Is Losing a Sense the Same as Recovering it?

My first reaction is of course some sort of anguish at the possibility of losing one of my senses, I mean; I like and enjoy them all so much. But this issue presents so many different possibilities and lines of argument that we probably never will reach an agreement.

Many in the deaf community are very adamant about manifesting themselves against an ear device to help them listen. A few of them even go as far as to judge rather harshly those who decide to get the implant, claiming that being deaf outlines to a large extent their identity.

I disagree.

I know I don’t have as much license to voice out my opinion in this matter for the simple fact that I am not deaf, but I’m also not many other things and I still consider myself me, even if something about this me were to change. If there is a constant in this life, that constant is change. I am not the same person I was yesterday, for many things have changed. I know that by the time I finish this entry, I will be a different person than I was when I started writing it.

But the truth is that everyone is going to have an own interpretation of who they are based on their experiences and ideas. I wouldn’t want to limit the perception of my identity to one single aspect of my life, personality or even body. I think that what makes us unique is precisely the very fact that we are unique and ever changing.

However, I respect those who think differently than me. It’s their choice.