Chris Kaftan
Empty Messages
During a discussion I had with several co-workers today while we attended a statewide curriculum meeting, the facilitator came to our table to look at what we wrote on the poster and gave us a thumbs-up sign. I then told my co-workers that I had been scarred when I was in middle school by the [...]
How far is far enough?
The building of Park51, the controversial mosque and community center two blocks from Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, has raised furor over the last couple of months from two groups – these who don’t want to see a mosque built so close to the site of America’s worst terrorist attack, and those who believe that [...]
To Cooperstown or Bust
When Manny Ramirez got caught using a banned substance, baseball purists said he should never get admission into the shrine of baseball. I was one of these baseball purists. Not anymore. Not only Manny, but also Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and all the other players who either have admitted [...]
Is Big Brother Good for America?
In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt launched the world’s biggest federal relief program, creating millions of jobs and funding these by the millions of dollars. His program, known as the New Deal, was instrumental in helping the United States recover from the Great Depression. I have taught to my high school American history students that while [...]
Does Hollywood Prefer Deaf Actors Who Can Speak?
Based on recent movie and television shows, there is an inclination that Hollywood prefers deaf actors and actresses who speak. Regardless of talent or experience, there is an obvious preference for actors who can vocalize. Ever since the deaf acting profession lost equal ground in 1929 with the first talkie The Jazz Singer, there has [...]
Fernandes Selected As Provost at UNC-Asheville
In an announcement today, the University of North Carolina-Asheville has named Dr. Jane K. Fernandes as the new Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective upon approval of the University’s Board of Trustees. Fernandes, who most recently served as the president-designate of Gallaudet University and the Provost for six years, beat out more than 160 applicants [...]
To Root, Or Not To Root
A couple of weeks ago, it was in the news that China celebrated the one year countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympics. I looked at my wife and told her: “I can’t wait!” Then I caught myself. Do I really want to root for the USA team as they compete in a country where reports [...]
Across America on Two Wheels
Meet Heather and Dana Arazi. They just biked across America. And I met them last Saturday at our monthly dVELO ride. I remembered Heather from our undergraduate days at Gallaudet. We both majored in education. After I graduated, we lost touch. I didn’t know where they both had gone. Until Saturday. Heather and Dana (who’s [...]
The Elephant in the Corner
The Gallaudet protests of 2006 had a profound impact on deaf education in general. While many people knew about the presence of the huge elephant in the corner, we chose not to discuss it or acknowledge it for the long term. The elephant I am talking about is a three-headed Cerberus: academic standards, academic culture, [...]
Deaf As Religion?
In the course of a lively discussion on my daily commute home on the MARC train, one of my fellow commuters mentioned how she was “disgusted” at an acquaintance’s blunt and public question about whether she practices her religion regularly. Her response was: “Deaf is my religion.” Of course, my eyes widened a bit at that remark. [...]