Is it true that people with Asberger's Syndrome lack patriotism?
91806
I can assure you that the TV station that gave you that information is grossly misinformed, Asperger's sufferers are not genetically predisposed to like or dislike thier home-town, city or country. \nIn such matters Asperger's sufferers are no different from any other people you may know, some will like thier environment, others will not. \nI myself have Aspergers and although I am not a major sports fan, I am always proud when my local team wins. I have great pride in my country and feel no strong hatred towards any nation, and niether do any of the aspergers sufferers I have encountered.\nIf the news station did in fact get their research results from Asperger's sufferers, then I can assure you that the results are in no way connected to the disorder.\n\nFor a full explanation of Asperger's Syndrome you can look here...\nhttp://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html
1185882
I am a conservative and I have some liberal friends.  Though we differ on certain issues we do have one thing in common and that is we are patriotic.  There are extreme liberals that spew with anti American rhetoric and those that do not.
1008277
Theories suggesting a psychological cause were originally the most widely accepted, but the majority opinion is now that Asperger syndrome is at least partly genetic.\n\nThe overwhelming majority of available information on Asperger syndrome relates to children; there is currently more conjecture than hard evidence on how it affects adults. It is thought that most people with Asperger syndrome learn to cope with their social impairments later in life.[citation needed] However, there is no "cure" as such, and some people, including prominent clinicians such as Attwood and some of those diagnosed with Asperger's, would strenuously argue that a cure is neither possible nor desirable (see "A gift and a curse" and "Culture" below), mainly pointing out that the syndrome is a hereditary trait and attempts to "cure" or eliminate it would be an example of eugenics. Organizations such as Cure Autism Now disagree; this remains a highly controversial area.\n\nAlthough they are not recognised as often, there are adults with Asperger's. Adults are not as regularly treated, yet they still have similar problems as children. They may find it difficult gaining a job or getting into undergrad or graduate schools because of poor interview skills or a low score on Standardized or Personality tests, due to this they may be more vulnerable to poverty than the general population. If they do get a job they may become victims of bullying or be misunderstood at work. They may also have difficulty finding a life partner and getting married because of poor social skills. Even later in life, many people with Asperger's report a feeling of being unwillingly detached from the world around them. On the other hand there is a large group of Asperger adults who do get married, get a doctorate from a fine university, and hold a job; it just depends on the individual. More research is needed on adults with Asperger's.
408584
The possibility that patriotism can be bad is real. The idea that it is always and inevitable bad is very narrow minded thinking. \nSome, like myself, where not raised to be patriotic or even respectful of the country we where born. As an adult I am patriotic because I love my country. It is out of the respect for my countries most beloved beliefs that this patriotism was born out of. \nThe idiocy you spoke of is not entirely because of patriotism, much of the insanity is from just that, insanity. To lump up the crazed actions of many and put one label on it is again, narrow minded thinking. I don't mean this in a critical way, I think patriotism can be looked at from several perspectives and not only the one you speak of.
1053053
Yes. There's a difference between arrogance and pride. Why do so many people forget that.
1017777
Interesting, that could be a part of it. I think that people who have these tendencies and are incapable of fitting in or functioning in normal society tend to gravitate toward places like the military or priesthood because it offers them an escape from the rest of the world. They can hide behind collar or camouflage (or clown make up).
779301
Ironically, yes patriotism could imply that depending on what your country believes in. For instance, in Nazi Germany it was quite patriotic to turn in Jews.\n\nHowever, what our country is supposed to believe in means that we stand up to those who propogate injustice. True patriots of this country are willing to die for what they believe in.\n\nA true patriot would not be intimidated by acts of terrorism. They wouldn't act like frightened sheep running to the proverbial sheperd hoping that he/she could protect them.\n\nA true patriot of this country doesn't suspend basic rights for people, citizen or not. A true patriot does not condone torture, as it is against everything that we stand for.\n\nA true patriot does not take away the rights of the many in the name of security.\n\nTrue patriots of this country have an event like 9-11 happen and say, "Is that all you got?!". True patriots don't let fear change the way they live.\n\nIn this day and age, our country is lacking in true patriots.\n\n~X~
750339
Well, depending on what kind of "mentally challenged" you mean, the answer could be yes or no.\n\nThere are several kinds of neurological disorders that result in a brain that is simply differently wired, with IQs in the normal range or higher. Because the brain is extremely adaptable, it will often compensate for deficits in one area by making other areas work more efficiently. That's why a blind person often has very good hearing: He doesn't have any visual input to process; so his brain specializes on the next most informative sense: Hearing.\n\nSome disorders are like that. ADHD is associated with originality; autism with very good visual-spatial skills; bipolar disorder with creative talent, especially in the arts. So people with these disorders are also more likely to have talents that people without them don't have. People with these disorders look at them as mixed blessings, or even as gifts.\n\nI don't know what it's like to be anyone but myself; so I don't know which disorders other than my own (Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of autism) fit into the category I just described. And I do consider AS to be a gift, in some ways. I'm socially clumsy, and I can't tolerate some sensory input; but I also have very good logical reasoning skills, I approach problems in original ways, and I have quite a lot of talents in my areas of special interest.\n\nBut all in all, people with psychological, neurological, or biological isorders that affect their mental functioning have one big problem: They are square pegs trying to fit into round holes. They are not the majority; so the world is not designed for them. It could be prejudice or the need for accomodations or some aspect of the disorder itself; but being ill-suited for the world you live in can be a difficult thing. Even your talents may not be the sort of thing the world is looking for.\n\nRegarding people with low IQs and severe disorders with no positive aspects. Individual personalities may indeed make them feel superior to others, just as neurologically average people may feel superior to people in general, whether their IQs are higher or lower than their own; but that seems to be a personality trait unconnected to any disorder.\n\nFrom what I can tell, all but the most profoundly affected are aware that they are different; but in a loving family, with good support and the accomodations they need to live in the world, they need not feel inferior or unwanted. These folks have the same goal that any of us have--the pursuit of happiness, in whatever form that takes for them; and why should a happy life ever be called an inferior one?
492258
no. \nits a steretype. like, im irish, so automatically ppl think i drink alot. \nand i know a german girl, and ppl think she should know hitler or something. we all deal with them, sadly
547830
Many of the worlds most intelligent and famous people throughout history had special needs. One example is Albert Einstein.  He was doing very poorly in school and the teachers did not like him and thought he was just a slacker. His mother had to take him out of school and decided to home school. He was a genius. \n\nMost people who are special needs eg. ADD,ADHD,DYSLEXIA, etc usually have 'above' average intelligence. The can have memory problems and seem out of it but anyone who knows them, is aware that this is not about intelligence.\n\nPeople who do not understand them tend to 'treat' them poorly and unless they get 'a lot' of strong support elsewhere they can fail at life because of their very low self esteem - but not because they are dumb. \n\nSo it is mistreatment that leaves them winding up in prisons, correction facilities etc. Many are already convinced that they are 'losers' in grade 'one.' They have been destroyed while still babes - unless there is intervention. Public abuse because of ignorance is their real downfall.  \n\nDon't listen to the comments about SPELL CHECK. Everybody makes mistakes, and your question was 'perfectly' understandable. Only a moron would have trouble understanding it. The others are just being cruel.
1163411
I'm thankful I live in my country. My pride only extends to things that I or my loved ones have accomplished. To feel pride for a country means that you feel that the people of that country are superior to the other people of the world, which is xenophobic and ignorant. I am, however, pleased to benefit from the democratic system our forefathers (whom I would not blame at all for being proud of their work) constructed. And I am proud of myself for participating in this democratic system by voting and by making my voice heard, even when it is in opposition to the current administration.\n\nI am not, however, proud of the actions of the current administration. I am ashamed and embarrased of them. In fact, I consider it my duty and my right to fight for our democratic system and our liberties by opposing anyone who tries to destroy them, even if that is the President himself.\n\nPatriotism isn't about blind obedience. It's about doing what's necessary to make sure your country makes the right choices and goes in the right direction. Those who remain silent in the name of patriotism as their leaders cheat, lie, and swindle not only our own people but the rest of the world should be ashamed, not proud, of their behavior.
1069212
I hope so, since it is a Communists society - Russia, Germany under Hitler, Japan during WWII. \n\nI do think we lack respect & pride in our country.
438774
Asperger Syndrome or (Asperger's Disorder) is a neurobiological disorder named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 published a paper which described a pattern of behaviors in several young boys who had normal intelligence and language development, but who also exhibited autistic-like behaviors and marked deficiencies in social and communication skills. In spite of the publication of his paper in the 1940's, it wasn't until 1994 that Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM IV and only in the past few years has AS been recognized by professionals and parents. \n\nIndividuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting". \n\nBy definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with AS often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context. \n\nAt this time there is a great deal of debate as to exactly where AS fits. It is presently described as an autism spectrum disorder and Uta Frith, in her book AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, described AS individuals as "having a dash of Autism". Some professionals feel that AS is the same as High Functioning Autism, while others feel that it is better described as a Nonverbal Learning Disability. AS shares many of the characteristics of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Not otherwise specified), HFA, and NLD and because it was virtually unknown until a few years ago, many individuals either received an incorrect diagnosis or remained undiagnosed. For example, it is not at all uncommon for a child who was initially diagnosed with ADD or ADHD be re-diagnosed with AS. In addition, some individuals who were originally diagnosed with HFA or PDD-NOS are now being given the AS diagnosis and many individuals have a dual diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. \n\nFor your information, I've included below a copy of the DSM IV Description. In addition, I've also added a more down-to-earth description that was originally posted to the autism listserv. \n\nMore at the websites below. Lots of good sites for info. I knew someone (adult) w/Asperger's. They have no social cues so it makes it really hard to be around them or be friends.
230062
Roydiez put my thoughts into words exactly.  There are better ways then commiting suicide to be humanitarian or patriotic.  Charities.  Volunteering. Raising families. Teaching others how to be decent human beings.\n\nOverblown patriotism (nationalism) does humanity more harm than good.  Both World Wars are examples of that.
1128895
It is unfortunate. Can stem from many things. A need to feel good about themselves by putting someone else down. Insecurity in needing to feel 'normal', thus drawing attention to the differences. Ignorance. Maybe their parents used words like 'retarded'. \n\nGod made special needs people, in part, to show us how fortunate we are to be blessed in the way God blessed us. These people are special because they were created by God to teach the rest of us humility, compassion and the Golden Rule.
224819
YES! YES! and again yes.As you are already aware, in this world today,ecspecially in the Good Ole USA,you are either politically correct,bury your head in the sand,or speak out and be a radical trouble causing ungrateful citizen which is one step short of being a terrorist yourself.\nI'll just stop here.Thanks for letting me answer.
522249
that's because patriotism is the only sentiment we can consider as selfless .Heroes are not those who perform marvelous acts in films .the real Heroes are those who fight for the pride of their nation even at the verge of death as they are not individuals but representation of a whole country.