Excerpt from, “Don’t Blame
Autism for Newtown,” by Priscilla Gilman, The New York Times, 12/17/12:
Rather than averting his eyes or staring, this stranger
took the time to look, to notice and to share his appreciation of a child’s
soul with his mother. The quality of that attention is what needs to be
cultivated more generally in this country.
It could take the form of our taking
the time to look at, learn about and celebrate each of the tiny victims of this
terrible shooting. It could manifest itself in attempts to dismantle harmful, obfuscating stereotypes or to clarify
and hone our understanding of each distinct condition, while remembering that
no category can ever explain an individual. Let’s try to look in the eyes of
every child we encounter, treat, teach or parent, whatever their diagnosis or
label, and recognize each child’s uniqueness, each child’s inimitable soul.
Obfuscate: render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible; bewildering
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