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So, Dictatorship, you must have a LOT of experience with Deaf people to be so sure of so much in regards to them....right? Oh, you really haven't ever interacted with one/many? Huh, how odd!

You know, as someone else mentioned, a shockingly low percentage of the English language is able to be read on the lips, this is just a fact. SO, even with 24 years or so of 'training' in that area, and even if Luke was ridiculously talented at it, he would not be able to communicate solely with that ability. As for his relying on his mother to interact with the world, I expect that he was mainly referring to while they were in this race. I am sure that he uses interpreters and a myriad of other ways to communicate when out in the hearing world. He referred to writing in one of the clips, which of course won't help much in other countries where people may not read or write English.

Also, as far as saying he is doing this to prove Deaf people can, well the fact is, some idiots out there still think that Deaf people can't (or shouldn't) have kids, get a driver's license or go to college, just to name a few things. So, while it would seem that everyone knows these things, they don't, in fact. Many people still think that Deafness somehow equates to some kind of mental disability as well. Obviously it doesn't, but hey, evidenced in this thread is proof that ignorance still reigns supreme in some areas.

And I find it interesting that so many of you who express hate for him and his Deafness, do so mentioning the air time he takes, well, that isn't really up to him, now is it? So hate the producers, don't hate him. I am sure all of the contestants would want as much air time as they can get.

I have never before watch The Amazing Race or Survivor or any of that BS, but I might just now, to see what the geniuses on this thread have to say about every little move this kid makes.

By the way, his mom isn't a great interpreter, she has been editing some of what he has said, probably cause she just can't keep up. But she is doing her best, I am sure. And what is with the comments about clicks and grunts? If you actually paid attention, you would realize that he is actually saying some words, quietly yes, but he is. I expect he got some training in trying to speak, but if he was born Deaf or Deafened early in life, it is very difficult to have a clear, concise voice. Imagine how your friends wince when you run on and on while your Ipod is blasting in your ears. Now, try for a second to imagine how it would feel if every time you opened your mouth to communicate your basic needs, people made faces or walked away or asked someone else to repeat what you just said. I expect you wouldn't want to talk very much either. I see people do it every day to Deaf people who actually have quite good voices. So what about the people who don't.

You really shouldn't talk about things you have NO clue about. And what is with the comments about 'pushing a Radical Deaf agenda'? I haven't seen anything on the one episode, or said here, that is in any way radical. But I bet you think I am doing just that, now don't you? :)