NYC – Conservative radio host Michael Savage will have his hands full on Monday.
In response to his controversial comments about children with autism, Autism United and angry parents will hold a major protest outside WOR Radio studios in Manhattan on Monday afternoon.
They will be calling for the firing of the radio jock and asking for a boycott by parents of children with autism of all stations carrying his signal. Savage outraged the autism community recently by saying 99 percent of children suffering with autism are “brats” and “morons” on his national syndicated radio show.
Media Matters for America on Sunday condemned Savage for his comments.
“What Michael Savage said was foolish, mean-spirited, and hurtful,” said J. Jioni Palmer, spokesman for Media Matters. “It’s unfortunate he would use his radio program to make fun of and belittle these kids. Instead of ridicule and cheap shots, the children suffering from autism and asthma and their families need support and compassion.”
During the July 16 edition of his show, Savage claimed that autism is “[a] fraud, a racket. … I’ll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out. That’s what autism is. What do you mean they scream and they’re silent? They don’t have a father around to tell them, ‘Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.’ ”
Talk Radio Network, which syndicates The Savage Nation, claims that Savage is heard on more than 350 radio stations. The Savage Nation reaches at least 8.25 million listeners each week, according to Talkers Magazine, making it one of the most listened-to talk radio shows in the nation, behind only The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Sean Hannity Show.
Over 2 million children and adults have autism. One out of every 150 children is diagnosed with autism today.
(Source: CBS2 HD / WCBSTV)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
65 Responses
YESHIVA WORLD 24/6 WOW KEEP IT UP
He’s still extremely entertaining. I can see what he meant by this comment, not necessarily on the autism , asthma kids. These days every child is diagnosed with another something… and it helps children be excused. Of course, with all due respect for children that really suffer from things. But a friend of mine had a student a few years ago that didn’t behave and wasn’t interested in writing notes or studying, when approached by the teacher she said: ” what do you mean, I was diagnosed with ADHD so that means I can’t really do any work in school” WHen we grew up, if someone did have a problem, she fought it, she tried, she never spoke about; trying to achieve her level of perfection and then married, sometimes even greater Talmidei Chachamim than the real smart girls because of the consientiousness, perseverence, and handling of pressure… THese illnesses should not be an excuse, unless if it is really severe. What Michael savage meant was those that are diagnosed because that’s the thing to do… I’m sure.
I have always enjoyed Mr. Savage. Especially because he is a yid. But here he went too far. He made a mistake and I sure hope he apologizes. Even that may not be enough.
Wow, you’d think he would have learned his lesson from what happened with Don Imus…
BSD
A new Man De’omar. I don’t think that at the Yeshiva World we should be quoting such jews. Nebach!
Savage is a savage. Not worth a dime.
It’s not the first time he put his foot in his mouth…
Its not right to take one excerpt from him and take it out of context, savage is the only one who speaks the truth where all the others just keep saying the same talking points he says it like it is. if you dont like the heat get out of the kitchen turn him off. the truth is he wasn’t talking about the cases that we are familiar with, in the world they label a kid autistic ADD Etc.. give Ritalin much to quickly. just watch who do you think will be protesting it wont be the nice mommy’s with nebach a autistic child . It will be some shrill liberals who all they want to do is get him off the air they couldn’t care less about autistic children savage on the other hand does care about autistic children thats why it bothers him when people take advantage of the label, just not to deal with the real problem
I think his comments are a disgrace. I am a speech therapist who deals with children/families like this on a regular basis. Savage bashing them is heartless, and shows what an ignorant individual he is. People should really ban his show, as he is a piece of garbage.
Savage is a poor excuse for a human being if he can make such heartless comments like he did. I am a therapist who deals with children/families who have to deal with this REAL and unfortunate diagnosis. His show needs to be banned temporarily until he learns humanity skills.
what ever happaned to free speech ?
if you don’t like what he says, don’t listen to him,
what’s this country coming to, if you don’t like someone, get him fired.
how about calling a protest on this website because its discriminatory to non jews, by the name being “yeshiva” news
I guess Michael Savage is a brat who does not have a father to tell him cut the act out. That’s what autism is. He does not have a father around to tell them, ‘Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.’ ”
Having a severely autistic family member, I find his comments highly offensive and uneducated.
Thanks to organizations such as Hasc for all the help they give these children and the relief they afford the parents.
I predict that savage will apologize.
“…Media Matters for America on Sunday condemned Savage for his comments…”
This quote from the above article should ring an alarm bell in the minds of those who are familiar with the campaign to get Savage (Micvhael Wiener) off the air.
He is the most intelligent and hard-hitting of the Conservative talk-show hosts on the air, and he is the ONLY ONE who dares to take on the Islamic Jihadists, their fron groups CAIR, and the HashChoSo lobby.
They have been out to get him for a long time, and CAIR (Arab group) now has a pending lawsuit against him and a boycott.
The Media Matters organization is a Liberal group which records and monitors all Conservative talk-show host in an attempt to remove them from the airwaves, so that the Liberals will be left with monopoly control of the public discourse (Brainwashing).
Savage is highly qualified to make comments on health and medicine, since he has a doctorate in the health field.
His manner of expression may be aggressive and sometimes extreme, but he usually has a sound scientific and clinical basis for his comments.
I’m sure there are many genuinely sick children who are diagnosed as being autistic, especially now that the FDA has acknowledged a link between the sharp rise in Autism and the sharp increase in required vaccinations,
Savage is not referring tho these children. But there are other children who are just spoiled brats, who hide behind a fake diagnosis to shirk discipline and responsibility–those are the children Savage is referring to.
Look behind the rabble rousers and observe their true agenda–anything to get that effective Conservative talk-show host off the air.
I think Michael Savage is an opinionated idiot.It is hard to believe that he thinks Autism is just a ploy by some brats to act out. Obviously he doesn’t know anyone who has the heart break of parenting a child with autism. I personally am not too familiar with anyone in particular who is autistic, but, just from reading about it, I know it is a genuine disorder that parents and educators struggle daily to deal with and help these children.
that autism is “[a] fraud, a racket. … I’ll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out.”
First: SAVAGE is the brat and the moron.
Second: He should be allowed to explain himself…not sure how he’ll do that.
He’s right, every few years the psychs come up with a new Bubba Maaseh to excuse all the bad parenting (or lack of parenting)and suddenly 2 million Americans are autistic, five million are ADD, another 2 million are ADHD, and assorted other terutzim.
Of course there are real autists, and Savage doesn’t deny that, he just doesn’t go for the politics of victimhood…and he’s right for that.
Savage is a crackpot out to get attention for himself. Listen to Limbaugh if you feel a necessity for intelligent or humorous radio.
He is one hundred percent right .We live in a world of labeling . Its like you give someone Mussar , they tell you, I am not like that I am from a different type of crowd . As soon as they say that they labeled themselves so the Mussar doesn’t apply to them .
All the different groups that have crept uop in this generation is just another way so they could do whatever makes the feel comfortable. POREK OIL.
It works the same way in the education field , if you label someone automatically the expectations are not there , and only then does the funding come .
So what he was saying makes perfect sense and its very sad that the average person today has become so immune to the garbage of this generation .
#19 is Right
Although Autism is clearly a real thing, many cases or most cases are the consequence of laziness, “not my fault” and blame others- degrading society.
The whole article was taken out of context. He wasn’t referring to the people out there that sincerely suffer from this devastating illness. He was talking about the kids that misbehave and get written off as autism or and any other behavioral disorder syndrome. I remember growing up, kids that would step out of line in Yeshiva would have to go to the menahale’s or principles office which meant you would be punished by having to write 1,000 word essays about what you did and how you intend on not doing it again, or have your parents come down to further discuss this with them (Which in result, meant you were getting punished at home as well.), take away certain privileges like recess and so on. And everyone grew up, productive people of society. Today you have retarted liberals that say punishments like that are cruel. And if child act’s up, just drug him. That’s were the problem lye’s. Michael Savage sometime can be outrage, but he speaks the truth. If you don’t like it, that you’re right…. Turn the radio off. We have something in America called freedom of speech.
Savage is right. He obviously exaggerated the 99% figure, but it is certainly true that it’s also a racket, led by parents who get doctors to label their children as autistic in order that they should qualify for social benefits such as social security at age 3 etc.
My nephew has autism, so I have 100% compassion to the genuine cases (which there are plenty). Michael Savage had an older brother who had autism, and died as a child, and he has great loving words when he occasionally describes the affection he had for him, and how he was so protective over him. He relentlessly attacked Howard Stern for his satire of autistic children, and went as far as saying that he should be fired just because of his exploitation of the autistic population (pointing out that they can not defend themselves).
For this liberal hack organization to use such a personal issue of his life against him is disgusting. He more then anybody has earned the right to be irked when he sees cases of “autism fraud” when as a child he had to deal with a real case (his brother was an autistic paraplegic). Don’t forget that Dr. Savage is a yid, and is entitled to have limud zchus. He wrote a book titled healing children naturally, which further illustrates his affection for children.
Anybody has the right to disagree with his opinions, he’s merely one man’s opinion, and it’s America, but this character assassination is un-American especially in light of what I pointed out earlier.
basmelech — July 21, 2008 @ 9:55 am:
Obviously, you are not acting like a bas melech. Calling another yid an idiot when all you know is some liberal claptrap that is trying to pull the plug on freedom of speech. His own parents had the heart break of parenting a child with autism. His brother was an autistic paraplegic, so before you jump to conclusions, know the real disgrace; The liberals who took a statement of his totally out of context as part of their war against freedom of speech. If you want to join the Leninists, I suggest you become a member of Media Matters (the communist organization funded by anti Israel bigot George Soros).
It is a real shame that Mr. Savage said what he did. Autism is a documented neurological disorder. He has been one of the most fervent attackers of Arabs and their Islamist loving brethren.
But, sometimes I think he doesn’t realize that as a Jew there is unfortunately a double standard.
Divrei chachamim b’nachas nishma’im. Till there’s a bit of nachas, call him an entertainer if you’d like, but don’t make him our spokesman.
Savage is a genius; if not near prophetic. In this case, as in others, I think he is savagely wrong. Autism is not the ADD debacle. What he said was hurtful and probably exaggerated while he was riled up about something. But fire him? Why? Do we really want to hear someone who mirrors our own views on every issue? Can a media personality be right on target with all listeners in all issues? Can they not mispeak even?
What I find more outrageous are the naive and even arrogant views that we should not listen or post things about “this kind of jew” or why would a “frum” person listen to him. The most beautiful thoughts and gestures of kindness come from the frum community, but, in my experience, so have some of the most unacceptable from from other members. Only Hashem is the true judge to decide where each of us should be holding and if someone is a “valid jew” or not.
#12—free speech is indeed a valid point. However, not at the expense of insulting “special children” in need. When someone chooses to be in the spotlight, they need to be extremely cautious what they say. How would you feel if you had a dear relative who was autistic???? Would u b so blind sighted and liberal?????
veryinteresting —
Just the other day you were lecturing us all not to quote or rely on radio talk show pundits.
To quote you: many of you are influenced by the OTHER drive-by media, namely the Johnny Come Lately talk radio hosts… the Limbaugh guy…
Now this?
If you seek intelligence, Savage is the wrong channel. In fact, Limbaugh will get you far ahead of that crackpot egomaniac attention-seeker.
savage is NOT,has never been, nor ever will be a Jew!!!!!!!(Thank G-D!)
Hello Joseph.
Your big point aimed at me is no point at all. My post is ABOUT Savage. I did not use his terminology to express my views in a knee-jerk reaction to reading something I was too quick to judge.
The lecture I would have preferred you notice was that on people posting to others in a rude manner.
Feel free to have the last word, if you like, as I don’t intend to banter with you.
Hes no better then the liberal ranting crazed people out there esp. the fact that he calls people names all the time hes a pity
WOW I ALWAYS KNEW ALOT OF YIDDEN LISTENED TO HIM NEVER DREAMT SO SO MANY MAYBE HE REALLY HAS THE MOST LISTENERS FROM ALL TALK SHOWS
THIS IS A LETTER FROM HIS WEBSITE.
The Autism Controversy
My comments about autism were meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community’s attempt to label too many children or adults as “autistic.”
Just as some drug companies have overdiagnosed “ADD” and “ADHD” to peddle dangerous speed-like drugs to children as young as 4 years of age, this cartel of doctors and drug companies is now creating a national panic by overdiagnosing “autism, for which there is no definitive medical diagnosis!
Many children are being victimized by being diagnosed with an “illness” which may not exist, in all cases. Just a few weeks ago doctors recommended dangerous anti-cholesterol drugs for children as young as 2 years of age! Without any scientific studies on the possible dangers of such drugs on children, corrupt doctors made this controversial, unscientific recommendation.
Increasingly, our children are being used as profit centers by a greedy, corrupt medical/pharmaceutical establishment. As the brother of a severely disabled person who suffered and died in a New York “snake-pit” of a “mental hospital,” I know first-hand what true disability is.
To permit greedy doctors to include children in medical categories which may not be appropriate is a crime against that child and their family. Let the truly autistic be treated. Let the falsely diagnosed be free.
Michael Savage
veryinteresting — This is a facade. Who used any other hosts terminology? Not I, certainly. And where was rudeness expressed? It wasn’t. The thing that is striking, is your worshiping of Savage (calling him “near prophetic”) all the while purporting otherwise.
Savage is actually the johnny-come-lately. Rush is the real McCoy. All the others are wannabes and copycats. Rush is the standard-bearer and the others the water-carriers. Rush sets the debate, the others follow. Rush talks with insight, brilliance, and wry humor while Savage banters in hate, demagogue and yelling.
Talk Radio Shtellers:
Rush, Rosh Yeshiva
Hannity, Kindergarten teacher
Levin, Mashgiach
O’Reilly, Menahel
Savage, Rebbe.
Men fregt nisht kashas oif a rebbe.
Joseph,
This is not the first time you were medayek about a comment and asked on it from a previous comment that the same person made!
I am impressed at your memory and ability to shtel tzu – the highest level of lomdus.
Continue to shteig in Torah.
NO. 32
check your facts,
Savage “IS” a Jew
(his name is Michael Weiner)
he wuznt making fun of the mentally challenged just those that fake it to munipalate the system
#40,
Good job.
I would be moisef that Bob grant is the clear Rabbi Emiretus or Zkan Rosh Hayeshiva
I listen to him often, and appreciate much of what he says. I am quite surprised that he would say something like this. He most probably simply does not know what he talking about this time. Look, anyone can make a complete mistake in what they say and think. He should be corrected by calling in and writing to him, and requesting him to correct what he said on the air first, before public protests.
After reading the letter on MS’s website, I must apologize to him. I would not say that he does not know what he is talking about. He may not know all the facts; I don’t know them myself and cannot say anything. He may have been “megazem”. (I can’t spell the English word for that.) At any rate, he should not be referred to in such negative terms. He is one of the best commentators, if not the best, all in all. That does not make him da’as torah of course.
Hello ayin tov.
I suggest you become aware of the entire picture and not chime in with someone merely because they are of your political ilk, as I presume.
In my criticism of George Bush, many posters posted to me instead of commenting on the story, that my views were merely a result of the “drive by media” and “liberal media”.
How easy it is to write off someone who disagrees with you by whitewashing their view as being hollow since they were influenced by the aforementioned comments.
I can easily argue that anyone saying an opposing view is that of the “drive by media” or the “liberal media” is really the one brainwashed by the pseudo conservatives in the very same media.
The final point is there is no contradiction, in my mind, in recognzing someone as being brilliant and calling shots way ahead of the curve (near prophetic) of anyone else who is paid to inform/entertain in the political/social arena.
I listen and have listened to all the radio personalities here and they are all guilty of faulty conclusions that get by only because of a strong emotional committment to their view.
The only true and original minds in this area are that of Bob Grant and Mike Savage.
If someone were to tell you there are brilliant minds that are conservative and brilliant minds that are liberal, would you lable them a liberal or conservative? Would you be confused as to how you should “feel” about them? Would you be looking for someone like you in the crowd to feel good about?
We should ALL keep shteigging in Torah!
#46-veryinteresting,
You obviously have taken a liking to a forceful display of venomous language in the utilization of expressing ones views, as done in a demagogic extent by Savage and to a lesser extent (especially in his younger years) by Grant. Yes we may all agree with their bottom line. But not we don’t appreciate their hateful expression.
OTOH, a host like Limbaugh brings out his brilliance and originality with a sense of wry humor. And while almost EVERY other host attempts to replicate Limbaugh, none come close to the master. He is who made radio what it is today. Without him AM would have been long dead.
So it isn’t the viewpoint that what matters most, but its expression.
i think most ppl listen to his talk show because its always exciting…whether he is right or not or whether it makes at all sense..its just fun to listen to him
It is apparent to me that many of you that commented are spending your travel time to and fro to work and back listening to Talk Radio shows.
Being so I’ve decided to share with you my own experience. For a number of years I was listening to talk radio as well. After all, it’s certainly more kosher than music. However, at one point I noticed that the host’s topics would linger in my mind throughout the day. I would ponder there opinions verse mine and what I would say if I called up. It dawned on me that these shows were slowly affecting me and quiet often not for the better (we must remember that these are people that are stating their opinions, not the Torah’s opinion).
A one point I decided to drop talk radio, but didn’t know how I would occupy my time for that 45 minute commute each day each way (I lived on a tight budget and couldn’t afford to buy a car stereo and tapes).
Fortunately for me a Ben Torah that worked near me needed a ride for a couple of weeks. He asked me if it would be alright for him to bring a tape recorder for us to listen to on the way. Of course that was perfectly fine for me. It was great. I got to learn a lot during that time. The neat part about it was that he had a special device connected to it that allowed us to listen to Torah tapes on my radio (the device sends waves to a certain low frequency channel on the radio). On his advice I went out and bought an inexpensive tape recorder ($24.00) and the radio device (forgot the name of it and the price, but it was also pretty cheap). He also told me where there was a local lending Torah tape library in our area.
In short, I stopped listen to Talk show hosts and didn’t care for their opinions any more. Instead, I got to listen to Reb Bulman, Rav Brevda, Rav Altusky, Rav Gifter, Rav Miller, Rav Wein, etc, etc. and GAINED A LOT MORE!
Now I live in Israel w/o a car and so when I travel I take a sefer with me, but if I ever purchase a car for work I know what I’m going to do to spend the commuting time.
Perhaps consider giving up on these Am HaRatzim and learn something interesting instead.
Bracha V’Hatzlacha,
Softwords
Hey veryinteresting,
I have no idea what threw you off to have a tantrum in public today. I have no clue as to what you’re talking about!
What I commented to Joseph was serious and you’re right we should all shteig in Torah! Joseph is a bright guy.
Now while you’re calm let me point out that I have no political ilk.
Once again, I think that you’re brilliant post was meant for someone else and I hope that that person with his political ilk, chapped.
You can have the last word and have a gutten tug.
Hello Will Hill,
I have obviously taking a liking to no such display of venomous language..etc. I turn him off at times because he gets just too heavy..and he admits to that. But his intellect makes him the most interesting in that genre, and when he is good and on target; he is good and on target.
Rush Limbaugh is a parlor trick in all faulty methods of reasoning.
Get this: While I think Bob Grant, Michael Savage, George Will, the late William F Buckley, and others are always worth reading or listening to because they are insightful and often right, Al Franken has Limbaugh’s number, 100%.
I have to laugh. No one in the talk radio world even comes close to Savage.
He is knowldgeable and brilliantly analytical.
to #47 very interesting..last line “we should steig in toireh ” you say. That is conradiction of 1st order. shteig in toireh and listening to all these shmutz personalities and the subjects they discuss and the shmutz they interview regarding certain subjects ..your mind becomes mtamtem, farshmutzted mit nit reine gedanken etc, etc, etc and your saying steig in toireh.now we dont have anything against these talk show hosts, thats their job to keep listeners…but you, ben toireh, give advice “steig…..” …”vyavdail elok’..bein h’uoir ubain hachoshech..” see medresh rabboh.Kain steipler ,chasam soifer etc, vet men nit veren…
Hello again ayin tov,
Calm down. If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
What you chapped and didn’t chap is not that big a deal. Why you chimed in instead of making your own contribution, is your business.
We are only commenting here and if it gets personal rather than interesting, there is no point to arguing.
Thank you for the last word. That was nice of you.
Have a nice day.
It seems as if taking offense is the recreation of choice in modern America. The latest example (of which I’m aware; I’m sure our UPS {umbrage per second} statistic is sky high) has resulted in a planned protest at WOR Radio in Manhattan over some comments radio talk show host Michael Savage made concerning autism. Or, to be precise, the commentary involved not that condition but behavior that might be misdiagnosed as autism. Here is what Savage said, as reported by wcbstv.com:
“During the July 16 edition of his show, Savage claimed that autism is “[a] fraud, a racket. … I’ll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out. That’s what autism is. What do you mean they scream and they’re silent? They don’t have a father around to tell them, ‘Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.'””
One person who took exception to this commentary was Martin Schwartzman, the father of an autistic child. He opined:
“I couldn’t understand why someone could be so heartless and so insensitive, and also so ignorant for a national talk show host . . . . It was so hurtful to all individuals with disabilities, particularly those with autism, but I really think he should be removed from the air.”
For all I know, Mr. Schwartzman may be a very decent man, but evident is that he has never listened to Savage’s show. If he had, there are a few things he would probably understand.
First, Michael Savage grew up with a brother who suffered from severe retardation, one whom he loved very much and has spoken of on numerous occasions with the deepest affection and emotion. Listening to Savage, it’s apparent that this experience instilled in him a respect for human life that doesn’t end where mental impairment begins. It is why he was livid when Howard Stern mocked people so afflicted some years back; it is why he has taken up the cudgels against euthanasia on their behalf.
It is also why — and I’m inferring here — Savage is no doubt more offended than most when an irresponsible psychiatric community diagnoses normal but ill-behaved children as mentally impaired. It bothers me as well for a number of reasons, and I’ll explain.
It’s no different when those who are merely ill-behaved are misdiagnosed as mentally impaired. By labeling these less serious or even non-existent problems as mental conditions, it causes society to take authentic ones less seriously. And when Savage bemoans this fact, he speaks for millions who have had to care for legitimately mentally-ill/impaired individuals. I myself know such a caregiver, and she has lamented the fast-and-loose psychiatric diagnoses so common today. She has seen firsthand how they take attention, consideration and resources away from people such as her truly mentally-ill family member.
So, getting back to Mr. Schwartzman, maybe I can assuage his feelings. Michael Savage is not saying autism doesn’t exist; he is simply pointing out that the condition is over-diagnosed. Thus, Mr. Schwartzman, if your son is legitimately autistic, Savage isn’t talking about you. He is not diminishing your son’s travails but railing against those who are.
This is the spirit and meaning of what Savage said. Sure, it’s very easy to cherry-pick extemporaneous radio commentary for the purposes of twisting a host’s meaning. Talk radio is a real-time, fast-paced medium where one speaks off the cuff and often uses hyperbole to drive home concepts. Does Savage believe that the autism-misdiagnosis rate is actually 99 percent? I don’t know — maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. If he does, maybe he’s right, maybe he isn’t. If literalism matters to you, I suggest you ask him. But do you really believe the condition is never misdiagnosed? Do you really know what the misdiagnose rate is? Well, we’re not going to find out by silencing those who dare say the therapist has no clothes.
Regardless, trigger-happy diagnosticians are legion in psychiatry. The most egregious example of their handiwork is ADHD, a mythical condition that has become a handy excuse for bad behavior. I addressed it in this piece, in which I point out that head shrinkers are now prescribing Ritalin for children as young as two years old. I also quote a rare, common-sense psychologist named John Rosemond, who said (I’m paraphrasing):
“All children ‘have ADD’ up till age two, but if they’re socialized properly, it’s bred out of them.”
I won’t elaborate further here, but if you’re interested in my full analysis, read the piece I cited.
Something else in my article is also relevant. Many may scoff at Savage’s assertion that a child diagnosed with autism might just be “. . . a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out.” C’mon, could it really be an act? Well, consider an anecdote I presented:
. . . I think of a very charming friend I had many years ago. The son of a psychologist, he was diagnosed with a learning disability in the 1970s, before such designations were fashionable, and attended a special school for children so afflicted. Here is what he told me about himself and his fellow students (it’s close to verbatim): ‘We thought it [the ‘conditions’] was all nonsense; it was just a way to get out of doing work.’
So such children do exist, and they’re aided and abetted by “mental-health professionals” who are content to be fooled — and to be foolish. Psychology is the only field wherein the practitioners invent, or exaggerate the prevalence of, diseases and conditions so they’ll have ready diagnoses. It isn’t just Autism and ADHD. Consider what I wrote in “The Hard Truth about a Soft Science: Why Psychology Does More Harm than Good”:
. . . I recently read about psychiatrists who are labeling the desire to engage in excessive text messaging a mental disorder. Then there is “Muscle Dysmorphia,” or the obsessive belief that one isn’t muscular enough; “celebriphilia,” the strong desire for amorous relations with a celebrity; “Intermittent Explosive Disorder,” or road rage; “Sibling Rivalry Disorder”; “Mathematics Disorder”; “Caffeine Related Disorder”; and “Expressive Writing disorder” . . . a defiant child or employee isn’t ruled by pride but has “Oppositional Disorder,” a person with a lack of gratitude isn’t just that but one who suffers from “Chronic Complaint Disorder” . . . .
Now, in light of the above, don’t you think that maybe, just perhaps, misdiagnosis and over-diagnosis might be a problem? Isn’t suspicion of psychiatric determinations warranted?
Then there is the reason why the psychiatric profession suffers from what I’ll call “Chronic Disorder Invention Disorder”: Money. Every time it labels what was formerly called a sin as a disease or condition of the brain, its market grows. “Hey, I just thought of a new category.”
Ka-ching.
ADHD?
Ka-ching.
Over-diagnosing Autism?
Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching.
“Can you diagnosis me, doctor?” “Why, yes, patient, you’re $30,000 sick.”
So, you folks who care for the truly mentally impaired should be upset, but not at Michael Savage. He has been there; he has carried that cross. Direct you ire at those afflicted with a “disorder” lamented since time immemorial.
It’s called greed.
“…a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out…”
“…they scream and they’re silent…”
“…Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life…”
“…Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.”
the above quotes from intellectually iinferior individual aptly describes himself and his whole radio persona.
he should be told:
…to cut it out stop being a brat.
…to stop his screaming.
…to stop being a moron (big deal he has fame and money) – he is a nobody with nothing and to date has acheived nothing of value in life.
…to straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming.
jent1150..
Please…This is not a contradication. Being familiar with these personalities is not enough for you to judge how much or how little someone learns.
I am sure we agree that a Torah tape or CD is countless times more valuable. No comparison.
veryinteresting-#52,
You have the analogy wrong. William F. Buckley is Rush’s mentor and they were very good friends. Buckley was a big fan of Limbaugh. In fact Limbaugh inherited the Conservative intellectual leadership with Buckley’s passing.
If you admit Savage’s venom gets heavy, you admit that he is a demagogue in his presentation (of what might otherwise be good points.)
Limbaugh on the other hand, displays great intellect and humor simultaneously. And his brilliance is incomparable to any of the other hosts. They (attempt to) replicate him. He invented the medium.
Savage is Al Franken’s equal, on the opposite side of the spectrum.
I agree with #50 100%!! There are so many beautiful Torah lectures out there, many of them free of charge! What better way to pass the time on the road than listening to a tape on a topic in Torah!
Even if Mike Savage was referring to the excessive mislabeling of the disorder on many children, he was still very incorrect in using such derogatory, strong language. He is well aware of the thousands of listeners that listen to his show and the reactions that would be forthcoming. That thought alone should have prevented him from making his inconsiderate comments.
Let’s stick to Torah tapes instead, where true wisdom emanates!!
I think there is a reason why Rush has 20 million listeners and no one else is even close. (Savage is like third.) People don’t need a Savage yelling at them.
And I also agree that Rush’s political and social analytical skills are par excellence bar none. Its not even a contest.
The difference between them is, Savage appeals to the emotions through the gut, while Rush appeals to the intellect through logic.
to #50.. you said it best…””chayla l’oiraisa”
MDLevine:
You state; “he is a nobody with nothing and to date has achieved (I corrected the spelling for you) nothing of value in life.”
I guess 20+ books, including numerous best sellers, and rising to #3 in the business (of his genre), and inspiring millions not to be apathetic to the political realities surrounding them, is something to sneeze at. Your ignorance is only outdone by your arrogance. Have a nice life.
#64 quote me completely – I clearly prefaced it with “(big deal he has fame and money)” good for him with his books about flowers and liberals. good for him about your claim that he is number 3 in his business. I do not care.
what has Michael Alan Weiner (yes he is Jewish) AKA Michael Savage accomplished of eternal value? no 3 in his market? no! inspiring millions through his tirades? no! books such as the Weiner’s Herbal: The Guide to Herb Medicine which advocated the medical benefits of marijuana? no!
btw – thanks for the spelling correction and the brocha to have a nice life – you too.
to #58 please re-read your words in post #47..”i listen and have listened to ….” so hackt nit kain chainik…your reading comprehension needs tuch up… re-read what we said in post #54, and “you dont learn enough” is not what we said
If someone would look at the whole comment the way it was originally stated and not just the bits and pieces that were taken out, instead of chopping up Michael Savage on this partial comment, they would see that his comment was in no way directed at children with autism, but at the doctors who are giving false diagnoses for whatever the reason ($)How about us not judging so quickly next time-not until we hear the story in its entirety
I think we all agree that he has a point, but he has prooven the point, that it’s not always what you say but how you say it. I have a nephew who is extreemly autistic and I am sure his parents would have maybe even cried hearing some one of “authority” say something like that. on the other hand I have witnessed many children whom I agree have been misdiagnosed.
dveri chachomim bnachas neshmanin.