How to raise a Black Son

Je Suis Charlie

 

I am very angry at what has happened in France over the last couple fo days. The killings at Charlie Hebdo, the hostage situation and killings at a Kosher grocery, the feelings of distress, loss, sadness, anger, despair and unsettlement not just in France, but around the world.

Why? Just why? Why would people do such terrible things? Protecting your set of twisted beliefs?

As i’ve said on the picture above, if you want to start killing people to protect your beliefs, start with yourself!!!

Aside from the fact that these idiots unsettled the whole world, they are misrepresenting the whole of Islam and the Muslim population. Islam is a religion that teaches peace and loving one another, not killing because some magazine joked about you.

Je Suis Charlie

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A gentle reminder

 

…or unless SOCIETY tells them not to.

Never Miss a Chance to Make Someone Happy

Today’s Prompt: It turns out that your neighbor on the plane/bus/train (or the person sitting at the next table at the coffee shop) is a very, very chatty tourist. Do you try to switch seats, go for a non-committal brief small talk, or make this person your new best friend?

There is a chance that some of the people that I meet everyday is carrying a burden, a problem, a disappointment, or merely having  a bad day. Why would I refuse them the chance to off-load?

I will feel honoured if anyone talks to me randomly on the bus, plane, train or coffee shop. Regardless of what they want to talk about, I will listen intently. They may talk about their lives, their families, their holidays, or possible that horrible boss that they have. It doesn’t matter. I will listen.

On the flip side, I could be the one who is in a foul mood. A conversation with a person who I do not know and would probably not see again could actually help lower my blood pressure and restore my calmness. Wouldn’t that be nice?

BUT…

It is also possible that they do not have the same beliefs and ideologies as I do, but heck, I am open to an intellectual debate. I know I will learn something from them, and they will learn something from me.

What about those ones who are close-minded, rude, or inappropriate? I will still talk to them. After all……discrimination and prejudice is learned.

 

Never EVER say these to people with Autism!!!

There have been far too many times that I have heard people say these phrases to people with Autism. Frankly, I am fed up with it.

More on Autism:

He flaps his hands and screams a lot but he doesn’t mean to annoy you

Optimum Outcomes for people with Autism

DSM 5 and its implications to ASD diagnosis

Diagnosing Autism: What you need to know

Vote for Miss Montana 2012, Alexis Wineman

What does Autism mean?

What is PDD-NOS?

Communication difficulties in Autism

Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper: Asperger’s Syndrome’s Poster Boy?

Still unsure if Sheldon has Asperger’s?

DSM-V and Autism

The Autistic Me: BBC Documentary

Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds

Autism in the classroom:

Guide to parents of students with ASD on coping with the first day back to school

Common signs of Autism in the classroom

First day back to school: Top tips for parents of children with Autism

Practical tips to make your classroom Autism-Friendly

Inspiring People with Autism:

Dr. Temple Grandin

Jessica-Jane Applegate (British Paralympian)

Satoshi Tajiri (Pokemon creator)

Carly Fleischmann

More on Savants:

The Psychology of Savants: Memory Masters

Artists with Autism

The Einstein Effect: Is there a link between having Autism and being a genius?

Jane Elliot’s A Classroom Divided: A classic lesson in prejudice

This is an old documentary about Jane Elliot’s thought-provoking exercise. In 1968, she divided a class of third-graders into two groups- blue-eyed and brown-eyed and told the children that blue-eyed people are better than brown-eyed ones. Watch what happened:

 

 

What do you think about this? What can we learn from this?

Please drop me some lines on the comment box below.