Sensing things quieting down on a Sunday, I took the opportunity to relax and get into the history books about Panama, after seeing so much the past few days, I wanted to reflect a little bit on Panama. During my visit, I realized that compared to the Noriega regime, things have changed. I was really interested in Panama’s history because it is a very unique land, the gate to both seas of the Americas, the Panama Canal.

Ships come from around the world and dock in the canal ports for stopovers, with the shipping crews granted shore leave to go sightseeing and nightclubbing. The Panama Canal activity brings a huge boost into Panama’s economy.

I was able to meet both Deaf Panamanians and Deaf tribal Indians, we were escorted by the Panamanian National Police, even saw American soldiers in presence. In this trip the Panamanian soldiers have been very kind to us, offering courtesy to all of our team in escorting us as we looked for Deaf tribal people to meet. As it wouldn’t have been in the Noreiga regime, the current Panamanian military has been very good to us, and I am grateful for being made welcome in this country.

Gathering my thoughts on the Noreiga regime, it was obvious that the political climate here is more stable now.

As for the reasons for the United States invasion of Panama, dubbed “Operation Just Cause,” on December 20, 1989, involving 57,684 U.S. troops and over 300 aircraft, there were concerns over a statement of Noriega in declaring that a state of war existed between the United States and Panama. The lives of the approximately 35,000 US citizens living there at the time were threatened by the Noreiga regime. There had been many conflicts between U.S. and Panamanian forces; one US Marine was killed a few days before before the US invasion of Panama took place. Several other incidents of harassment of US citizens were reported, thus the final straw brought on the invasion to re-stabilize the Panama canal.

The US congress members and other American politicians determined that Noriega was a threat to the neutrality of the Panama Canal and asserted that United States had the right under the treaties to intervene militarily to protect the Panama canal. The economies would suffer greatly if ships changed routes because of the fact the canal became a hotbed of military aggressiveness and drug trafficking, and the invasion neutralized things.

Panama is a Republic state based on parliamentary democracy. Cultural ties between United States and Panama are now strong, and many Panamanians come to the United States for college education and advanced training. In 2007, the U.S. and Panama partnered together in launching a regional health worker training center. The center provides training to community healthcare workers in Panama and throughout Central America. About 25,000 American citizens live in Panama, many of them retirees from the Panama Canal Commission and individuals who hold dual nationality. There is also a rapidly growing wave of American retirees settling down in the Chiriqui Province in western Panama, where I visited recently.

Visiting foreign countries, it makes my heart pleased when their authorities are thrilled with the idea of DeafNation visiting their home countries doing coverage on Deaf people in their homelands, as they know that America is the land of immigrants; now we are back into their land to see where they originated from.

Everytime I return from an overseas trip, I come back with better understanding of what America is all about, who we are as a people and where our roots originated from. Seeing Deaf people in every country helps me to see the big picture in the world of Deaf people internationally, not just from the Washington D.C. starting point at Gallaudet University. I had to see it with my own eyes, and I wanted Deaf people in far-away, remote places to see us with their own eyes, too. Going to places to show the world that there are no barriers for Deaf people.

We will support entrepreneurship (small businesses and large businesses) within the international Deaf communities, and even influence the Deaf community to grow more self-sufficient. There are countries who might lack adequate government assistance for disabled individuals, but visiting them in advocating equal rights for Deaf people will change the opinion and push for services. We buy goods that Deaf people sell, bringing an infusion of business to them so they can pursue dreams.

Deaf and hearing people in foreign countries can see what Deaf people can do, not only in the United States but around the world.

That is what DeafNation exemplifies in spirit, with goodwill towards Deaf people around the world. Highlighting people representing their countries gives our DeafNation viewers an insider’s look at Deaf people in other countries including the third world countries. Some Deaf people in remote places have never been exposed to a successful Deaf businessman, much less another Deaf person, which makes our endeavors more rewarding. It would be great to see the world tap into the handheld and videophone industry, seeing their own countries having their own interpreters in their native sign language.

DeafNation is willing to go into any land and say “Look, Deaf people can have more accessibility, no matter where you are.”

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