I don't usually post about things in the news, but this was a story that caught my attention yesterday.
Greta Thunberg is a sixteen-year-old environmental activist from Sweden. She is also autistic.
Andrew Bolt is a conservative journalist for an Australian newspaper.
About a month ago, Bolt mocked Thunberg in a column, calling her disturbed, a reference to facial ticks and movements. She was immediately defended by autistic individuals, as well as disability organizations like The Mighty. Thunberg, to her credit, seemed to shrug off the insult.
A grown man insulting a young woman would be awful enough, but picking on her disability as well is just pathetic. And "disturbed?" Such an archaic term. He might as well have called her hysterical or possessed.
Another aspect of Thunberg's autism that was attacked, was the tendency for people with the disability to fixate on things. This was used to question her activism. First of all, another cheap shot. Second, If this girl is going to fixate something, I'd say environmental activism and climate change are pretty damn good things to fixate on. It's called being passionate about something. Maybe people should, I don't know, encourage her.
I'd encourage Bolt to stop, or the publication he works for to do something, but upon seeing an article from just a few days ago about "Thunberg's child army", I don't think that's going to happen.
Fortunately, Greta Thunberg is now in the US, still sticking up for what she believes in.
Cheers
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