Comments on: Scapegoats and Disability

By: Autism Vox » Something To Make You Think

Autism Vox » Something To Make You Think — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:26:04 +0000

[...] As you may have noticed over the past few days, or weeks, or months, there have been a few other things to write about regarding autism: cause—-cure—-the autism “epidemic“—-vaccines—-why in the world there is so much autism in New Jersey—-little Katherine McCarron—-the genetics of autism—-disablity and mythology in the ancient world—-legislation for autism in New Jersey—-Sigourney Weaver as an autistic woman—-poetry—-the rhetoric of autism writing—-and a really good book. [...]

By: David N. Andrews BA-status, PgCertSpEd (pending)

David N. Andrews BA-status, PgCertSpEd (pending) — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 06:26:28 +0000

“Scapegoatology……..

Is Big Pharma, then Big Pharmakos?”

*runs for the hills…… very fast*

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 01:43:57 +0000

Scapegoatology……..

Is Big Pharma, then Big Pharmakos?

By: David N. Andrews BA-status, PgCertSpEd (pending)

David N. Andrews BA-status, PgCertSpEd (pending) — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 01:24:03 +0000

This is kinda fuh ktup.

You are saying that the Greek word for ’scapegoat’ is ‘pharmakos’ … which would mean that the ‘pharmacology’ (if it were a derivation of that) would be ‘the study of scapegoats’…..

Eek…

This gets more sinister as you get further into it, doesn’t it? :/

By: Autism Vox

Autism Vox — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 23:36:00 +0000

[...] He is both, one might say, aristos—the best (aristos is the root of the word “aristocracy”) and simultaneously kakistos—the worst, both godlike and supra-human, yet like some wild creature unknowing of civilization’s conventions and less than human. Thus do Vernant and Vidal-Naquel connect Oedipus, the king (rex in Latin, tyrannos in ancient Greek), with the pharmakos, the scapegoat: “…..in Sophocles, the superhuman and the subhuman meet and become confused within the same figure” 9P. 139). Vernant’s and Vidal-Naquet’s analysis of the pharmakos and of Oedipus as encompassing these contradictory characteristics recalls my description of Charlie’s disability being seen both as a “blessing” and as a “problem” in yesterday’s Scapegoats and Disability. [...]

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 19:54:27 +0000

l-rex: I have not seen the original Wicker Man and your mention of Golden Bough references means it is on my list.

And looking for the Holman Hunt painting, too.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 19:53:21 +0000

Not cold and calculated—realistic and true, regarding it all boiling down to money.

Life with Charlie has definitely and will always be a joy.

By: stav ng

stav ng — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 19:43:36 +0000

It has been and still is very hard indeed to get the right provision and services for children and adults with autism.One has to know how the “system” works and “work it”.I know this may sound cold and calculated but I am afraid it always boils down to money in the end.Still on an optimistic note there are still a few helpful people who if on your side can make you and your childrens journey through life a joy.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:24:49 +0000

Thanks, Stav Ng—I really admire your tenaciousness. And I really appreciate hearing about what you’ve had to go through (and still do) to get the right living arrangements for Paul and Andrew—my son Charlie is only 9 years old, but I think a lot about where he will be living when he is an adult.

We’ve had a few experiences in which parents of babies and younger children, on realizing that Charlie is autistic, have, very subtly, maneuvered around us, or smile warily.

By: stav ng

stav ng — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 11:40:59 +0000

Hello,I’m a mother who has 2 sons with autism,Andrew and Paul who are both in their early 20’s now.Andrew has been to hell and back and is now living in his own home and being supported by his own care team and Paul is living at home with me.We have been trying for 5 years to set up the same arrangement as Andrew’s but “the powers” have decread that Paul has to be placed out of his community and away from his family and will not budge eventhough we have a house for him to move to.We have been fighting very hard as initially “the powers” decread that Paul be placed out of county believing that this meets his assessed needs!We are now contemplating court action as we refuse to allow these” powers”to destroy Paul mentally and physically as they did with Andrew.I had no choice and was ignorant of the process at that time.I believe that you are right most people prefer not to see disabilities as they feel that they too may become “tainted”with the same disability.