Published on 12, July, 2020
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/19/hans-asperger-aided-and-supported-nazi-programme-study-says
I have to say that since I first read Steve Silbermann's book 'Neurotribes' about a year plus ago, I have been wondering if it was entirely the case that Asperger tried to keep his subjects away from the Nazi euthanasia programme. This morning's headline is thus no great surprise. And as Sachs-Cohen and Silbermann have already indicated their belief in the emerging facts, I'm not about to get too emotive about it. Regardless of DSM-5, my diagnostician decided it was still a valid term for an older adult who had lived for some years with some knowledge of that label. And I'm not about to avoid that label, myself. I suppose I might as well be the first person on the forum to ask what happens next, because I would guess that not everyone will be quite so philosophical about it as me. I have to admit, I have never really taken very kindly to 'aspie'. I find it a bit patronising; but I'm now wondering if some of that discomfort is down to the fact that I have sort of half expected that the hero thing was not quite the full story. And Kanner, for all his input, wasn't beyond criticism either.
''Carol Povey, director at the National Autistic Society in the UK’s Centre for Autism, said: “We expect these findings to spark a big conversation among autistic people and their family members, particularly those who identify with the term ‘Asperger’. Obviously no one with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome should feel in any way tainted by this very troubling history.”
I have just discovered (entirely by accident) that there is a book just three days away from publication. The author is Edith Sheffer. 'Asperger's Children: The Origins of Autism in Nazi Vienna'.
https://www.amazon.com/Aspergers-Children-Origins-Autism-Vienna/dp/0393609642/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=
A very brief preview read indicates that the author has been in contact with Czech. I also briefly noted that she has a son diagnosed Asperger's, but it would appear both parent and son question that label's usefulness somewhat. I have read Czech's paper twice, but still haven't really found myself too much at odds with either the author or his subject. That might work out the same with this book, I imagine. I probably will try to read it, but not perhaps too soon. Having already had some contact with folks who question the label of a diagnosis on the spectrum, I kind of reckon this book also probably isn't really going to change my outlook that much; although there may well be some benefits from critiquing certain stereotypes.
We should stop saying “Asperger.” It’s one way to honor the children killed in his name as well as those still labeled with it. - Edith Sheffer
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/31/opinion/sunday/nazi-history-asperger.html
I'm concerned that this book could be the most prominent watershed in the evolution of AS and psychology in general since the publication of Uta Frith's book in 1991. The biggest difference is that Uta Frith is from the medical profession and set out to first and foremost publicise a medical condition rather than honour a person. Edith Sheffer is an historian who appears to have first and foremost written a book to vilify a person and obliterate his name from both formal use and respectable conversation.
It's possible that Asperger Syndrome could become an offensive term like referring to people with Down's Syndrome as a Mongol.
Arran said:The biggest difference is that Uta Frith is from the medical profession and set out to first and foremost publicise a medical condition rather than honour a person.
Absolutely :-)
Arran said:Edith Sheffer is an historian who appears to have first and foremost written a book to vilify a person and obliterate his name from both formal use and respectable conversation.
This person could also learn to be compassionate with herself, and show respect for others.
Cassandro said:Glad it made you smile - it was a deliberate reference both to Georg and Anni Frankl (who fled Germany before the war), and to our reputation for blunt honesty
The deliberate reference to the Frankl's was part of the smile factor for me ~ with the smile content involving their romance starting at the University of Vienna in the 1920s, which I started reading about (on account of Czech's paper) from John E Robison's 2016 paper: Kanner, Asperger, and Frankl: A third man at the genesis of the autism diagnosis:
https://www.wm.edu/sites/neurodiversity/images/Robison%20Autism%20Article.pdf
If that is or has not already been of interest perhaps.
Cassandro said:Dropping the name 'Asperger' would be nowhere near as severe as editing people from history.
Dropping the name 'Asperger' is though editing the identity of someone from written history.
Cassandro said:Harvey Weinstein is not going to be edited from the history of cinema, but it's just that we're unlikely to name an award after him now, unless it's ironic and for something nefarious.
I do not relate with how it is an honour for people to have their name mentioned in relation to their work ~ awards as honours for a person's work; yes I relate with that no problems. But dropping peoples names from 'their' work ~ I am not into that personally.
Cassandro said:By the way, both, it's Oskar Schindler. Otto Schindler was a rower, according to the unreliable Wikipedia.
Ah ~ pedantic collaboration bonus! Thank you ~ your correction is very much appreciated :-)
We cannot choose how we are diagnosed and it is not practical to give Jewish people a different diagnoses. It is not really a Jewish issue and if it was changed to Wing Syndrome Asperger would not be edited from history. I am not sure if Hans Asperger was alive today whether he would have prosecuted and if he was whether he would have been found guilty. Israel would not have been interested in Hans Asperger as he was not accused of killing Jews. His defence would have been that he did not himself kill anyone himself. I did read somewhere that Germans who killed disabled people were not dealt with as strictly as those accused of killing Jews. Again what I think does not make any difference to the issue whether Hans Asperger would have been sent to prison. The point is as Hans Asperger might have co-operated with murdering disabled children he should not be honoured.
We can be sure that Lorna Wing was not involved in Eugenics so we can give the honour to her.
I mentioned Oskar Schindler as he saved Jews by giving Jews jobs and Deep thought said that Hans Asperger saved the lives of high functioning Autistic people by saying they could be useful to the third Reich. If that is the case then there is some similarity to Oskar Schindler as Oskar Schindler saved Jews by giving them jobs.