Aimee Jurista

Recent Activity

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  Aimee signed the petition | over 1 year ago

  Stop Iran from Executing Mother Accused of Adultery
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  Aimee signed the petition | about 2 years ago

  Keep the American Dream Alive for All Immigrants!
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  Aimee commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Causation, Correlation, and Ice Cream Sundaes

  Dawn, I can't imagine that you read or understood anything I said if you think that I am espousing that vaccines should *not* be part of autism research. That you would misinterpret my posts to support that notion, then follow up by saying that you will now refuse to read what I have to say based solely on what you perceive as a different viewpoint is precisely the reactionary response that saddens me within the autism community. It just seems so closed-minded and absolutist. In fact, the reason I specifically did not reveal my positon on the issue of vaccines was because I knew that if my *opinion*--not "objective fact," because I am open to ANY AND ALL research on the subject--were known, my point would be lost to those who refuse to accept any notions *of any kind*, vaccine-related or not, based entirely on that prejudice. In fact, before I so much as hinted at my opinion, both sides went right to their corners, dug in their heels, and began fighting to prove their own point regardless of the op-ed in question and my post about what it was that frustrated me about the way people behave when possible correlation is misconstrued as irrefutable fact.
  
  It saddens me that this conversation has done nothing to dispel my original point, but has only reinforced it. I look forward to the day when supporting each other is more important than being "right."
  

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  Aimee commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Causation, Correlation, and Ice Cream Sundaes

  Emily, I completely understand and I agree with your position. I just get very frustrated when no other discussion is possible when the debate gets hopelessly sidetracked into the same old inflammatory debates, even when the subject of the discussion has nothing to do with one position or another regarding vaccines. All it takes is one single-minded person to repeatedly take a discussion off-topic, and the result is that every topic is shoved into the same framework. It's just such as shame, and frustrating as hell for those of us who want to talk about more than one aspect of a phenomenally complex subject. 

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  Aimee commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  The Curious Incident of the IACC, Vaccines, and Autism Speaks

  Thank you so much for this. I am absolutely disgusted that no discussion of autism can take place, it seems, without devolving into an argument on the vaccine debate. How very sad and discouraging for those of us just trying to do our best to live and let live under what can be incredibly trying circumstances.

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  Aimee commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Causation, Correlation, and Ice Cream Sundaes

  Wow. This is exactly the kind of heels-dug-in surety I was referring to in my post. Instead of arguing about who's right and who's wrong, can't we look for common threads of support?
  
  Everyone, and I mean everyone, can point to this study or that anecdote to support their theory. But when everyone goes to their respective corner, sure of their position, unwilling to open their minds to the FACT that we simply cannot say with certainty--or even likelihood--that one factor or another causes autism, we do ourselves and our children a disservice by misdirecting our energy toward pointless tit-for-tat.
  
  Believe what you want. Put your energy into exploring whatever avenue it is you feel is important for you to explore. Just do me, and everyone else affected by autism, the same courtesy without anger and judgment. This path is tough enough to hoe without it.
  

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  Aimee commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Causation, Correlation, and Ice Cream Sundaes

  I very much appreciate this as I have experienced frustration and even anger interacting with friends and families affected by autism who believe in their right to a pet theory (and subsequent course of treatment) without affording the same respect to others (I'm thinking specifically of the vaccination debate.) I think more openness to all the possibilities as well as more respect and compassion for an incredibly wide range of experience would go a long way to better address common goals.