UPDATE: Ignorance on Autism continues....

WorldNetDaily Exclusive
MEDIA MATTERS
Savage defends criticism of autism 'racket'
Stands by assertion false diagnoses creating national panic
Posted: July 22, 2008
3:00 am Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily


Michael Savage (San Francisco Chronicle)
Standing by his criticism of the autism "racket," nationally syndicated radio host Michael Savage devoted his entire three-hour show yesterday to the topic, allowing experts and callers to weigh in on the controversy sparked by a left-leaning media watchdog's campaign against him.

The Web-based Media Matters – which describes its task as "correcting conservative misinformation" – urged people to call their local radio stations to hold Savage "accountable" for his comments during a July 16 broadcast of the Savage Nation, the country's third most popular talk show, with more than 8 million weekly listeners on 350 stations.

Savage explained in a statement on his website that his assertion autism is a "fraud" and "a racket" was "meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community's attempt to label too many children or adults as 'autistic.'"

During his July 16 show, Savage said, "I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is."

Savage said, "They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron, you'll get nowhere in life. ... Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot."

Savage explained to the New York Times his use of the figure 99 percent was hyperbole.

He told WND that Media Matters itself is as much a part of the story as autism. Acting like the HIV virus, he said, "they invade the body politic and mimic the defense cells until they poison the entire organism."

Summing up the controversy, he said: "I spend my entire life championing helpless children, because of the tragedy of my brother Jerome. I attack falsely diagnosed cases, the misdiagnosed and the outright fraud artists through a bold parody, and Media Matters rips the parody out of context, stirs up the autism community against me, and here we are!"

During his broadcast yesterday, Savage urged his critics not to rush to judgment, "because the truly autistic child needs as much help as he or she can get, the truly autistic child needs the funding."

"It is the falsely diagnosed, the misdiagnosed and the outright fakers who want the benefits, who must be found out and must be turned out, so that the money can go to the truly needy in this particular field," he said.

Savage explained that argument "was the essence of my conversation last week."

"Why would I have chosen to attack defenseless children when I've never done so in my entire life?" he asked. "Think about that. What would I have gained by doing it? Nothing. I didn't do it. The fact of the matter is the enemies of the truth did it, using you, the parents of the injured child to turn on me, the defender of the child."

In the statement on his website, Savage explained that just as drug companies "have overdiagnosed 'ADD' and 'ADHD' to peddle dangerous speed-like drugs to children as young as 4 years of age, this cartel of doctors and drug companies is now creating a national panic by overdiagnosing "autism, for which there is no definitive medical diagnosis!"

In its "Call to Action" against Savage, Media Matters said, "Your voice is critical in holding Savage accountable for his comments. Autism is not a fraud – asthma is not a money racket. I hope you take the time to call and tell those running the station exactly what you think of Michael Savage."

In New York City yesterday, a coalition of groups that advocate for children with autism responded, staging a protest outside the studios of radio station WOR, which carries Savage's program.

Savage commented that "some in New York found it odd that the protesters were almost all men, they had neatly printed signs and there were no children. They suspect it was a staged protest by the Stalinist Savage-haters."


By the way, if you would like to contact Mr. Savage's employer to voice your opinion on his "star" commentators remarks, here is how you can do just that:

Talk Radio Network
P.O. Box 3755
Central Point, Oregon 97502

Phone: 541-664-8827
Fax: 541-664-6250
Email: info@talkradionetwork.com

Irritating Ignorance....

Until recently I was blissfully unaware that there was an infestation of the airwaves known as Michael Savage. Apparently his radio show is widely syndicated, and he recently addressed the autism epidemic:

SAVAGE: Now, you want me to tell you my opinion on autism, since I’m not talking about autism? A fraud, a racket. For a long while, we were hearing that every minority child had asthma. Why did they sudden ⎯ why was there an asthma epidemic amongst minority children? Because I’ll tell you why: The children got extra welfare if they were disabled, and they got extra help in school. It was a money racket. Everyone went in and was told [fake cough], “When the nurse looks at you, you go [fake cough], ‘I don’t know, the dust got me.’ ” See, everyone had asthma from the minority community. That was number one.
Now, the illness du jour is autism. You know what autism is? I’ll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That’s what autism is.
What do you mean they scream and they’re silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, “Don’t act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.”
Autism ⎯ everybody has an illness. If I behaved like a fool, my father called me a fool. And he said to me, “Don’t behave like a fool.” The worst thing he said ⎯ “Don't behave like a fool. Don’t be anybody’s dummy. Don’t sound like an idiot. Don’t act like a girl. Don’t cry.” That’s what I was raised with. That's what you should raise your children with. Stop with the sensitivity training. You’re turning your son into a girl, and you’re turning your nation into a nation of losers and beaten men. That’s why we have the politicians we have.

Mr. Savage apparently didn’t take his father’s advice. He’s behaving like a fool. Mr. Savage is an idiot. No, that gives idiots everywhere a bad name. There really is not a good adjective to describe him. Does he really think that families all over the world are going through this for all the perks that come with having an autistic child? Does he really think that the stimming, the sensory problems, the communication problems, the gut issues, and the rest of the laundry list of symptoms you can add in here are voluntary?

Mr. Savage, stop acting like a putz!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find out if one of my local radio stations carries this A-Hole’s show. If so, I’ve got to make sure the buttons in my car radio don’t include that station.

UPDATE:

NAA has asked for an apology and retraction from Savage, as well as time on his show to educate this buffoon. It's a nice thought, but I won't hold my breath.

Listen to the recording below and decide for yourself if an apology is required and a retraction necessary, I bet you will say "YES, both are definitely very much needed, and soon!!

Currently Recruiting: Dystonia and CRPS Study

**Seeking Clinical Research Volunteers** Dystonia and CRPS Study The NIH/NINDS is sponsoring an outpatient research study assessing patients with Focal Dystonia (FD). FD is a condition where specific movements of the hand trigger acute overactivity in muscles involved in the intended task and activity spreads to adjacent muscles that were supposed to be relaxed. We think the underlying reason of this condition is a lack of suppression of the unwanted muscle activity in the brain. In complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) without obvious nerve damage, dystonia-like muscle spasms can occur. In a series of tests including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG), individuals with FD, CRPS and both conditions in the upper or lower limb will be compared. Our goal is to find out more about the underlying mechanisms of both conditions. Studies are conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Inclusion criteria - patients Presence of FD/CRPS/CRPS and FD in one limb (upper or lower limb) Age 18 years or older Exclusion criteria Any serious medical, surgical, neurological or psychiatric conditions Medications such as the following: antidepressants, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antiparkinsonians, hypnotics, stimulants, and antihistamines (please tell the research doctor what you take, if anything) Presence of pacemaker, implanted medical pump, metal plate or metal object in skull or eye History of seizure disorder Known history of hearing loss. Pregnancy Use of blood thinners other than a daily aspirin There is no cost for participation. You will be compensated for research-related travel expenses. Time commitment consists of 5 visits. For more information, call (301) 496 6388, Sandra C Beck, MD. This study is carried out in compliance with testing and safety standards of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Pain doesn't sideline determined animal lover

Pain doesn't sideline determined animal lover By Pamela Mcloughlin Staff New Haven Register

BETHANY - Judy Rettig's name has long been synonymous with animal rescue and care, first as animal control officer in West Haven, then for the Bethany, Orange and Woodbridge animal control district. But these days, although she still helps animals any way she can, Rettig's name has been attached to something less cheerful - a nerve disease that causes such debilitating pain its sufferers can lose the will to live. Rettig developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a chronic neurological syndrome which often appears after an injury or surgery, after she slipped on ice and broke a leg at the animal shelter. The strongest painkillers available do little to dull the pain. Rettig wears a special boot on her affected leg because even a bed sheet brushing across it is excruciating. The vibrations from a loud sound can send her reeling. "This disease is very complicated," Rettig said. "Every minute of my life, it's like my leg just broke. ...You learn to make friends with your pain." At one point Rettig became so discouraged, she considered giving up the fight. But the same determination that made her crawl into sewer pipes to free trapped dogs or carry a 90-pound Labrador retriever down a rescue ladder kicked in, and she went into fighting mode. On June 22, she joined the RSD team as part of the sixth annual Achilles Hope and Possibility 5-mile run/walk in New York City's Central Park. The event raises money for the Reflex Sympathethic Dystrophy Syndrome Association, headquartered in Milford. Unable to walk, Rettig made the journey in a wheelchair, pushed by her partner of 30 years, Christine Santoro, and other friends. They named Rettig's group, "Team Monk," after television's fictional detective, Adrian Monk. Monk's character has obsessive compulsive disorder, which acts as both a curse and a blessing, because while it creates barriers, it also helps him solve cases. Rettig is very organized, clean and particular, qualities revealed in the immaculate way she kept the shelters she managed, and her house at a time when she had more than a dozen dogs there. "It was really wonderful," Rettig said of the walk, noting that many participants were Iraq War vets with missing limbs. The event also included groups raising money for other causes. "When I look at life around me, I still feel very lucky," she said. James W. Broatch, executive director of RSDSA, said they had more participants than ever in this year's walk. Although the total has not yet been tallied, and donations are still coming in, Broatch said he hopes it raised at least $60,000, 90 percent of which will go directly to research. Participants, including RSD sufferers and their family and friends, came from as far away as Colorado and Florida. "It was a day filled with hope," Broatch said. Hope is what gets many people through RSD, an "under recognized disease," Broatch said. RSD affects between 200,000 and 1.2 million Americans. Rettig was replaced as animal control officer because there was no sign of her recovery, although RSD can go into remission. Because there is no cure for the disease, remission is her only hope. The disease or pain can travel to other limbs, and did in Rettig's case. Still young and driven to help animals as well as people, Rettig hopes someday to get a version of her old life back. There's nothing she'd rather be doing than chasing dogs and cats or helping rebuild areas of the nation affected by hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters, Rettig said. Donations for RSD research in Rettig's name can be sent to: RSDSA, P.O. Box 502, Milford, CT. 06460 or made by visiting the website, www.RSDS.org.

Believe in Yourself

Believe in yourself -- in the power you have
to control your own life, day by day,

Believe in the strength that you have deep inside,
and your faith will help show you the way.

Believe in tomorrow and what it will bring --
let a hopeful heart carry you through,

For things will work out if you trust and believe
there's no limit to what you can do.

~Emily Matthews

A Letter to "Normals" from a Person with Chronic Pain

Having chronic pain means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike having cancer or being hurt in an accident, most people do not understand even a little about chronic pain and its effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually misinformed.
In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand:

These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me.

Please understand that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day in considerable pain and exhaustion, and if you visit, sometimes I probably don't seem like much fun to be with, but I'm still me, stuck inside this body. I still worry about school, my family, my friends, and most of the time, I'd still like to hear you talk about yours, too.

Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu, you probably feel miserable with it, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time. In fact, I work hard at not being miserable. So, if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. that's all. It doesn't mean that I'm not in a lot of pain, or extremely tired, or that I'm getting better, or any of those things.

Please don't say, "Oh, you're sounding better!" or "But you look so healthy!" I am merely coping. I am sounding happy and trying to look normal. If you want to comment on that, you're welcome.

Please understand that being able to stand up for ten minutes doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand up for twenty minutes, or an hour. Just because I managed to stand up for thirty minutes yesterday doesn't mean that I can do the same today. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed, or you can move. With this one, it gets more confusing everyday. It can be like a yo-yo. I never know from day to day, how I am going to feel when I wake up. In most cases, I never know from minute to minute. That is one of the hardest and most frustrating components of chronic pain.

Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, "sitting", "walking", "thinking", "concentrating", "being sociable" and so on, it applies to everything. That's what chronic pain does to you.

Please understand that chronic pain is variable. It's quite possible (for many, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the next room. Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!" or "Oh, come on, I know you can do this!" If you want me to do something, then ask if I can. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel a previous commitment at the last minute. If this happens, please do not take it personally. If you are able, please try to always remember how very lucky you are, to be physically able to do all of the things that you can do.

Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. You don't know what I go through or how I suffer in my own private time. Telling me that I need to exercise, or do some things to "get my mind off of it", may frustrate me to tears, and is not correct. if I was capable of doing some things any or all of the time, don't you know that I would? I am working with my doctors and I am doing what I am supposed to do. Another statement that hurts is,
"You just need to push yourself more, try harder". Obviously, chronic pain can deal with the whole body, or be localized to specific areas. Sometimes participating in a single activity for a short or a long period of time can cause more damage and physical pain than you could ever imagine. Not to mention the recovery time, which can be intense. You can't always read it on my face or in my body language.
Also, chronic pain may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed and down if you were hurting constantly for months or years?), but it is not created by depression.

Please understand that if I say I have to sit down, lie down, stay in bed, or take these pills now, that probably means that I do have to do it right now, it can't be put off or forgotten just because I'm somewhere, or I'm right in the middle of doing something. Chronic pain does not forgive, nor does it wait for anyone.

If you want to suggest a cure to me, please don't. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't want to get well. Lord knows that isn't true. In all likelihood, if you've heard of it or tried it, so have I. In some cases, I have been made sicker, not better. This can involve side effects or allergic reactions, as is the case with herbal remedies. It also includes failure, which in and of itself can make me feel even lower. If there were something that cured, or even helped people with my form of chronic pain, then we'd know about it. There is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with chronic pain. If something worked, we would KNOW. It's definitely not for lack of trying. If, after reading this, you still feel the need to suggest a cure, then so be it. I may take what you said and discuss it with my doctor.

If I seem touchy, it's probably because I am. It's not how I try to be. As a matter of fact, I try very hard to be normal. I hope you will try to understand. I have been, and am still, going through a lot. Chronic pain is hard for you to understand unless you have had it. It wreaks havoc on the body and the mind. It is exhausting and exasperating. Almost all the time, I know that I am doing my best to cope with this, and live my life to the best of my ability. I ask you to bear with me, and accept me as I am. I know that you cannot literally understand my situation unless you have been in my shoes,
but as much as is possible, I am asking you to try to be understanding in general.

In many ways I depend on you, people who are not sick. I need you to visit me when I am too sick to go out. Sometimes I need you help me with the shopping, the cooking or the cleaning. I may need you to take me to the doctor, or to the store. You are my link to the "normalcy" of life. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of life that I miss and fully intend to undertake again, just as soon as I am able.
I know that I asked a lot from you, and I do thank you for listening.
It really does mean a lot.