Autism, Martin Luther King, and Character

Reflections of MLK Day

Aloha, Irene here stepping onto my soapbox...

What does the strength of character mean to someone on the autism spectrum?

They may not be able to articulate an answer, however I believe people with autism have strength of character measured in ways often unseen by neurotypicals.

How often is, “strength of character” as Dr. Martin Luther King uses the term in his speech, “I Have a Dream” bypassed or dismissed by those who do not reflect it themselves?

Think about this a moment;

Is it possible to recognize character strengths without possessing them?

Or would one dismiss the behaviors as odd or even as an oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)?

Seen today the behaviors of Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King are generally considered character strengths, yet their behaviors at the time were considered by many to be deviant and defiant.

So I ask again, is it possible to recognize strength of character if one does not possess the same character traits?

Here is my dream:

One day we will live in a world that accepts even the differences that are not as easily detected as skin coloring. One day we will embrace diversity as the key to the eternal kingdom.