Page 59 - Fall2011
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Tim’s DVD Reviews








                Autism Now                                    Clearly, Dr. Amaral is trying very hard not to
                Public Broadcasting System                admit that genetics are a dead end to explain the
                http://www.pbs.org/newshour/news/autism/   current explosion of autism cases, but if he can't
                                                          do any better than that, I am forced to conclude
                    Robert MacNeil was inspired to do a six-part  that genetics are a dead end, especially when
                PBS series on autism because his grandson Nick  significant genetic aberrations are historically
                is autistic. In the first segment we are introduced  not known to arise out of thin air in only a few
                to Nick and his mother Alison and learn about  decades.
                his case in particular.                       Much more mindless babble from experts
                    Robert and Alison both seem to understand  is followed by an exploration of the impact of
                that autism involves more than just what is above  autism on the nation's education system. New
                the neck. There clearly are digestive and other  York City schools have more than seven thousand
                issues involved that require a whole body ap-  students with autism. Schools in general are over-
                proach to the condition. Alison also noticed that  loaded and don't have the resources to deal with
                trouble started after a vaccination was given to  the flood of autistic students. This is yet another
                Nick. MacNeil's response was, "I understand  one of many ways public schools don't make the
                Alison's suspicion, but public health authorities  grade.
                say there is no scientifically valid evidence that     The ensuing section points up the lack of
                vaccines cause autism. And Alison found little  government programs for adults with autism. Ap-
                support from the developmental pediatrician."  parently everyone with autism is doomed without
                That attitude sets the tone for the remainder of  government help. Here we go with more inside-
                the series.                               the-box thinking that I don't quite follow. If the
                    The next segment examines a family with  government is so good at solving problems, why
                three autistic boys. It is not surprising that the  have cancer rates gone up so much since Nixon
                oldest has the least severe problem and the  declared war on cancer almost forty years ago?
                youngest has the most severe autism. Then it is  And how is Johnson's even older war on poverty
                time for the experts to weigh in. This goes about  going?                            If the
                as well as it always does when you see experts     I suppose since PBS only exists thanks to   government is
                on TV. There are always many, many words,  government funding, that attitude is to be ex-  so good
                some of them ridiculously long, which can all  pected. The final section continues a little further
                be analyzed, distilled down and summarized by  down that path by asking how taxpayers who are   at solving
                three simple words: We don't know.        already overloaded will handle the additional   problems, why
                    Dr. David Amaral provides a classic example  burden. Consistent with the rest of the series,   have cancer
                of expert doublespeak: "Clearly, thirty years ago  there are no real answers to these questions ei-
                we didn't know any genes that conferred risk  ther. This series may be useful for raising aware-  rates gone up
                of autism. Now, we know that there's at least  ness if you don’t get much news in your cave but   so much
                twenty or more that seem to be associated with  if you are looking for any innovative ideas you   since Nixon
                autism. The interesting thing, though, is that any  will be disappointed and my disappointed but
                particular gene that you might find that is related  not surprised thumb is DOWN.    declared war
                to autism is only related to about 1 to 2 percent                                    on cancer
                of the cases of autism. So there—I think what's                                      nearly forty
                clear now is that there's not going to be a single
                autism gene. But there are many, many."                                              years ago?
 Wise Traditions   FALL 2011  FALL 2011                    Wise Traditions                                           59





         82725_WAPF_Txt.indd   59                                                                                    9/15/11   2:01 PM
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