Asperger's Conversations

Got Hate (cont)

It has been over a week since I first contacted the Keene Police Department about swastikas on the bikepath, and I felt the need to report on progress:  One down, and one to go.  One of the two swastikas (the one in picture #1 from my previous blog entry) has been spray painted over,  while the one in picture #2 remains.  Of course, a lot of offensive material remains and while I am sympathetic to the frustration of the owner (Harry O'Connor who owns a company called Findings in Keene, NH) the best way to stop graffiti is to cover it up ASAP.  This removes "the reinforcer" of the graffiti writer who pleasures in "seeing his tag" or work.  The New York City Sanitation Dept. and Subway System learned this when they finally cleaned up the New York City Subways for good by scrubbing trains quickly when they became graffitied.  The end result:  No more graffiti on the subways.

On a more positive note, blog pioneer Jon Udell has made terrific contribution to our community by using google maps to pinpoint "hot spots" that could use some citizen help.  Using GPS, google maps, and a digital camera, anyone can now alert fellow citizens where they can help clean up some trash and other problems of that sort.  I'm getting my trash bag and heading up there tomorrow, Jon!

Got Hate?

Walking along the bike path where I live in Keene, New Hampshire, I notice a couple of swastikas spraypainted on the walls of the old Waltham Screw Company, just a few hundred yards from Railroad Square downtown.   I emailed the pics to a couple of colleagues and friends, one of whom urged me to call the Keene police.  I had called it in 3 days ago, so I decided to walk back today and check out the scene...but sadly the swastikas are still there.  In defense of the KPD, they might be working toward some sort of resolution, so I'll check back in a few more days. 

When I showed these images to a teenage client of mine with Asperger's, he remarked simply, "That's just stupid."  And I couldn't agree more! There is something elegant and inspiring about the moral expression of many of my clients and friends with Asperger's.  They have a way of "cutting to the chase" especially with regards to racism ("It's stupid).  If the KPD is trying to locate which buildings are involved, this last image in the sequence should give it away................

Ethnicity and the Kauai Flood

It is interesting that no one is talking about the racial and ethnic issues related to the fallout from the Kauai flood I reported on a week ago.  With thousands of tourists (and me as well) trapped on the north shore above the dam break no one talked about the sudden absence of certain services, including maid and cleaning services at the big resorts in Princeville.  You couldn't get your room cleaned or get towels for the pool...why?  The reason was that the "local" folks (some of whom are Hawaiian and other groups of lower economic status) must travel to the north shore from points south, including Anahola, where they can live more cheaply.  Almost no Hawaiians can live on the north shore any longer because the land has been bought up by rock stars, movie stars and (mostly) caucasion retirees living in condos in Princeville.  An area that is sacred to native Hawaiians, is no longer inhabited by Hawaiians, who are either dispersed or living in much more cramped quarters in Kapaa or Anahola.

When the dam broke, many folks panicked...buying out groceries at the Foodland in Princeville, gas at the Chevron station, and many others demanding helicopter rides to Lihue to be closer to the airport.  If you got the dough, you could fly out...but the local folks who work in the hotels couldn't pay to helicopter in to their low-paying jobs on the north shore.  Not exactly New Orleans, but worth mentioning.

NPR podcast on Asperger's

Lara Skinner from the Keene State College Technology group passed on this wonderful 5 minute radio piece of a Mother-child dialogue on Asperger's Syndrome.   I don't usually post podcasts other than my own, but this one is worth a listen.  What a great idea to get the child with Asperger's to interview the parent, rather than the other way around.  This harps on the idea that we need to become more "child centered" or "person centered" in our approach to helping and understanding these individuals.

north shore Kauai flood

It seems that wherever I go, the waters arrive.  I'm on the north shore of Kauai which is a disaster area following heavy rains.  I've been stuck way up in Haena for a couple of days after the bridge above Princeville went out.  Today, I managed to squeek over the bridge and am spending the night in Princeville, but can't make it past Kilauea because the only road out is washed out.  Listening to the radio, we learned that at least 7 people are missing (perhaps 11 according to my friend Larry Loganbill who talked to me via cell from Moloaa Bay), and at least 4 houses have disappeared.

We've heard that people on the north shore are hoarding gasoline, which is funny since there's no where to go!  We're hoping that tourists and residents alike stay put, relax, and wait this one out in a cooperative way.

Yesterday I interviewed a 15 year old girl named Anna who talks about kids on the island with developmental disabilities (I'll podcast asap).  I hope to meet local musician Sashamon tomorrow to talk about his music and post on the WKNH (College Radio) web page.  His local Kauai styled music is terrific and worth a listen!