He who hesitates is lost...

But look before you leap.

It always made me laugh to thin of these two axioms together. After all, if you hesitate you are lost - which implies I should hurry and move. Yet "look before you leap" warns me to slow down and take my time.

So I guess these are as close as we Americans get to the greek philosophy of SOPHROSYNE: moderation and temperence.

I think it is a marvelous trait for interpreters to develop: the balance between acting in haste and doing nothing. After all, we have the unusual position of seeing two sides in a situation. Perhaps by finding the fine line, we can properly ally ourselves and make a potentially difficult situation diffuse and work out to eh benefit of all involved.

For example, a speaker is set to present on a stage with a large podium, two large plants on either side and no space for an interpreter except perhaps down below the stage line in the audience.

While this is obviously not an ideal situation for the interpreter or the deaf audience members, I can assure you it is not ideal for anyone sittingin the first few rows of seating. Accosting teh speaker with language implying they are disrespecting teh Deaf is not going to do anything but cause hardship and heart ache. If the interpreter, however, can appeal to the presenter's wish that all participants gain the value of the presentation, perhaps that same presenter will realize resetting the stage to allow visual access to the powerpoint for all in the front rows would be advantageous to his or her goals.

It won't always work. Sometimes people have had such bad experiences with those that demand consideration they will not listen. But if we return to respect, treat the presenter and sponsoring representatives with the respect their positions require, perhaps we can at least set the stage for the next interpreter and deaf person to experience a more equitable situation.

Just a thought.