This article mentions some positive things about us:
"It was just that fast" - It acknowledges the fact that we can be faster than NTs.
"While autism was rare a decade ago, very few people in America today don't know someone on the spectrum." - It acknowledges the fact that we are known by mainstream society.
"Not a day goes by that there isn't a story in the paper, something on television about autism. It is everywhere. And private security, the police department and society as a whole has to be prepared." - It acknowledges the fact that we are soon to be integrated into mainstream society (on our own terms).
"I realized that the biggest daily danger is not a crazed fundamentalist but an autistic kid who is having trouble being understood." - It acknowledges the fact that we are not being understood. (therefore, they will soon start to try to understand us).
"Our primary role as citizens is to protect our children," - It acknowledges the fact that mainstream society has to protect us.
"But on a daily basis it is much more about making sure that our children are not misjudged." - It acknowledges the fact that we are currently being misjudged, and that society should stop misjudging us!
It really didn't give a good impression at the start. There are many people who wish police where educated about autism so that they know that someone having a bad day might not actually want to hurt anyone, but it doesn't seem to be respectfull of people who want to get rid of the stigma that autistic people are supposedly dangerous.
"Autism is a neurological disorder that mainly impacts social and communications skills. It can create anti-social behavior, including screaming, arm waving and self injury."
....and arm-waving is anti-social, how? Screaming and self-injury, maybe; but only because they annoy others. There's nothing hostile about either one.
"However as we talked to security guards this week I realized that the biggest danger daily danger is not a crazed fundamentalist but an autistic kid who is having trouble being understood."
He never quite makes it clear that the danger is to the child--not the security guard.
"There are many theories about what causes autism ranging from environmental to genetic. There are folks who believe they've found the cure, although I've yet to see anything more convincing than snake oil."
Okay, so at least he's got some kind of brain.
This seems to me a clear-cut case of a journalist who's trying to make things sound dramatic by attaching dramatic words arbitrarily to them. "Autistic Child Likely to be Mistaken for Terrorist"? I mean, come on... Terrorists don't generally have temper tantrums in public. "Mistaken for threat", maybe. But terrorist is really stretching it, and that reporter needs a good smack upside the head--maybe it'll knock a few brain cells loose, 'cause he doesn't seem to be displaying a lot of insight here.
Kudos to the police department's training their officers on autism, though. Long overdue, and could prevent some real tragedy.
hey! good on that police force...but the article seemed kinda negative...
Oh come on Richard, how are you not a terrorist? you spend most of your time being a godless pagan communist, and talking about soviet weapons with me 
Kul Wahad.
Oh wait I see ;p
"terrorist" was merely a cute, "all in the family" style gag.
Boysaboys.
I think we are fortunate that autistics do not want to be terrorists, even though they put up with a lot.
The Aspies put up with a lot, I presume they do not want to be terrorists. On exceptional occasions, a rapist would be the most plausable, to cite SoulSick's critique of the good lives theory (unresolved personal needs, inappropriate vs. appropriate personal strategies)
Some fictional stories kind of play that line....
Richard Preston, The Cobra Event..... Tom Cole is a wierdo who releases a virus he creates (Aspie????)
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It is helpful to be a Christian to properly understand that it is OK for a woman (or man) to wholeheartedly reject you and everything good you have to offer, because Jesus is doing the same thing and He has far more to offer.
a. you chose Jesus and you are saved
b. you know people don't choose you
c. you know people don't choose Jesus either
d. you know a person must be confused stupid insane or all of the above to reject the rescue of Jesus Christ
e. if they don't believe in Jesus Christ it makes sense they don't believe in what lies in you either
f. "their loss" applies in either case
"I realized that the biggest daily danger is not a crazed fundamentalist but an autistic kid who is having trouble being understood." - It acknowledges the fact that we are not being understood. (therefore, they will soon start to try to understand us).
Well, yeah, but it also states that we're more dangerous than crazed fundamentalists.
It's about time the Huffington Post was yanked into line on portraying Autism like that.
Errr, not quite, they'll burn in Hell if Jesus doesn't rescue them.
Errr, not quite, they'll burn in Hell if Jesus doesn't rescue them.
How do you know? Have you ever seen hell?
No. But there have been those who have been to Hell and come back. Ever read 23 Minutes in Hell? I bought a copy and skimmed it.
I also wrote it into one of my time-travel stories
Classmate, Jodi "Hell doesn't exist"
Classmate, 30 years older, from 2020 "It does, I've seen it, I tried to kill myself and I was on the edge...."
Mind over matter, then, Chris?
I must say that I sometimes wonder about the religions that were based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. He only wanted us to love each other.
He said that His coming superceded the 'Old Testament'; that the old ways were no longer to be followed. And now we have people 2000 years later saying that every last word is some Truth that must be Obeyed or we shall all burn.
If He were still in His grave, He would be spinning like a top.
I am not a terrorist. I would find it almost impossible to hurt another human being, as would most of us.
GuessWho, you say that you didn't create Him; but your church seems to have created an image of Him that is everything Arctoris said. I do not recognise your God.
Hey Guess--I'm a Christian too, and I'm tellin ya, you don't have to be stupid to not be one. There are a lot of intelligent, well-informed people who are not Christians. There is nothing superior about us. Remember that, please. Respect others' beliefs, even if you think they're wrong.
End lecture...
I don't know, I didn't create Him.
Maybe not, but I think you are perpetuating an image of him as some kind of cosmic policeman who is just waiting to pounce on the smallest infraction to inflict a draconian punishment. The new testament emphasises that he is a God of love and not of hate.