It may seem odd to some that anyone would claim that speech is being discouraged when they themselves appear to be exercising their freedom by addressing such matters. However, talking or writing about freedom of speech is pointless around people who somehow believe that some written law is what provides them that right rather than belonging to an influential group who is less likely to experience intimidation for stating their opinion.
The silent not talking about how situations affect them is not due to a lack of written law that allows them to do that. As a matter of fact, it is the written law that promotes the false idea that this freedom extends to all people in the same way.
Intimidation can have a very strong hold on the population of people that have experienced a great deal of oppression. Abuse cuts people deep in the heart and soul and wounds their courage to express themselves more than anything else. The message of intimidation is a constant reminder to them that freedom of speech is never available to all parties within their culture.
The law regarding freedom of speech is a clever disguise that prevents needing to deal with the population that is oppressed for reasons that liberate the elite who oppress them. Rights are often stolen from abuse victims many times before they comply with a dull subservient existence. This is a very sad state indeed.
People who have learned to identify methods of intimidation and are willing speak up about them continue to be silenced by the claim that they are complaining, not providing criticism that is constructive, or not giving alternatives to the oppression they speak about.
This is the main reason that autistics are not being provided a voice. Those who continue to speak on behalf of autistic people continue to find new and creative ways of validating their intimidation.
The worst offender of this crime is not the cure and fix autism crowd but is instead those who are in the position to address that crowd and empower autistics but choose to comply with the majority mainstream so that they can gain power by sacrificing the voice of those who have been oppressed and forced to comply with the majority against their will.
I sincerely hope that groups such as ASAN will consider removing the burden of proof from those who are experiencing intimidation and stop their intolerance of criticism so that they may feel free to simply empower and listen to the voices who are not being heard.
