGHT HELP US DECIDE WHETHER

THE ANSWER TO THAT
IS YES OR NO.

SO THIS STORY TAKES PLACE
A VERY LONG TIME AGO.

THIS IS AN OLD STORY THAT'S
BEEN PASSED ON FOR MANY

GENERATIONS, AND I HAVE
BEEN GIVEN IT AS WELL.

SO THIS HAPPENED
DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

NOW, THIS IS A TRUE
STORY I WILL TELL YOU.

THERE WERE TWO
GROUPS FIGHTING,

THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH,

AND EACH SIDE WAS
FIGHTING A WAR.

AND A DEAF SOLDIER
JOINED THE NORTH

AND A DEAF SOLDIER JOINED
THE SOUTH.

THEY WERE FIGHTING
AGAINST EACH OTHER.

AND THIS WAS IN VIRGINIA,
WHERE THE STORY TAKES PLACE.

AND IT WAS A HARD-FOUGHT
BATTLE WHERE NEITHER SIDE WAS

MAKING ANY PROGRESS.

THEY'RE BOTH JUST FIGHTING
AGAINST EACH OTHER,

BACK-AND-FORTH.

AND SO THE NORTH HAD THIS IDEA
TO CALL A SPY, AND SO THEY

CALLED THE DEAF SOLDIER
THAT THEY HAD FROM THE NORTH

AND THEY SAID, "GO OVER TO
THE SOUTH AND COUNT HOW MANY

PEOPLE THEY HAVE
FIGHTING THERE."

AND HE SAID, "OK."
AND SO HE WENT.

AND THE SOUTH HAD
THE SAME IDEA.

AND THEY TOLD THE DEAF
SOLDIER, "GO TO THE NORTH

AND FIND OUT HOW MANY
THEY HAVE THERE."

SO HE WENT.

NOW, DEAF PEOPLE MOVE IN
A DIFFERENT WAY FROM

HEARING PEOPLE.

THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT STILL HAPPENS.

SO IMAGINE YOU HAVE A DEAF
SOLDIER WHO HAS LIMITED

ABILITY TO SEE--TO HEAR WHO'S
BEHIND THEM SO THEY NEED TO

USE THEIR PERIPHERAL VISION.

SO INSTEAD OF WALKING
A PARTICULAR WAY

AND LOOKING ALL OVER THE PLACE,

WHAT THEY DID INSTEAD WAS THEY
WOULD WALK BACKWARDS SO THAT

THEY COULD SEE EVERYTHING TO
THE FRONT AND SIDES OF THEM.

AND SO EACH SOLDIER WAS
WALKING BACKWARDS, SURVEYING

THE LAND AROUND THEM, MAKING
SURE THAT THEY WERE SAFE.

AND THEY BACKED UP AND THEY
BACKED UP UNTIL THEY BOTH WERE

BACK TO BACK WITH
THEIR WEAPONS.

AND THEY TURNED AROUND
TO EACH OTHER

AND THEY WERE FACE TO FACE,
BOTH HOLDING THEIR GUNS.

AND NEITHER WAS SURE
WHAT TO DO NEXT.

UNTIL ONE REALIZED THE
OTHER ONE MIGHT BE DEAF.

AND HE SAID, "ARE YOU DEAF?"

AND HE SAID, "YES,
I AM. ARE YOU?"

AND HE SAID, "YES."

AND SO THEY PUT DOWN THEIR
GUNS AND ONE SAID TO THE OTHER,

"WHERE ARE YOU FROM?"

AND THE OTHER SAID, "WELL,
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

OH, I KNOW PEOPLE
IN THAT AREA."

AND THEY TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE
THEY KNEW AND PLACES

THEY HAD BEEN AND ALL
THE THINGS THEY HAD IN COMMON.

AND THEY TALKED
AND TALKED AND TALKED

UNTIL IT WAS NEARING EVENING.

AND SO THE GENERAL IN
THE NORTH STARTED TO WONDER.

"WHERE IS HE? HE SHOULD
BE BACK BY NOW."

AND SO HE SENT OUT
SOME SOLDIERS ON HORSEBACK

TO LOOK FOR HIS SPY.

AND THEN THE SOLDIERS FOUND
THE SPY, AND HE WAS TALKING

WITH A SOLDIER
FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

AND SO THEY DECIDED,
"OH, THESE SPIES ARE

"TRADING SECRETS.

THEY'RE COMMITTING TREASON."

AND SO THEY POINTED THEIR
GUNS RIGHT IN THE DEAF

SOLDIERS' FACES
AND THEY SAID, "NO, NO, NO, NO,

WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING BAD."

AND THE SOLDIERS DIDN'T
BELIEVE THEM AND THEY TIED

THEM UP WITH ROPES AND THEY
PULLED THEM BEHIND THEIR HORSES

ALL THE WAY BACK TO
THE NORTHERN CAMP.

AND THEY TOLD THE
GENERAL WHAT HAPPENED.

AND THE GENERAL SAID,
"WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

"WHAT AM I GONNA DO?

"YOU BOTH WERE TALKING TO
EACH OTHER FROM OTHER SIDES?

WHAT SHOULD WE DO HERE?"

AND SOME PEOPLE SAID,
"LET'S HANG THEM, HANG THEM."

AND OTHER PEOPLE SAID,
"NO, LET'S TRY THEM

IN THE COURTS."

AND SO THERE WERE A LOT
OF DIFFERENT IDEAS

ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.

SO, THE GENERAL SAID, "THIS IS
TOO BIG OF A DECISION FOR ME.

I'M GOING TO WRITE A LETTER TO
THE PRESIDENT AND ASK HIM WHAT

HE WOULD LIKE ME TO DO."

AND SO HE WROTE A LETTER
TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN,

FOLDED IT UP, AND GAVE IT TO
THE MESSENGER WHO BROUGHT

IT BY HORSE.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN
RECEIVED THE LETTER.

AND WHEN HE SAW IT, HE THOUGHT
LONG AND HARD ABOUT IT.

AND THEN HE RESPONDED AND GAVE
IT BACK TO A MESSENGER WHO

BROUGHT IT BY HORSE TO
THE NORTHERN GENERAL.

THE NORTHERN GENERAL
OPENED THE LETTER, READ IT,

AND PUT IT IN HIS POCKET.

HE SAT DOWN WITH THE TWO
DEAF SOLDIERS IN FRONT OF HIM

AND EVERYBODY CROWDED AROUND.

EVERYONE WANTED TO KNOW.

WOULD THEY BE HUNG?
WOULD THEY BE TRIED IN COURT?

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

AND HE SAID, "WHAT I HAVE
LEARNED IS THAT YOU ARE

"BOTH DEAF.

"YOU HAVE SOMETHING
DEEP INSIDE YOU

"THAT IS AN UNBREAKABLE
BOND WITH ONE ANOTHER.

"WHEN EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS IN
TURMOIL AND WAR, AND BOTH SIDES

"ARE FIGHTING AGAINST EACH
OTHER AND THE UNITED STATES

"ITSELF IS BROKEN, YOU TWO HAVE
A BOND THAT CANNOT BE BROKEN.

"THAT IS THE GREATEST
BOND THERE IS.

AND SO YOU SHOULD
BE FREE TO GO."

THANK YOU.

SO I HAVE ANOTHER STORY.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE IN
THIS AUDIENCE ARE DEAF?

OK, OK.

HOW MANY ARE HEARING?

ALL RIGHT.

HOW MANY ARE DEAF--KEEP YOUR
HANDS UP--AND ONLY KEEP YOUR

HAND UP IF YOU'RE DEAF
AND YOU USE A HEARING AID.

OK, SO THAT'S ABOUT HALF OF
DEAF PEOPLE HERE THAT USE

A HEARING AID.

HOW MANY OF YOU DON'T
USE A HEARING AID?

OH!

YOU'RE DEAF AND YOU
DON'T USE A HEARING AID?

SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!

SHAME!

SHAME ON ALL OF YOU WHO
ARE DEAF AND DON'T USE

A HEARING AID!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

THEY ARE VERY
IMPORTANT TO DEAF PEOPLE!

THIS IS TRUE.
THIS IS TRUE.

BUT HOLD ON.
LET ME EXPLAIN WHY.

LET ME EXPLAIN.

THIS IS VERY SERIOUS.

OK? I WILL TELL YOU WHY
HEARING AIDS ARE A NECESSITY

FOR DEAF PEOPLE.

I HAVE A HEARING AID.

OK. LET ME EXPLAIN.

LET ME EXPLAIN WHY.

YOU WILL GET IT

ONCE I TELL YOU THE STORY.

NOW, THERE WAS ONE WOMAN
WHO--SHE GREW UP BEING

ABLE TO HEAR,
BUT AT SOME POINT STARTED

LOSING HER HEARING, BUT SHE

WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT IT.

SHE WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE FACT
THAT SHE COULD NO LONGER HEAR

AS WELL AS SHE COULD.

AND HER HEARING CONTINUED TO
DECLINE UNTIL THE POINT WHERE

SHE REALLY COULDN'T
HEAR MUCH AT ALL.

AND SO SHE WENT TO THE
AUDIOLOGIST, AND THEY DID

THEIR TESTING, YOU KNOW,
WHERE THEY MAKE SOUNDS

AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO RAISE
YOUR HANDS IF YOU HEAR A SOUND.

AND HE TURNED IT ALL THE WAY
UP BEFORE SHE RAISED HER HAND.

AND SO,
HE HAD TO TELL HER, "LOOK,

YOU ARE DEAF."

AND SHE WAS SO DISAPPOINTED.

BUT HE SAID, "BUT, I
HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU."

AND HE OPENED A DRAWER OF
BEAUTIFUL HEARING AIDS

IN EVERY COLOR--PURPLE, PINK,
YELLOW, CREAM--EVERYTHING.

A RAINBOW OF HEARING AIDS.

AND SHE SAID, "OH,
I'D LIKE THE PINK."

AND SO HE SHOWED HER THE PINK.

AND SHE SAID,
"HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST?"

AND HE SAID, "$500."

AND SHE SAID, "WHAT?"

SO HE WROTE DOWN "$500"
AND GAVE IT TO HER

AND SHE SAID, "OH!

"I DON'T HAVE $500.

THERE'S NO WAY."

AND SO THE AUDIOLOGIST CLOSED
THE DRAWER OF BEAUTIFUL

HEARING AIDS,
AND SHE WAS SO SAD.

BUT HE SAID,
"HOLD ON, HOLD ON."

AND HE OPENED A LOWER DRAWER
THAT WAS VERY HEAVY.

AND INSIDE IT HAD THESE
LARGE BOXES WITH STRAPS

AND WITH LONG WIRES THAT WERE
CONNECTED TO THINGS THAT YOU

WOULD PUT IN YOUR EAR.

AND THESE WERE HEARING AIDS
THAT HAD BATTERIES THAT LASTED

FOR WEEKS COMPARED TO WEARING
HEARING AIDS THAT MIGHT ONLY

LAST LESS THAN A DAY.

AND SHE THOUGHT, "OH, OK."

AND HE SAID, "THESE ARE $75."

AND SHE SAID, "THAT'S
SOMETHING I CAN DO."

SO SHE PUT ON THIS HUGE
HEARING AID, TRIED TO HIDE IT

BEHIND HER CLOTHES ON HER CHEST
AND THEN PUT--LACED THE WIRES UP

TO HER EARS AND PUT THEM IN.

WHEN SHE TURNED IT ON,
EVERYWHERE SHE WENT, SHE COULD

HEAR SOMETHING.

PEOPLE WERE TALKING,
SHE COULD HEAR SOMETHING.

WHEN PEOPLE WERE WALKING,
SHE COULD HEAR SOMETHING.

WHEN SHE MOVED AROUND,
SHE COULD HEAR SOMETHING.

DOORS OPENING, SITTING,
ANYTHING SHE DID, SHE COULD

HEAR SOMETHING IN HER EARS.

AND SHE THOUGHT,
"HOW WONDERFUL!

"I FINALLY CAN HEAR SOMETHING.

I FORGOT HOW MANY THINGS
MAKE NOISE" BECAUSE IT HAD

BEEN SO LONG.

SHE TRIED DOING SOMETHING,
YOU KNOW, TURNING ON A STEREO

AND IT JUST BLEW
HER EARS AWAY

AND SHE JUST WAS SHOCKED.

AND SHE JUST
TESTED EVERYTHING.

"OH, I CAN HEAR THIS.
I CAN HEAR THIS.

"I CAN HEAR TRAFFIC GOING BY.

"I CAN HEAR CARS.

"I CAN HEAR NOISES OUTSIDE.

I CAN HEAR EVERYTHING."

AND SHE JUST THOUGHT,
"HOW WONDERFUL."

SHE WALKED DOWN THE STREET AND
LISTENED TO HER OWN FOOTSTEPS.

SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND HEARD
THAT THE DOOR WAS REALLY CREAKY

AND NEEDED SOME OIL.

AND SHE TOOK A SEAT IN A
ROCKING CHAIR AND REALIZED THAT

THE ROCKING MADE
A LOT OF NOISE.

AND SHE GOT UP AND THERE WERE
A LOT OF NOISES JUST FROM HER

MOVING AROUND.

EVERYWHERE SHE WENT,
THERE WAS NOISE.

AND SHE JUST LOOKED AT
EVERYTHING LIKE IT WAS NEW.

SO SUDDENLY, SHE HEARD A NOISE
AT THE DOOR OF HER HOUSE.

AND SO SHE LOOKED, AND A MAN
CAME IN WITH A GUN,

A BAD GUY, AND HE SAID,
"I'M GONNA GET YOU."

AND SHE HEARD HIM, AND HE HIT
HER IN THE FACE WITH THE GUN.

AND SHE FELL ON THE GROUND
AND HER HEARING AIDS FELL OUT

OF HER EARS.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR
HEARING AIDS FALL OUT OF YOUR

EARS IS THEY SOUND
LIKE "EEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS
A BURGLAR ALARM AND HE LEFT.

AND THAT IS WHY DEAF
PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE

HEARING AIDS.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE
TO WEAR THEM.

JUST PUT THEM IN YOUR POCKET
AND THEN IF SOMEBODY

ATTACKS YOU, JUST THROW THEM
AND THEY'LL MAKE A SOUND.

THEY'RE NOT ANY GOOD
FOR HEARING, BUT THEY'RE

PERFECT FOR THIS.

THANK YOU.