MIDWEEK MUSINGS have me bewildered about how to broach this subject as we try to exhibit caution trying to 'play nice' in our sandbox like we were taught to do as children.
During these tumultuous political times, I really miss Natureman to talk about these things. It is so important to remember our humanity.
When we witness injustices, we need to speak up.
I appreciate lay leaders alerting us to political actions affecting those marginalized in our society. The particular sector targeted lately in the politcal arena are citizens on the Autism spectrum. Seriously, how low can you go?
One of the Rabbis in our community shared the following on FaceBook and said it could be shared re: a congregant "who at his Bar Mitzvah then 13 spoke powerfully and publicly about how he viewed his autism as a gift. He also led the service capably, read and chanted Hebrew flawlessly, and in perfect pitch.
This congregant was only one of many autistic people I have taught, collaborated wish, and cherished as congregants and/or as personal friends or loved ones.
When I watched the Secretary of Health and Human Services speak about autistic people as so fundamentally cursed, flawed, and incapable, I did not recognize any of the autistic people I know. And I know many. People with meaningful and productive employment, stable relationships, and loving families. Children and teens who do well in school, have friends, and have every reason to look forward to the future.
Secretary Kennedy has told America to view the lives of autistic people as worthless. The result will be increasing stigmatization of and discrimination (or worse) against autistic people.
Secretary Kennedy is harming, not helping, autistic people, and that is shameful.
And that’s before we start counting deaths caused refusal to vaccinate based on the baseless conspiracy theories peddled by our nation’s top health officer."
Dear Readers, Let us remember to not sit idly by...
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