Let’s examine the definition of the WORD attack:
1. To set upon with violent force. NO, most definitely NOT.
2. To criticize strongly or in a hostile manner. Well, Yes, yes I did.
3. To start, work on with purpose and vigor: attack a problem. Exactly. The problem of continued disrespect of a cherished word by folks in our own community.
4. To begin to affect harmfully Changing perceptions is only harmful to some. The people trying to keep others in “their place,” separated from them.
The Autism Sparkles page and blog does not like the word Autistic and when “Queen Sparkle” boasts about that, it damages the community and those of us here at AutismHWY.com. We wrote a blog pointing that out. Is that violent, hostile, vigorous or harmful behavior? We think not. However the self appointed Queen thought it was and set out to stir up a propaganda frenzy in the ensuing days. (It was a labor day delight!) She wrote her own blog mischaracterizing many of my points. Then melodramatically threatened to take her wondrous sparkles away from the internet (Oh my, how will we ever survive without them?) Her ‘followers’ recruited droves upon droves of entities to come forth and save her from this horrible “attack” from AutismHWY! She misrepresented my words and banned any corrections I tried to make to her victimized spin on things. Posting again and again and again about the hatred directed at her. Hundreds of presumptive commenters grew meaner and meaner begging her to stay and declaring that I was an evil, mean bully and a lot of other disgusting things. Branding us negative attacking “haters.” You get that picture. Very scary to see what a growing group of uninformed people will say in a moments notice at the coercion of some misguided “Queen.”
PLEASE!
There were a few comments that were rational amongst it all. Like my favorite: “All I saw was a women defending Autistic people.” Thanks random woman, you get it! Or another fav, “Oh my, a pity party.” Thank you Jane S., right on target as always! Another good friend to AutismHWY Steve S. posted some great articles about ‘person first language’ theory written by talented Autistic Activists! (Extremely helpful if read!!)
Another young woman I had never heard of messaged me privately during this unbelievable flurry of ignorance. This is what she wrote.
These cupcakes spark something a bit more substantive.
“Hi, although I was not involved I wanted to tell you I completely agree with you about Autism Sparkles. I am Autistic, and there were many times she shunned me, because my Autistic point of view did not jive with her non-Autistic point of view. She cooed and “liked” over everything other parents would say, but completely ignored any input I gave. God forbid an Autistic person have the right to comment on Autism related matters! Anyway, thanks for speaking up about it.
Well, she’s being dishonest about the situation. She is telling people that you accosted her solely for saying her child is “on the spectrum” instead of “Autistic.” Having been repeatedly offended by her in the past for various reasons I assumed this was inaccurate”
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That alone says it ALL for us. A group intent on positivity and sparkling encouragement? For whom? Autistic people and their family of supporters?…or just for families with the Autistic person pushed off in the background? Not as important as the parents yet again?
Lot’s of gooey and sugary baby talk is served up daily on this page with pink cupcakes, princesses & sparkles along with moments of genuine love. However, when a status posting goes out of it’s way to make a self righteous point that the word Autistic will never be allowed to cross the lips of the status writer, in regards to her spectrum child- that says a lot. A lot that is not good, useful or helpful as we advocate for erasure of negative stereotypes. Stereotypes that have been hanging over the heads of Autistic people and their families for decades. Forget those stereotypes and consider the people. How can you negate any part of the child you love no matter how greatly they are, or are not affected? To us it seems like loving goldfish yet, hating the color gold?
Hey! LOVE all of me!
We ALL know that when you proclaim you will never allow yourself to use a particular word. You are making a huge and strong statement. You are elevating the language you will use while belittling the language you won’t use. Everyone has the right to use and call themselves whatever they deem fit. AutismHWY.com was NEVER asserting otherwise. On the Spectrum, Autistic person, person with Autism. 3 ways of saying the same thing in our view ( and we believe the majority of people’s.) We use them all with an emphasis on Autistic, especially in recent years. The adult population is burgeoning and will continue to do so! More and more “Autistic adults” will be identifying just that way! It’s a beautiful emerging self identifier that is necessary for navigating the world. As we move forward and people begin to recognize the cogs in the wheel that are Autistic and how this world has always used these cogs to get around. The shame will dissipate and the pride can freely rush in. This is what we want Queen Sparkle. You may use your own brand of spectrum speak but, do not denigrate other’s choices in that process. Please don’t deny us that my lady nor hinder our progress through words of hatred and fear masked with huge delirious servings of sugar.
Sometimes information can seem very heavy, as well it should!
