Why ALL Politicians should have Autism

     With the presidential election drawing near, I have found my social media swell up with political “quotations,” shared he said, she said “statements,” and more Hilary vs. Trump meme’s then I care to remember. I have read online arguments, “DIRECT” statements (that have never actually been HEARD by the person sharing them,) and mudslinging to a degree that could only be warranted by an actual blood relative of the candidate. I read and see them all and I often wonder what IS and ISN’T the actual truth? This triggered me to dig deeper into who and what I would look for in a political leader, and my very first thought was my autistic son.
      I didn’t think of him because I long to be the mother of the future President of the United States. I thought of him because of the autism traits and characteristics he possesses. Often times these traits and characteristics come across or are viewed as being negative, but if you really think about how people with autism view the world and the people in it, these autistic qualities make them the perfect political candidate.
      For example, my autistic son is six years old and has never told me a lie. Not one! He would make the perfect eye witness to a crime. He has never stretched the truth or even hinted towards anything otherwise. Whether he doesn’t know how to lie, or doesn’t understand the concept I couldn’t tell you, but what I can tell you is that I find his honesty in any and all situations an absolute blessing! Every answer with my son is cut and dry. It’s black or it’s white. He is a mirror of honesty, even if it means getting himself into trouble. And often times it does! He’s like the original Jim Carey character from the movie Liar Liar. What if ALL political figures didn’t have the ability to lie? What if every answer they gave and every statement they made was done with 100% honesty, EVEN if it meant throwing themselves and their character under the bus? Can you even imagine? Or what if instead of just “making up” an answer when asked a question they didn’t have the answer to, they answered with a simple “I don’t know?” Would you find their honesty endearing or criticize them for not having all the answers? In my eyes, a leader (political or otherwise) should be a beacon of truthfulness and honesty. We shouldn’t have to sift through the “lies” when voting for a political candidate. We shouldn’t expect them to have all the answers, and then condemn them if they don’t. My son with autism has taught me that honesty even in the face of self-detriment, hurts myself and other people far less than covering up the truth. Because yes, the truth does hurt, but lies and deceptions disguised as honesty spouted off for the use of personal gain and recognition hurts and looks much worse.
      My autistic son also doesn’t know how to discriminate. It doesn’t matter if you are white, black, purple, pink, use a wheelchair or walker, are old or young, male or female, have one leg or six legs, my son only sees a person. Does he notice the obvious differences in other people? Absolutely he does, but he doesn’t think twice about them and he definitely doesn’t know how to judge you by them. With my son, if ANY person regardless of color, gender, disability, or ethnicity is willing to accept him and enter into his world if even just for a second then you have a friend for life! Imagine seeing the world without discrimination, segregation, or prejudice of any kind? Imagine a world where everybody IS created equal and treated that way. Imagine if EVERYBODY had this ability? My son with autism doesn’t have to imagine this world, he already lives in it.
      My autistic son also has no concept of judging others. He doesn’t know how to “sling mud,” make fun of others or put them down for his own amusement and personal gain. He may point out that you wear glasses or walk with a limp, but he certainly isn’t going to call you “four eyes", or "peg leg.” My son has no concept of how to mock other people and I have absolutely no intention of teaching him how to belittle others. If my son says something about another person that makes other people laugh, I can guarantee you it was said as a genuine statement and not in any way as a personal insult. As Americans, we value our 1st amendment right to freedom of speech and we absolutely should continue to do so, but at what point did we start teaching our children to use it as slander? When did freedom of speech evolve into freedom of insult? My child will learn to use his 1st Amendment right, and he will always be encouraged to speak his mind, but not at the expense of other people. He will learn that having this freedom IS our right, but he will also learn the RIGHT way to utilize it.
      My six year old son with autism lives in a world I can only imagine. Even with lights being brighter, sounds being louder, and smells being more potent, he still finds a way to make it through every day. He’s still the first to notice a flower in a weed filled garden and even at six years old he has the ability to see the good in this world that is often overlooked by prejudice and discrimination. My son truly views our country as a single solitary unit. He doesn’t put people into different categories according to their social status or class. To him, we really are just people, and because of that he doesn’t have the ability to treat us any other way but equal.
      I would never wish for my son to be the President of the United States because unfortunately we live in a world where our differences have made us a target for ridicule and humiliation. We live in world where our future political leader has the ability and is even encouraged to manipulate our 1st amendment right from freedom of speech to freedom of libel and slander for nothing more then votes in a popularity contest. I wouldn’t wish to have this world strip my child of characteristics that are genuine and pure to his nature. These qualities are a true gift and will forever speak volumes about his character. I wouldn’t wish for my child to “learn” how to lie, cheat, discriminate, and judge others according to standards being set by other people. I have no doubt that my son with autism WILL make an excellent leader someday in whatever he chooses to do, my fear doesn’t lie within HIM, it lies within the future of our country.
      So this year I have decided NOT to base my vote according to political affiliation. This year I will be casting my vote on the person that BEST resembles my son with autism. This year I am not voting Republican or Democrat…I’m voting Autistic.