As I looked back on the notes from this week I realized this conversation between Elizabeth and James took place before he wrote his persuasive essay so I thought I would post it. Most of us have wondered these things.
DOES THE WORLD UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WITH LOVE OR DO THEY HAVE NO FEELINGS OF COMPASSION?
“That’s a tough question. Why do you ask?”
I AM CONFUSED ABUT PEOPLE. USUALLY THEY ARE KIND OR FRIENDLY BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE UNKIND.
“Are your referring to something specific?”
NO, I MEAN GENERALLY.
“I think it varies. Some people are kind and some are not. Sometimes even a kind person may seem unfriendly. You never know what someone is experiencing. People are flawed. “
LISTENING TO YOU AND SHANNON, I REALIZED THAT A PERSON MAY NOT BE UNDERSTANDING OF MY DIFFERENCES (Shannon and I had been discussing the fact that some people are resistant to or have difficulty understanding how non verbal kids can communicate so beautifully using the letter board when they are not able to talk). I UNDERSTAND MULTIPLICATION AND PHYSICS BUT NOT PEOPLE. IT MAKES ME UPSET.
I smiled and said, “Join the club! People are complex and inconsistent. Not understanding people does not mean that you are not smart. You are changing what people thought they knew about autism and people who are nonverbal”
I KNOW THAT I AM CHALLENGING WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT ME AND PEOPLE LIKE ME BUT I HAVE FEELINGS TOO.
“Ok, you have defined an issue. Now tell me your position.”
I BELIEVE OTHERS SHOULD BE MORE TOLERANT OF OTHERS LIKE ME. THEY SHOULD BE MORE PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING. I NEED TO BE A LEADER FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE LIKE ME.
Returning James 