{Note: Everything I’m about to say is said with love. It’s completely understandable that this is a sensitive and personal topic for you, and I don’t wish to discount your experience.}
A person saying that they want autism eradicated does not mean they want autistic people eradicated. Just like when we say we want blindness eradicated, it does NOT mean we want blind people to jump off a bridge.
It is possible to say that blind people are absolutely equal in intrinsic value (and in many other values) to sighted people, and that blind people have contributed wonderful things to the world, even sometimes because of their blindness. AND . . . that Jesus gave sight to the blind, even though He, in His providence, created them that way.
If it turned out that many symptoms (I apologize if that’s not the right word) of autism could be eliminated or prevented by returning to things as God created them — eating food as He made it instead of processing and extruding and frankenstizing it (yes, I just made up that word) — wouldn’t that be preferable?
Do you enjoy being sensitive to light and sound?
Is it reasonable to believe that leaving God’s design in the dust won’t have negative affects on everything, including the physical brains in which our minds are housed?
If it turned out that he’s right, and returning to a lifestyle more in line with God’s design led to fewer children having these struggles, and that perhaps those who currently have them could minimize them, wouldn’t that be a good thing?
I’m not talking about how in Europe they’re claiming they’re curing Down syndrome by just killing the babies who have it before they’re born, which is utterly monstrous and horrifying. I don’t have words strong enough for that level of evil.
I’m talking about pushing back against these mega-corporations and the garbage they expect us to ingest, and seeing if maybe it makes everyone happier and better able to live a full life.
I believe that autistic people have so much to offer the world, not in spite of their autism but because of it. We understand the world differently, and this can be an advantage! Eradicating autism is not possible unless all autistic people are killed, but even if it was, I truly believe this would make the world a worse place. Obviously, I am strongly in favour of people living a healthy lifestyle by getting daily exercise, eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, and avoiding things like trans fats, artificial colours, and sugar as much as possible, but autism is not caused by unhealthy food. My mom is literally a dietician, so I was raised to have a healthy diet!
As far as being sensitive to light, sound, and other sensory stuff, it can be really difficult and unpleasant but this does not mean I want to get rid of them. You may be interested in looking into the "social model of disability" which instead of saying something is wrong with the disabled person, something is wrong with society for not accomodating disabled people. While being in a room full of noisy people and flashing lights is horrible for me, sensory processing differences can be positive in certain situations; for example, I absolutely love being outside in the dark and quiet as this provides a sort of sensory euphoria for me. Same with textures, there are some that completely revolt me while other things are very soothing to touch. Even if there was some kind of autism cure, I would never consent to taking it regardless of any sort of financial incentives being offered.
I believe that God created me to be autistic for a reason and that "curing autism" is contrary to his design for my life. I truly cannot imagine what it would be like to not be autistic and I do not see being autistic as something that makes me broken or less-than. Being autistic is a big part of my identity, and if I weren't this way, I wouldn't really be me.
So, no, I don't think autism is a problem. Instead of trying to minimize any struggles children may experience, we should prepare them to deal with stuggles and challenges, as these things build character.
Anyway, I appreciate your opposition to murding babies with Down syndrome, as I also agree this is one of the biggest evils currently happening in the world. Similarly, I am no fan of mega-corporations and I do have major concerns about lots of the stuff people are eating these days, but autism is not a bad thing. Mozart may very well have been autistic, and he was one of the most genius musicians ever to exist, in part because of his unique way of seeing the world. So I think autism is a benefit to the world, and just because someone is disabled, that does not necessarily mean they should be cured.
True. I didn't address the vaccine subject here because that wasn't mentioned in the press conference, but I think the whole vaccines = autism thing myth is very problematic, and it's concerning that so many people still believe it despite the numerous studies disproving it.
{Note: Everything I’m about to say is said with love. It’s completely understandable that this is a sensitive and personal topic for you, and I don’t wish to discount your experience.}
A person saying that they want autism eradicated does not mean they want autistic people eradicated. Just like when we say we want blindness eradicated, it does NOT mean we want blind people to jump off a bridge.
It is possible to say that blind people are absolutely equal in intrinsic value (and in many other values) to sighted people, and that blind people have contributed wonderful things to the world, even sometimes because of their blindness. AND . . . that Jesus gave sight to the blind, even though He, in His providence, created them that way.
If it turned out that many symptoms (I apologize if that’s not the right word) of autism could be eliminated or prevented by returning to things as God created them — eating food as He made it instead of processing and extruding and frankenstizing it (yes, I just made up that word) — wouldn’t that be preferable?
Do you enjoy being sensitive to light and sound?
Is it reasonable to believe that leaving God’s design in the dust won’t have negative affects on everything, including the physical brains in which our minds are housed?
If it turned out that he’s right, and returning to a lifestyle more in line with God’s design led to fewer children having these struggles, and that perhaps those who currently have them could minimize them, wouldn’t that be a good thing?
I’m not talking about how in Europe they’re claiming they’re curing Down syndrome by just killing the babies who have it before they’re born, which is utterly monstrous and horrifying. I don’t have words strong enough for that level of evil.
I’m talking about pushing back against these mega-corporations and the garbage they expect us to ingest, and seeing if maybe it makes everyone happier and better able to live a full life.
I believe that autistic people have so much to offer the world, not in spite of their autism but because of it. We understand the world differently, and this can be an advantage! Eradicating autism is not possible unless all autistic people are killed, but even if it was, I truly believe this would make the world a worse place. Obviously, I am strongly in favour of people living a healthy lifestyle by getting daily exercise, eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, and avoiding things like trans fats, artificial colours, and sugar as much as possible, but autism is not caused by unhealthy food. My mom is literally a dietician, so I was raised to have a healthy diet!
As far as being sensitive to light, sound, and other sensory stuff, it can be really difficult and unpleasant but this does not mean I want to get rid of them. You may be interested in looking into the "social model of disability" which instead of saying something is wrong with the disabled person, something is wrong with society for not accomodating disabled people. While being in a room full of noisy people and flashing lights is horrible for me, sensory processing differences can be positive in certain situations; for example, I absolutely love being outside in the dark and quiet as this provides a sort of sensory euphoria for me. Same with textures, there are some that completely revolt me while other things are very soothing to touch. Even if there was some kind of autism cure, I would never consent to taking it regardless of any sort of financial incentives being offered.
I believe that God created me to be autistic for a reason and that "curing autism" is contrary to his design for my life. I truly cannot imagine what it would be like to not be autistic and I do not see being autistic as something that makes me broken or less-than. Being autistic is a big part of my identity, and if I weren't this way, I wouldn't really be me.
So, no, I don't think autism is a problem. Instead of trying to minimize any struggles children may experience, we should prepare them to deal with stuggles and challenges, as these things build character.
Anyway, I appreciate your opposition to murding babies with Down syndrome, as I also agree this is one of the biggest evils currently happening in the world. Similarly, I am no fan of mega-corporations and I do have major concerns about lots of the stuff people are eating these days, but autism is not a bad thing. Mozart may very well have been autistic, and he was one of the most genius musicians ever to exist, in part because of his unique way of seeing the world. So I think autism is a benefit to the world, and just because someone is disabled, that does not necessarily mean they should be cured.
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I think what's driving Secretary Kennedy is his belief that autism is caused by vaccines. That would explain his ignorant speech, to wit:
1) ASD isn't genetic because, he thinks, vaccines caused it.
2) Which explains, according to him, why there were fewer cases in the past, because there were fewer vaccines administered.
He is an ambulance chaser who has no business as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
True. I didn't address the vaccine subject here because that wasn't mentioned in the press conference, but I think the whole vaccines = autism thing myth is very problematic, and it's concerning that so many people still believe it despite the numerous studies disproving it.