Since we're down in these trenches of autism with a lot of other people, I've noticed we all tend to draw our own lines in the sand amongst each other. In those trenches, we tend to pair up in foxholes with those whose line of thinking is the same our own.
It's senseless. We should be united in our War on Autism.
Twice in the past 2 weeks I've heard a "theory".
The theory, and I use the word theory very loosely, is that the mission of Autism Speaks is, and I quote, "to wipe out the entire autistic population through prenatal testing and eugenic abortion"
Wowza.
A shocking opinion, and a pretty big blanket statement.
It's absolutely asinine, and I don't think it could be further from the truth.
I entirely get that some of us like Autism Speaks, and some of us don't.
That's fine and dandy.
But c'mon... let's at least be a little logical and use some reasoning.
Personally knowing many, many people throughout the Autism Speaks organization, including Jon Shestack, and Peter Bell, amongst others, I know that their line of thinking does not even remotely pair up with this belief in eugenic abortion.
What I do know about those inolved in this organization is that many, a majority most likely, have a direct link to Autism. Be it a child, a sibling, a cousin, a friend.
They get the suffering.
They get the despair.
They get the stress.
They also understand the hope that early intervention brings.
Prenatal testing doesnt mean abortion. It's a means
for parents to be prepared from Day One. No matter what dilemna they are facing, be it Autism, Downs, CDH, or anything else.
How many of us would've loved to know that our child was going to struggle with Autism on the day they were born, so that we could start inverention earlier?
You can't see me but I'm raising my hand right now.
If we had known, we wouldn't have wasted the first 18 months of Mason's life thinking he'd "catch on".
How many of us would've aborted?
You can't see me but, I've lowered my hand.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
SO true Joey. When others make critical, outrageous statements like that, it generally means they don't have anything unique to offer themselves.
Life is way too sweet to be that bitter...
I wish everyone would just align themselves with the organizations that they identify with and quit wasting time attacking each other ...
AND, as for genetic testing, I had it and would definitely do it again! I was advanced maternal age, and wanted to be prepared if Jack had any issues. Abortion wasn't a thought at all ... Just preparation.
Like you, if only I had known what I was dealing with earlier, he could have received some help...
Thanks Judith, you're completely right..
Bitter, party of 1, your table is ready...
Seeing Mason progress over these last 2 years has been a happiness that I never experienced with my 2 older children.
With them, I completely took their successes for granted.
Seeing Mason put forth so much effort and accomplish something, and seeing his face, knowing that he's proud of himself, is a great reward.
You're right 100% about the infighting!! People get so caught up in arguing with each other that they forget the real issues at hand - loving our kids and doing what we can to make their lives the best they can be!
Glad I stopped by!
Post a Comment