President Obama uses sign language during impromptu greeting with student (video)

[rug]

By Eric Pfeiffer | The Sideshow – 9 hrs ago

President Obama was shaking hands with supporters after an energy policy event on March 15 with Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley when he had an impromptu sign language exchange with a deaf man that was caught on video.

The website Distriction was first to report on the candid exchange, which was captured on video by a 26-year-old Prince George's Community College student named Stephon, who is deaf. As Obama made his way down the line of supporters, Stephon used American Sign Language to tell the president, "I am proud of you." In the video, you can see Obama momentarily pause at the unexpected greeting. But he quickly responds by signing, "Thank you." A second deaf student then signs, "I love you." Obama smiles back at the student and shakes her hand before continuing down the line.

"When I shook his hand it did not feel like he was superior to me," Stephon said. "He was just a humble man," Stephon told Distriction. As H. Hoover writes on the site, the rare exchange was a humanizing moment for the office of the president and would have been so regardless if the signing commander-in-chief had been a Republican or a Democrat.

In a follow-up video, Stephon recounted his experience. He even wrote up a transcript for those of us not versed in American Sign Language. I've included some excerpts from his remarks after the jump.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/president-obama-uses-sign-language-during-impromptu-greeting-152901719.html

Between the fly, Al Green, and this, the election is over.

[zbdent]

1. and all the Republicans made a huge thing about when George W. Bush spoke to the Mexican President

and said, in fluent Spanish, "I am corn seven. Thank you fish."

[vaberella]

3. ROFL...

You made me peepee on my self. Did he really say that?

[zbdent]

6. um ... no.

but I'm not alleging that I should be a reference.

[joshcryer]

2. Damn community organizers learning skills they'll never need (see: Michelle knows it too).

I know quite a bit of ASL, you can never understand how much deaf people appreciate it when you can communicate with them until you're doing it. It's amazing. Ran into this lady I met at the bus stop once while I was going on a walk, we'd conversed in ASL once before, and when I ran into her in 7-11 I tapped her on the shoulder and signed "Hello! Good to see you!" She was totally ecstatic. I try to think about what deaf people have to live with and I feel for them so much. I'm sure it's a different and unique experience, but I think our culture is not sufficiently adapted to treat those people as equals.

[vaberella]

4. You're statement has just motivated me to learn sign language.

I was always interested but now I am dedicated. Thanks for recounting your story.

[joshcryer]

5. Since it relies on muscle memory it's a lot easier to pick up than spoken language, imo.

And fun.

You should really know how to finger sign, at the minimum, it will come easy and you can go from there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Manual_Alphabet

Trust me, learn all of these movements, and "do your ABCs" and I guarantee you that you will master it within maybe 50 tries. And you'll never forget.

[fightforfreedom123]

7. As a Deaf person

I learned signing later in life. I have ADD so signing helps me every day.

Also, signing keeps away arthritis.

[rug]

8. Welcome to DU!

It's a big place but take the time to look at the different groups. Don't forget to check in and say hi here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1148

[fightforfreedom123]

9. Aww thank you. :grin:

I was a former resident and I've been lurking around. Interesting changes. More posting awaits. :thumbs up: