Free to Be You and Me... No More.
Who is old enough to remember this GLORIOUS album of songs from 1972? Every song was about kindness, acceptance, a cohesive America and sought to shatter stereotypes. It featured stars like a young Michael Jackson, Alan Alda, Rosey Grier, Carol Channing (try saying that cleaning product commercial fast!) and of course, Marlo Thomas. "That Girl."
What has happened to 1972? I am so disheartened by what I see on social medial. Each news report isn't an episode, it's a crapisode. Friendships, alliances, partnerships, shared struggles not just cast aside, but gleefully and publicly denounced as if casting off oozing sores. (Is there a vaccine for that?)
I wonder if AofA is more important than ever (I hope!) or woefully, pathetically anachronistically doomed to the dust bin of censorship and abandonment. I used to be part of a group called "Tough Nuts and Old Timers." Shout out to AnaGrammy! I thought I was an old timer 10 years into my fight for my daughters and my public advocacy. I'm now almost 25 years in. Mia will turn 26 in December. A quarter century of fighting. A quarter century on the sidelines watching life's beautiful milestones go to everyone but.... me. You. Us.
What shall we do, friends? How do we even begin to heal?
Kim
Kim-Age of Autism is more important for me now that my son is an adult and your daughters are also adults and we are facing the same uphill battle now for too many years. I pray every day for researchers to find a cure for this devastating condition and I know that there are many qualified researchers who will find it in the near future. We all need each other for support and hope that our children will have a future that they so deserve just like anyone else. God Bless us everyone.
Posted by: Gayle | July 26, 2020 at 11:05 AM
Jonathan
A further account of CNN’s despicable behaviour can be found at RT where they are caught boasting on Twitter about “shaming” Sinclair. These people are disgusting beyond words:
https://www.rt.com/usa/495871-sinclair-cancels-plandemic-conspiracy/
But even RT labels her a “disgraced scientist” and “conspiracy theorist”. Providing she can be “cancelled” and “Sinclair” shamed it doesn’t matter what her story is.
Posted by: John Stone | July 26, 2020 at 04:51 AM
Hmmmmmm....
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/25/media/sinclair-pulls-fauci-conspiracy-segment/index.html
Posted by: Jonathan Rose | July 25, 2020 at 09:35 PM
Reminded me to make a donation :-)
Thanks Kim and everyone at Age of Autism!
Posted by: Tim Lundeen | July 25, 2020 at 02:35 PM
I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. And I'd like to say a few words... if you please. Way back in the days when the grass was still green, and the pond was still wet, and the clouds were still clean. And I first saw the trees! Miles after miles in the fresh morning breeze. From the rippulous pond, came the comfortable sound. Of clean water and fish that were splashing around. I felt a great leaping of joy in my heart. Others must know. So that was my start.
All I had left after the world made this mess -- was just a small pile of rocks, with the one word ... "UNLESS." ---Whatever that meant, well, seems most couldn't guess. But now, now that your here, the word that I wrote I'll make perfectly clear. UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothings going to change. The fact, its just not. https://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/9/6/8/1/0/0/webimg/1063298840_o.jpg
Posted by: David L | July 25, 2020 at 01:13 PM
Kim
I don’t know the album but I do know what we have lost - we are arriving even at the point where we have lost hope. But we march forward.
Posted by: John Stone | July 25, 2020 at 09:42 AM
"I wonder if AofA is more important than ever (I hope!) or woefully, pathetically anachronistically doomed to the dust bin of censorship and abandonment"
Kim .. trust me as a long time subscriber to AOA … AOA is .. indeed … MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
I agree with Jill's comment … "Age of Autism is my day starter"
Posted by: Bob Moffit | July 25, 2020 at 09:38 AM
Ah, what a nostalgia trip. Back in 1972, folks actually believed in free speech, today you get blacklisted for that. And the Neurodiversity party line says no, you should not be free to cure autism: you must accept it and pretend you like it.
Posted by: Jonathan Rose | July 25, 2020 at 09:24 AM
Yes Kim. I remember AnaGrammy back when I had dial up internet. And Lenny Schaefer. They were lifelines to me. Now Age of Autism is my day starter. I pray for healing for all of us. Been in this fight a long time.
Posted by: Jill in MI | July 25, 2020 at 08:05 AM