If being President of the United States of America, a Harvard graduate, a lawyer, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and surprisingly good at basketball wasn’t enough, turns out Obama is pretty good with his hands, too.
Earlier this week an American college student got the surprise of his life when, after signing “I am proud of you” to the president, Obama signed “thank you” by way of reply, sending the deaf crowd wild.
Ok, so it was only one sign, but Obama gets extra points for responding without so much as missing a beat, and in doing so, securing the deaf demographic for his re-election campaign.
(For more on the story, read this excellent Huffington Post article)
By Charlie Swinbourne, Editor.
With thanks to William Mager and @MarcyTanter.
uk deaf news, british deaf news, deaf website uk, deaf website
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Marion Stade
March 23, 2012
Hopefully the American deaf community will be more savy than to let one gesture in their language from Mr Obama sway their vital decision making responsibilities in choosing our next President. ASL is a language seen and taught quite a bit in the states. At our local deaf chat, sometimes, fully half of those attending are hearing that have learned the language so they can get to know people that have a different culture. Yes, some of the hearing people have learned the language in order to be interpreters, but those adults bring their kids who are also signing. My son is glad that his deaf friends welcome him into their conversations, sharing with him their culture and language with such kindness. My apologies if I have offended.
Editor
March 23, 2012
Great comment, thank you
Tim
March 24, 2012
All the different news and information we are getting seems to strengthen the case for BSL being taught in school as a GCSE option.
Marion Stade
March 26, 2012
I know I don’t really understand the GCSE option, being just a tourist to England, but in America many colleges/universities accept ASL as the “language” requirement for acceptance at their places of education. In my opinion it is truly a language quite different from spoken English and not just because you use your hands to speak. ASL seems most like the latin based languages to me.
Peggy Porter
March 25, 2012
I am a strong advocate for President Obama, and I am a Canadian. But this small video just shows that Mr. Obama is a President for all the people. I wish that I could vote for him. I emailed my daughter the news when I read it as my 4 year old grandson is learning sign language in his junior kindergarten class. I knew it would be of interest to them. Please America vote President back in…he needs the next four years to show you that he can make changes for the better.
Peggy in Toronto, Canada