Obama and Aspie Pride-Implications for Us and Our Movement

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What do you think the implications of Obama, the first African-American president in American history, means for us Aspies, in terms of more oppprotunities for equal participation in American society? Do you think this is laying the groundwork for an Apsie president sometime in the future? Or, even serving in an elected office in the future? Or, do we need to reinvent the wheel, for this to become a reality?

Let me know your thoughts!! !!

Barack Obama is half white. I don't think he likes being referred to as an African-American. I believes he prefers being referred to as an American. Other than that, I don't know what he could or would do for folk with Asperger's.

Goose, you live right down the road from me. I live in Burtonsville. rad!

I know-I go to Church in the Burtonville area.

In terms of "labels," I struggle with how to use them, so I apologize if I was offensive in any way.

I guess, what I was thinking, using a "minority model," is that the priviledged, white male, dynamic, has been broken, now allowing opprotunities for other groups, including possibly Aspies, to seek the oval office. That if Barak Obama can do it, maybe one of us, sometime in the future, can, hypothethically.

What do you think?

If I moved to America and became president, I'd be the first female aspie British immigrant to be president!

Look up the lyrics to "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who.

Mr. Obama is a politician, first and foremost.

"Meet the new boss ... same as the old boss!"

Heh. Who do you think paid for all those advertisements during the election? Who do you think expects payback during the next 4 years?

Since what you, aspies, do not have equal rights, I wonder?

Do you mean,
"Since when, do you think Aspie, do not have equal rights?"

Is this what you were asking?

If so, in "theory" Aspies have equal rights, but as an Apsie myself, I have not always been treated as a person with equal rights.

Over the years I have had to deal with tremendious discrimination, abuse, intimation, hostile environments, bullying, humilation, and being targeted, and not always having recourse. I have even had experiences of people attempting to restict my personal freedoms and liberties. I feel like I definately qualify as part of an oppressed minority group.

I feel-that because I am an Aspie, my opprotunities in life, have been serverly limited by neurotypical society.

I can't just go out and just do things, that neurotypical people can do. I don't have the same opprotunities as a neurotypical, even when I work just as hard, if not harder.

And, for what little I have gained, I have had to work harder than the neurotypical. I have had to prove myself harder than the neurotypical-even prove my right to exist in society.

I feel there is definately an inequality of burdens/benifits which needs to be adressed.

And, it is in large part "socially produced."

It needs to be rectified with social justice, like any other form of oppression and inequality.

I would be very impressed, since you'd have to have to have the amendment stating only native-born Americans can be president removed from the US Constitution.

[quote="Naturella"]Since what you, aspies, do not have equal rights, I wonder?[/quote
In most states, one must fall in the MR range or have another disability on top of an ASD to receive disability benefits. Not equal.
Most children on the spectrum will not receive Occupational Therapy services for SENSORY issues through the special ed system even though it would drastically improve their ability to focus and participate more fully in the regular ed curriculum. OT is usually only provided for motor skill issues.
It's very difficult for someone with AS to get ADA protection on the job site unless they are also MR. The rationale is that if you aren't MR you should just get over it, I guess.
And in general I find I have to put up with the NT's going on and on about their interests and they have no sense of RECIPROCITY to listen to mine. Because I'm supposedly the one who is wrong when all I see them doing is following the herd and OBSESSING about fitting in.
So ASD rights are really in their infancy.

There are probably a lot of Aspies in positions of power even if they do not publically admit to having Aspergers.

Do not confuse equal rights and equal talents, and personal characteristics. Legally you have equal rights and if you do not tell people that you are an aspie - then they will not know about it. Consequently they won't be able to discriminate you just on the basis of this lable.
If they do not know that you are an Aspie - but still discriminate you, then it is based on your personal characteristics, and the Government cannot make others love you.
Yes, you have to work harder, just like anybody else who is less talented in something. There are a lot of people who are not so much endowed as others and they have to work hard. But that is BECAUSE GOD GAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. And THE GOVERNMENT has notthing to do with that. It cannot level everybody , make others less capable in order to bring them to YOUR LEVEL.
Let me give you an example. Suppose you are blind and want the govermnent make such a thing that you have equal opportunity... So, do you expect the Government make all other people blind just in order to make your chances in life better?
When people speak of equal rights it means that people should be judged by their personality and not by the color of their skin or not by their age, sex or nationality. If Aspergers is something that shows in your personality, then what the hell? If the majority of people find you hard to deal with, if they find you funny or wierd, then how can a government help you and make them love you? How can a government affect your relationship with others?
And why those people who are superiour to you academically or professionally, have equal benefits with you, I wonder? Just because you find it harder then them , there should come some uncle Sam and just give you the same job and salary that people of greater talents have?

Last edited by Naturella on 22 Jan 2009, 6:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I cannot believe my eyes! Do you call Asperger's a disability????