Oregon Parent Speaks Out

Dear Governor, Senators, Mayor, and Media members:

Re:  Michael Savage’s Speech about Autism

During a radio broadcast on July 16^th, 2008, Michael Alan Weiner, AKA Michael Savage, made the following statement regarding Autism:

"Now, the illness du jour is autism. You know what autism is? I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is.... What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot.' Autism—everybody has an illness. If I behaved like a fool, my father called me a fool. And he said to me, 'Don't behave like a fool.' The worst thing he said—'Don't behave like a fool. Don't be anybody's dummy. Don't sound like an idiot. Don't act like a girl. Don't cry.' That's what I was raised with. That's what you should raise your children with. Stop with the sensitivity training. You're turning your son into a girl, and you're turning your nation into a nation of losers and beaten men

As the parent of a child diagnosed with Autism, a Pervasive Developmental Disability/Challenge, I am outraged by this message that has no factual support and that is filled with misinformation.  Savage has singled out a defenseless group of children and insulted them, using words like “brat,” “moron,” “putz,” and “idiot,” to describe or label them.  Furthermore he places blame upon the fathers, indicating that we are either not present to teach our children or that we are not teaching them correctly.  He brazenly describes demeaning methods of parenting that he claims were used on him by his own father, and says, "that's what [we] should raise [our] children with."  I resent his message and find it damaging to the positive progress we have been making for Autistic children.

Furthermore, I find it unacceptable that Central Point’s Talk Radio Network, has not acted responsibly by accepting nothing less than a public apology from this man for his tactless and baseless statements.  If he refuses to apologize then his dismissal should be the next logical step.  Free speech should never protect someone from criticism, peaceful opposition, or consequences for inappropriate behavior

Talk Radio Network attempted to calm the situation by stating "…the phrasing of Dr. Savage’s remarks was inartful..."  The word "inartful" is severely inadequate for describing the name calling attack that Savage leveled against our children.  Such verbal pugnacity would not be tolerated if it was made against any child or group of children, much less those with Autism.  CBS did not describe the words of Don Imus as 'inartful' when he referred to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy headed hos." Why should the words used by Savage to describe and label children with Autism be considered any less serious?

Talk Radio Network also attempted to shift the focus away from Savage by identifying Media Matters, a media watchdog group, as the organization that instigated the effort to remove him from the Airwaves.  While I do not know if Media Matters initiated the first attempt of opposition, I do know that there are thousands of people, including myself, involved in separate efforts that have no connection with Media Matters.  Which organization or individual started the opposition is not significant in comparison to the purpose.  The words of Mr. Savage should remain the focus of our attention until this issue is resolved.

It is my hope that Governor Ted Kulongoski, Senator’s Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith, and Central Point's Mayor, Hank Williams, will consider issuing public statements that condemn the disturbing and damaging message delivered by Michael Savage.  Perhaps your examples of leadership will prompt Talk Radio Network to act responsibly, as they should have from the beginning

I am also hopeful that Oregon’s media outlets will draw attention to this matter that is of significant importance to the Autism community.

Respectfully,

Derrick Jeffries
(Father of a 12 year old son with Autism, and brother of a sister with Autism who has resided in mental health institutions for over 42 years)   derrick_jeffries@bestmail.us