A Super Bowl XLI Acknowledgement

My partner of nine years, Jason, who is also a child of deaf adults (coda), has lived and worked in Southern Florida for nearly 20 years as a Nationally Certified Interpreter for the Deaf. A couple weeks ago, he was called by the entertainment company in charge of coordinating such things at this year's Super Bowl in Miami. They said, "We need a sign language interpreter for the National Anthem!" ...I said to him, "What an opportunity for you!"

It was set. He tried to arrange it so that I could accompany him and be his "gopher" and video him while he worked because you know for dang sure that the CBS cameras would not be that savvy and would only glance over the sign language interpreter, if at all. This being the case, one has to wonder why even have a sign language interpreter there if the people it is meant to benefit don't even have access to him...a point that has gone through the insensitive eternal rounds of corporate and government bureaucracy, to be sure, inspite of ADA laws and the implications of their existence...but in the credentialing process, I was denied access...I'm not a felon...I do hate our Idiot-in-chief...I doubt it was because of Orion (who reads it?), or because we had filed suit at one time against the shrub's brother (not so much an anti-intelligent stem of that family tree) for the right to marry, or what not...it was probably due to someone's laziness, their demand for control issues, and/or their inability to think beyond the box and act as if we had raised the bar in practice and action...whatever. I don't watch football anyway...but I do watch my Jason.

He began with his text analysis and we informed friends and family and just about anyone (the guys down at yoga class) about the forthcoming event. The Friday before the big day was rehearsal...Jason took a day off from work and went...spent an appreciable amount of time there.

Jason on the Jumbotron!

He met Billy Joel who apparently had wondered, "Where's Marlee?"...referring to Marlee Matlin, Oscar winner from Children of a Lesser God...turns out, while Jason would be interpreting from the 40 yard line on one side of the platform upon which Mr. Joel was to perform, Ms. Matlin would be on the other...or somewhere in that area.

News releases went out...Marlee Matlin to sign the National Anthem at the Super Bowl XLI...Miami has been beside itself, despite the third world comment of it given by Trancedo, who is an actual U.S. House Representative who would prefer to go back to the dark ages by relinguishing the benefits of multiculturalism in our society, if you can believe it...in all of this: not a mention of Jason. Well, he didn't win an Oscar...surely, we can all understand that. No big deal....right? We should still be able to see him. He should get some recognition?...no? I mean,

it's the goddamn Super Bowl!

Jason, Billy and Marlee

Finally, the big event. Our friend Carolyn came over and she and I sat down in front of the tube. Eagerly, we waited for the National Anthem. Fascinating was the Cirque du Soleil with Britto art objects and then!!!!...Billy Joel sang...and Marlee was in there for "bursting in air" but ...Jason was nowhere to be found.

Thank the gods for video and you tubes...for those who missed him here's the following...

...ain't he good?