Greta Thunberg — named person of the year by Time magazine — has shown the world that nothing can interfere with the fulfillment of her mission of climate activism. Not cyberbullying. Not expressions of opposition, some from prominent power players. And perhaps most remarkably, not an autism spectrum diagnosis. In fact, her autism profile is arguably an asset as she sets forth in winning over hearts and minds across the globe.
Asperger’s syndrome, which is Greta’s autism spectrum diagnosis, is frequently accompanied by other disorders. In her case, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is relevant, which likely contributes to her intense and unrelenting focus on speaking truth to power in urging action on climate change. Inspiring what has become a worldwide movement no doubt requires a degree of “thinking outside the box,” a common attribute among folks with Aspie (a more feel-good way of saying Asperger’s) profiles. The decision to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a solar-powered yacht on her way to the United Nations Climate Action Summit is but one example of such thinking.
Repetitive behaviors that are limited in scope, another prevalent trait among those on the autism spectrum, would probably be construed by most as a problem that needs to be fixed. Then again, maybe not, depending on your perspective. Greta uses this aspect of her Aspie profile to her advantage. As is the case with her OCD diagnosis, it arguably helps her allocate her energies only toward what is most important to her: her goals for our planet and its inhabitants. Aside from what she says about climate change and the relatively few words she has shared with the media about her autism profile, we don’t hear much else from her. I’m fine with that. I choose to see a young woman who remains passionately engaged in what she most believes in.
Like Greta, I, too, am an Aspie who often hyperfocuses, obsessively, on what matters most to me, and with solid results. I could not have become proficient at the piano had I not locked myself in practice rooms for hours at a time over many years while studying at music camps and schools. I could have given up early on my almost lifelong struggle at building self-esteem. Instead, I fought through and eventually learned how to love myself. I, too, have endured more than my share of bullying and survived, stronger than before. For both of us, it’s all about turning adversity and struggles into triumphs.
Asperger’s syndrome is widely thought of as a disorder, but this is not how I look at it, and Greta probably feels the same way. Rather, Asperger’s is an integral part of who we are, a way of being that carries unique personality traits, challenges and strengths as well. I praise Greta for being who she is, for not hiding her true self, in spite of knowing she is different and a figure of controversy.
Meanwhile, the Donalds (Sr and Jr) are tweeting about her being selected for the cover of Time...you think a couple of grown men would be ashamed of themselves...oh, wait, I forgot who I was talking about....
-------------------------------- When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier
Posts: 38216 | Location: Somewhere in the middle | Registered: 19 January 2010
By everybody who put her there on those stages. The people who would like to propagate the sounds she makes when she's on those stages.
I would suggest such a path to such stages are not open to any 16 year old girl of any arbitrarily great precociousness unless doors are opened and strings are pulled intentionally to put her there.
But then, I'm just stating the obvious.
Posts: 900 | Location: Bay Area of CA | Registered: 21 April 2005
What you said, in particular about her effectiveness, is far less obvious and undeniable.
The backlash against her is real, even if only coming from the bad folk who you don't like. That backlash would indicate a certain amount of ineffectiveness, since we're talking about effectiveness at getting certain ideas to be taken seriously.
So, a 16 year old girl is thought of by some of us as successfully getting her ideas taken seriously, where others have failed in getting those ideas to be taken seriously.
Let that one sink in for a while.
Posts: 900 | Location: Bay Area of CA | Registered: 21 April 2005
I don't admit the premise that there is a special phenotype of an idea propagator which gets ideas taken as seriously as True Believers would like the ideas taken.
As for the ideas of climate change, Greta wants us all to drop everything and do everything we can, full stop. I think people are right to respond with some variant of "let's calm down here".
It shouldn't need to be said, but it does, that the fact that you can find a 16 year old girl to say something, doesn't lend any credence whatsoever to the thing being said.
Posts: 900 | Location: Bay Area of CA | Registered: 21 April 2005
Words aren't lent credence by any particular spokesperson, except maybe the Pope or the Dalai Lama. Words get the credence that the power of the message deserves.
She's a powerful messenger. But then, there are those whose minds are closed to the message, and they might be less inclined to see her as a messenger and more inclined to see her as a pawn.
In either event, some hypothetical person attacking her because she got Time Magazine's Person of the Year and that hypothetical person didn't only demonstrates that she has greater emotional maturity than that hypothetical person.
