Posted on 05/19/2006 5:55:45 AM PDT by Mr. Silverback
I recently told you about Jason McElwain. He’s the autistic high-schooler from Greece, New York, whose feats on the basketball court, in President Bush’s words, “captivated our country.”
Not surprisingly, McElwain’s story is being turned into a movie. What is surprising is that this is not the only movie being made about autistic people.
There are at least three other films scheduled for release or in production about autistic people and their families. The most highly anticipated of them is probably Daniel Isn’t Talking, starring Julia Roberts. Based on the novel by Marti Leimbach, it’s the story of a woman whose seemingly perfect world is turned upside down when her three-year-old son is diagnosed as autistic.
Leimbach, whose nine-year-old son, Nicholas, is autistic, says that stories about autistic people “[dramatize] the fact that none of us have perfect children.” In her estimation, this is why the stories have broad appeal.
As the grandfather of an autistic boy, I’m gladdened by the positive attention being given to people like my grandson Max, who has some amazing qualities. And one of BreakPoint’s writers and a valued colleague is a single dad raising an autistic boy. This subject is close to home. But, as a Christian, I cannot help but notice that all of this attention is coming at a time when it’s increasingly dangerous to be a handicapped child. They are squarely in the gunsights of those who are conducting what I call a “war on the weak,” which is what this present series is about.
The best-known advocate of this war is Princeton Professor Peter Singer. He has justified the killing of a handicapped child if it “leads to the birth of another child with better prospects of a happy life.” In this case, “the total quantity of happiness will be greater . . .”
It is tempting to dismiss Singer as a crank, that is, until you recall that, just last fall, the Netherlands legalized the killing of terminally ill children—this despite ample warning that the practice is not and will not be confined to the terminally ill. All Dutch children with birth defects are now at risk.
Outside the Netherlands, the threat is subtler, but no less real. Italian neonatologist Carlo Bellieni has coined the term handiphobia to describe the fear of having a disabled child. According to Bellieni, we in the West see “the fetus, as a means and not as the end they truly are.” Thus, “the child is no longer loved unconditionally and respected as a human person.”
Instead, we use prenatal testing to detect any identifiable defects in the unborn child. Those with such defects, like Down syndrome, are then aborted. As Bellieni puts it, “[A]s with all phobias, [the object of our fear] must be made to disappear.”
Well, that’s putting it starkly, but it is true: If a prenatal test for autism were ever developed, it would not be long before autistic people would also be “made to disappear.” While Leimbach is right about no one’s child being “perfect,” Bellieni is also right about how much “imperfection” we’re not prepared to accept.
That’s why I hope that stories like young Jason McElwain’s do more than make us feel good. I hope they also help us to understand the evil that comes from giving in to our fears.
This is part three in the “War on the Weak” series.
There are links to further information at the source document.
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Remind me what was part two? I've only seen one -- I think it was part one (not sure).
A few years ago, I read a piece in the San Francisco Chronicle explaining why a parent in your situation had an obligation to kill a "defective" child. I suspect the majority of the people in a place like SFO (i.e., Blue State people) agree with that idea.
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Not if one knows anything about him. Good article, Mr. Silverback.
My oldest son, who will be 37 years old next week, was diagnosed as borderline autistic many years ago.
He was not accepted at school, but he graduated from high school. He is very giving and caring, especially with his Special Olympics friends.
Society has made it difficult for these people. They do not create problems for society, like some of us.
I will never understand the kind of mind that condones the Hitleresque murder of the "imperfect", yet supports "No Child left Behind".
Ping
To tell the truth, I'm kind of shocked that they're making movies about Autistic children.
Most movies have happy endings. Parents of profoundly Austistic children run a marathon without end.
No kidding. I'm surprised they didn't make a movie out of the book "Let Me Hear Your Voice." That had a happy ending, as the wealthy family was able to "cure" not one, but TWO of her kids through Lovaas therapy. Sounds like a Hollywood made-for-TV movie.
For most of the rest of us, though, you're right. The story just goes on and on...
Part One was The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number: Cruelty by Another Name
Part Two was Casualties in the Culture Wars: Gay ‘Marriage’ and Children
You rock, Mr. Neutron.
Yes, it's a marathon but "doors" do open along the way. I've enrolled my 23 year old in a four week course for kids with "learning disabilities" at a local university (in June) and can't wait to see how she responds to the challenge. One course (sociology), team and individual study groups and social activities). The team of supervisors have welcomed her and will support her throughout.
De nada.
Glad to hear he overcame. Is he on his own?
Cool!
Thanks for posting this. I remember Dr. Laura raging about Mr. Singer way back when. It is truly disgusting what is going on in the Netherlands. We must fight against ever letting that happen here in America, even though some would say it is already happening.
Yep. When my son was diagnosed around his 2nd birthday, that was the first book I read and got inspiration from. They use Lovaas ABA at my son's school and I am convinced it's the right way to go. However, the outcome of this therapy has not been nearly as fantastic as "Let me hear your voice."
The hardest part, if they could capture it on film, is the constant realignment of expectations on the part of the parents. Somehow, a portrayal by Julia Roberts doesn't come to mind.
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