What’s so funny about deaf people?

In one of my earlier DVDs "Tolerate This" I speak of desiring a country where we can laugh at deaf people again. But what do I mean by that?

I have been around a number of deaf people in my life, and one of the things I noticed was a sense of confidence they all seemed to posses. Confidence that could almost be perceived as cocky.

What I came to realize was that so many of us "un-handicapped" often suffer from a sense of pity for the handicapped, based on our apparent superiority to them. "Them" being the operative word because, if truth be told, it's almost as if we subconsciously perceive them as less human.

In our desire to make them feel comfortable around us (or is it the other way around?) we end up patronizing them, treating them almost like infants who couldn’t possibly survive without us. Deaf culture I have noticed, and had it confirmed by an interpreter I know, is exactly the opposite. Not only do deaf people not need the hearing world, often times they don't want us.

As a comic, I have always tried to find a place to laugh at everyone. Whether it's the political left, who I disagree with, or the naturalist/materialist/atheist. And I always find a place to find funny and flaws with the conservatives and/or Christians in our midst. These are "my" people and though I resonate with their POV, they aren't perfect by a long shot.

I know this for a fact, if for no other reason than I'm in their group. I'm not deaf, but as a comic, I'm potentially always on the brink of offending someone. That offense usually takes the form of someone disagreeing with me, but by using the word "offended" they are actually trying a sophisticated form of censorship.

In my routine, I laughed at the observation that deaf people wouldn't be offended by me because they couldn't hear me. Then I go on to insist that I believe handicapped people are honored by being included in a comedy routine and to be poked fun of like everyone else. If we don't, our humor-exclusive "sensitivity" equates to the “separate but equal” parody of inclusiveness since apparently in liberal "new-thought" only the fully-abled are mature enough to take a joke.

My having the privilege to laugh with the deaf allows equal access to a group of Americans already ignored and makes for a less politically correct country, which is my mission. People who only allow those of similar ilk to joke with each other are, in my opinion, censors inhibiting not only 1st-amendment rights but of actual progress in the ultimate American value, treating everyone the same.

I always stress context over content. If I made fun of people simply to exploit for a laugh I would be wrong. If I did it fully aware of the potential response of some viewers and then explained my purpose, it's then up to the perception of the offended to hopefully be clarified and enriched. For those who choose to see meanness even when the true point is explained, I'm afraid THAT is truly a handicap.