Ben Gets It- What's your Excuse?

         I am known in my family for blurting out sequiters but Ben tops me. I'm reading a news story about anti vaxxers claim that vaccines cause autism.

         "Why is everyone so weirded out by autism? Ben asks.

         "That's a damn good question," my irritation with the ridiculous debate showing.

         "Let me count the ways. Autism has historically been given a bad rap as a crippling diesase, combined with people wanting their children to be perfect, low maintenance versions of them and the fear of their kids being-gasp- abnormal and therefore, unacceptable."

         "You mean cookie cut humans cranked out of a factory? Ew, why would anyone want to be just like everyone else?" he says, his leaves rustle in a kind of shiver. 

    Ben is familiar with my theory that most modern ills can be blamed on the Industrial Revolution and the standardization of society along with consumer goods.

         "So what's the big deal about being neurologically different?" Ben never lets go of a subject.

         I am amused at his terminology. Ben has spent too much time in a psych ward, being surrounded by nutters who starved him of decent conversation makes him vocal and inquisitive. I can relate.

         " Autistics perceive and process the world in a way that's hard for the so called normal to understand. For example, I would be considered psychotic having an existential conversation with a plant."

         Ben lets out a big laugh.

         " And I consider people who can't grasp the idea idiots. Schizophrenics, psychics and people with synesthesia are just in altered states of consciousness."

         "Tell that to parents, teachers and potential employers," I say splashing cold reality on him. There is a momentary silence.

         "Is it really that hard?" he asks with genuine puzzlement.

          "Imagine waking up every morning in a foreign country where you don't speak the language or understand the culture no matter how hard you try," try hard, a despicable phrase if ever I heard.

         " I manage just fine in the world as long as I don't have to spend all my energy figuring out the rules people operate by," I take a deep breath as I notice my tone of voice rise with my temper.

         "Well I understand you just fine," he states proudly.

         "Thank you," I say, how I wish it were that simple for the rest of the world.