Musings and What-not

My daily dose of The Daily Show featured Denis Leary as the special guest tonight. Hub wanted to turn the channel, but I wanted to hear what he had to say . Leary's book released today, and he's still looking for any available outlet to deny what he said against autism in it. Unfortunately, The Daily Show gave him some air time. After listening to a bunch of nonsense/absurdity/irrationality/crap about why he's using the professional title of Dr., Jon got down to why Leary was there to begin with. Jon opened by saying Leary got into a lot of trouble over the chapter, Autism Shmautism , and Leary jokingly feigned ignorance.  He eventually agreed that his book caused a lot of controversy. Y'think? Of course, he's still blaming The New York Post for taking the following paragraph of his book "out of context". There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumbass kids can't comp...

A few minutes ago, I headed over to Autism United after reading a post in yesterday's online version of the Los Angeles Times where a spokesman for them, Mark Anthony Ramirez, was mentioned. I don't know what possessed me to keep scrolling on the main page, but I nearly had a heart attack when I got to this headline! Autism United Publishes Denis Leary's Autism Chapter online to let the Public Decide if His Comments were taken out of context Yes, your read that correctly!  The ENTIRE chapter has been published online. Is it legal to do so?  Apparently. Here's an excerpt (language included): CHAPTER 6 AUTISM SHMAUTISM In my day self-esteem came from actual performance and a clear understanding of your place in the world. The facts were laid out almost from the get-go-if you wanted to be a model and you were a girl you had to be tall and thin. If you wanted to play baseball there was no god dam wiffle ball or a special "soft" pretend, fakey baseball set up on ...

I know I didn't read that right.  I can't believe the pressure actually got to thick-skinned Denis.  I can't believe it. About an hour ago, Boston Herald reported, C omedian Denis Leary , best known for pushing the envelope of convention, apologized yesterday “to all parents of children with autism” after the mother of a stricken Saugus 6-year-old dared him to spend just one hour of challenging daily life with her son. “I have nothing but admiration and sympathy for the people I know who are raising children with autism. In fact, they were the inspiration for the chapter I wrote about the subject,” the Worcester native and author of the provocative forthcoming book “Why We Suck” said in a statement to the Herald. I don't know what to say.  I'm actually at a loss for words. Hold up!  Hold up! His book's coming out on the 18th (21 days from now)!  What better way to get us to buy his book than to publicly apologize for insulting our children.  Good try, Denis, bu...

The people who are criticizing the "Autism Schmautism" chapter in my new book "Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid" clearly have not read it. Or if they have, they missed the sections I thought made my feelings about autism very clear: that I not only support the current rational approaches to the diagnoses and treatment of real autism but have witnessed it firsthand while watching very dear old friends raise a functioning autistic child. Okay, Denis.  You got me.  I didn't read your book.  I saw the comment, put on my armor, and was prepared to battle... major battle! Do I owe you an apology?  I'll concede.  I do.  I should have done what I normally do, and that's to get the facts BEFORE I react. But you see, I wasn't only reacting for myself.  I was reacting for my son who does not and would not understand that those few lines were "teasers" to something "meaningful". Does this mean that I will g...

You are probably wondering about the meaning of the title. I am an autism warrior. I am a mother to a handsome, smart, funny, charming, affectionate young man... who has autism. I am part of an amazing community who sees as part of its mission the promotion of tolerance, compassion, empathy, and understanding for a generation of people who are oftentimes, misunderstood and persecuted by ignorant, misinformed, ill-educated folks like Michael Savage , Amanda Peet , and Denis Leary . (click their names to read their remarks against the autism community) I am an author who hopes that my work will inspire readers to learn more about the autism spectrum disorder. I am an author who hopes that my work will encourage readers to be more compassionate, empathetic, and tolerant of others who seem "different" than themselves. I am a blogger . I blog for peace (because I know now that my son's autism was not my fault). I blog for answers (to questions I have on regarding how I can b...

There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can't compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don't give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer kid is NOT autistic. He's just stupid. Or lazy. Or both." - Denis Leary The Autism Society of America responded: "For Mr. Leary to suggest that families or doctors conspire to falsely diagnose autism is ridiculous . . . [His] remarks reflect the same misconceptions of autism being caused by bad or unemotional parenting that were held over 50 years ago. I don't even know where to start. Prior to reading his remarks, I actually liked Denis.  Yes, I know he's crass and a bit hard on the ears, but his style was one I used to laugh at.  I think it was his New England accent and hard appr...