Was Alexander Graham Bell, the Greatest Canadian... or the Worst?
Are these people really sure that Alexander Graham Bell is worthy of being given title of being one of the greatest Canadians in the history of Canada? CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) took a survey from the Canadians and took in the nominations; Alexander Graham Bell was 9th in the top 10 lists. It’s not surprising that we continue to neglect the history of Canada in the public classrooms.
Heck, even a giant corporation that started out as a telephone service is named after the inventor in Canada, and there are also several in the USA. This man is being given a lot of recognition for an invention that changed the world, never mind what he did with the rest of his life that would shock many.
It’s just mind-boggling how little the average Canadian and American knows about the famous telephone inventor. From what I remember in elementary school, all children learned was that he invented the telephone, and some may even barely mention that he worked with deaf pupils. He founded a school for the deaf and worked with them. I found out the awful truth about this harmless looking elder man who invented the telephone when I was in high school. I just couldn’t bring myself to think of what this man could have done if he was given the power to do everything he wished to.
As many may not be aware, the invention of telephone was an accident. It was actually an invention to help the deaf hear. It was an experiment that failed miserably in testing with the deaf. Though it turned out by accident that it can be used as a two-way communication. Today, everybody has a telephone and it all started with Alexander Graham Bell. It’s an invention that he should be recognized for. For the many only awake of his achievements, there is a dark side to this famous historical figure. One that may send chills down your spine.
This particular gentle-looking old man was not a gentleman. Nowhere close to being a friendly and warm person. He may have given many people that impression, but what he did to the deaf was inexcusable and cruel. He did experiments on them and quite a lot weren’t harmless. I can understand his desire of helping the deaf hear, but it’s believed that he was trying to become the man who cured deafness even if it meant harming of them quite a lot. You will not find this kind of information anywhere in the history textbooks because it’s not common knowledge. People who were involved with him were able to pass down the horror stories from generation to generation. Granted, there may be some exaggerations, but many historical stories are including the bible.
Alexander Graham Bell was one of the few responsible for paving the road to involuntary sterilization of the deaf and the others in the United States of America. Yes, you read it right. Involuntary sterilization was once legal and used on many including African-Americans right up until the 1970s in some states. If this isn’t enough to make people retract their nomination for A.G. Bell being one of the greatest Canadians ever, then I don’t know what will.
Alexander Graham Bell was not one of the greatest Canadians; he was one of the worst ever to live in the country of Canada. Canada is a country of diversity and focused on human rights. In fact, we are one of the very few countries in the world to grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. We welcome people of all colours; we don’t judge people by their religion. We treat them all the same, period. That’s the purpose of socialism and democracy. Alexander Graham Bell didn’t believe in human rights, he advocated sterilizing young deaf women against their will. I have no respect for the inventor of telephone, as he didn’t respect people for who they were. People shouldn’t be punished for their shortcomings.
The most ironic part about the character of Alexander Graham Bell is that he married a former deaf pupil and started a family with her while he strongly advocated eugenics. Hypocrisy can really turn heads around sometimes.
Alexander Graham Bell deserves no respect; all he deserves is the credit of inventing the telephone. Actually, it has been debated that he didn’t even invent the telephone. That’s another story, but it’s not a story that I’m interested in. What I’m interested in is why Canadians and Americans aren’t being told the truth.
It’s quite a pity that we’re still holding this man in great admiration.
3/21/2007 9:22 AM
http://aslisrisen.blogspot.com/2007/03/ag-bells-denial-of-world.html
SKE
3/22/2007 2:06 PM
I definitely agree with you about Alexander Graham Bell and his abnormal and illegal missions.
As a Canadian, I am very ashamed of his behaviours and attitudes toward Deaf Community for so many years.
He was responsible for creating so many bad things for Deaf people.
He did not invent telephone and he actually stole telephonhe patent from Italian immigrant.
I hope one day, someone will produce a film of his dark side that will shock not only Canadians but also Americans.
David
9/25/2007 10:43 PM
hello, your blogs are good, but you have wrong resources.
AGB actually is a husband to his deaf wife and mother in law who is deaf. he invented the telephone by accident because he was trying to find a way for communication for his wife and mother in law.
However, he might try to be sincere and thoughtful, he was certain evil by forbidding his wife and mother in law to sign so they invented their own homesigns to avoid him
Then AGB is a rival to Thomas Gallaudet. AGB supports deaf to be oral and against sign language at the same time Gallaudet is setting up a deaf school for signers.
I learnt all about this at deaf studies in Gallaudet one semester.
Can't be wrong on this.
You will hear about this from me again in a blog video as I post it up and you can reply to me then ;)
T'care and have fun!
EM
11/25/2007 10:47 PM
I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, not a collection of exaggerations, as you implied.
I do, however, agree with your position on AGB. His position on eugenics makes him no better than the monster responsible for the deaths of 4 million Jews. Raise this man to hero status? I think not!
4/24/2008 9:43 AM
The phone was actually invented by an Italian inventor. Antonio Meucci. He was the first to create a prototype of a working telephone. US Congress recognized this as the truth in 2002. But Many people and textbooks still say AGBell invented it. Wrong!