Lordy be, sometimes it's exhausting having three children with autism. Oh, I don't mean my actual day to day life with Mia, Gianna and Bella. That's tiring of course, but parenthood wipes most of us mothers out by 9:00pm -- whether you're running to and from soccer practice or speech therapy, motherhood = tired. What's exhausting is this seemingly acceptable anger and bitterness toward parents of kids with autism, as evidenced by Michael Savage a few months ago and now by Denis Leary's rant (does he have another mode of communication?) in his new book titled... Nah, I'm not going to use the name of the book here. You can search Google for the title.
Here's a quote from it: "There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can't compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don't give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer kid is NOT autistic. He's just stupid. Or lazy. Or both."
Whattsamatta, Denis, my fellow Bahstonian, did you get a bad clam at Kelly's? When did we autism parents and our "junior morons" become the punching bag of the week? Or did you just include this particular rant because you know autism is prevalent in the news and it would generate publicity for you? That's what I think. I can see you sitting at your desk, well, maybe pacing anxiously back and forth, ruffling your hand through your thick hair, "I need a hook! I need to piss off people who will write about me. Autism! Those parents aaah crazy, rabid dahgs! I'm a freakin' GEEEN-ius! What a wicked awesome idea! Now, what the hell is autism? Who ce-ahs!"
I care, Denis. I care that your words imply that my three girls aren't seriously disabled like your good friend Michael J. Fox or worthy of respect. I've always enjoyed your brash, in your face humor. I love that you're a Boston Irishman. I think firemen are hot. But Denis, don't turn the hose on me and my kids. Please.
(PS) Click HERE to read the scorching letter just sent to The Leary Firefighter Foundation by a retired FDNY veteran who left his career to stay home and care for his son with autism.
(PS2) You should know that Denis Leary has issued a statement through PR Newswire: HERE.