Fundamentalist? well, if you look at it that way...

It has recently come to my attention that some of the curbie crowd/mercury militia refer to people such as myself and other anti cure autistics & our allies (you know, the 'neurodiverse', whatever the hell they think that means) have been referring to us as "autistic fundamentalists".

Of course, the first thing that springs to mind when I hear the word 'fundamentalist' is religion taken to the extreme, which in my experience is kind of frightening. Sorry any Bible Christians, that's just the connotation it has for me. I'm sure words that describe me make you cringe too.

So I was kind of freaking out over a number of things-having to pack for a wedding, needing to find a new gym since my old one lied to me about summer class availability, private lesson availability, oh-and that I'd be allowed to compete this year. Ha. Not for them. Effing liars, if they don't like that I'm odd they can look at that little form with 4 pages that I filled out that has "AUTISM, *ask me* if you have questions" in the section asking if there was anything I needed to know. Hard work doesn't matter. An adult being quirky and creepy in a leotard according to a spoiled 10 yer old DOES. Anyway. That's another post, even if it does tie in with this:

While I was laughing about being called a fundamentalist, my search engine diety roommate found a different view of fundamentalism:

"Each child should have the fundamental right, a constitutional right, whether it's a tribal constitutional right, federal or state constitutional right. It's time we made our constitutions have our children's rights in them so they can engage in those experiences that he or she is most anxious to explore, because it is having the right to choose that is truly indigenous to the democratic concept."
-- David Wilkins, Lumbee Tribe"

Wise words, huh? I think this should extend to all humans though, not just children. Those of us who are treated like children. Those of us who are treated as incapable. Those of us who are treated like typical adults. We all have a fundamental RIGHT to choice. To pursue that which we wish to pursue. To have choices in every day life. To not be discriminated against because we are a minority in whatever way (racial, religious, ability/disability, cultural, etcetera). To not be excluded just because we make a couple people a little uncomfortable.

If this is fundamentalism, replacing "child" with "human" or "autistic" (since everyone gets this about typical adults for some reason...) then damn right I am an autistic fundamentalist. I am strong in my CHOICE to make the world a better place for autistics-for us to be granted the same fundamental rights as everyone else in this country.

This is an insult that I, for one, am glad to have applied to me. Fundamentally autistic. Yes.