When I was ten, I discovered Marvel's X-Men by way of the excellent 90s cartoon series, which was new at the time. As I grew older, and especially after I was diagnosed with aspergers at 14, that series was a very useful tool for me as I pondered it's themes and allegories to try and understand myself and my condition a bit better. I ultimately came to the conclusion that one could argue the X-Men series was talking about us, for what is autism but a natural and, in some ways, beneficial genetic mutation?
Like Marvel's mutants, many autistic folk have gifts, special skills and expertise in a variety of subjects, but must overcome great hardship to share it with the world. In my case, and many others I'm sure, that hardship is my own limitations and having to learn to live in a world that quite often does not understand us as much as we would like.
One episode in particular that resonates with me to this day is season one, episode eight, "The Cure" (later adapted into a comic book storyline that formed the basis for the third film). In it, a scientist claims to have discovered a cure for the mutant gene and many mutants from all over the world flock to Muir Island. Some of them seek to be cured because their mutant powers do more harm than good, while others try to convince them that there's nothing wrong with them that needs to be cured. The parallels to the ongoing pro/anti cure debate for autism should be obvious. No matter which side of the debate you're on, this episode should be required viewing as it gives one some definite food for thought.
Personally, I take the latter view that although my autism can make things difficult at times, it has ultimately made me a stronger person because of having to overcome those difficulties and if I were given the option to live my life over without being born autistic, I would not do so because I would no longer be the same person. For better or worse, this is who we are and instead of angsting over it and focusing on the negative aspects, we should embrace it and focus on our potential to do good and make the world a better place. This, I believe, is the ultimate lesson to be learned from the X-Men series and Marvel deserves great praise for giving it to us. Now all we have to do is go out into the world and apply it. Easier said than done, I know, but we should never stop trying.
Like Marvel's mutants, many autistic folk have gifts, special skills and expertise in a variety of subjects, but must overcome great hardship to share it with the world. In my case, and many others I'm sure, that hardship is my own limitations and having to learn to live in a world that quite often does not understand us as much as we would like.
One episode in particular that resonates with me to this day is season one, episode eight, "The Cure" (later adapted into a comic book storyline that formed the basis for the third film). In it, a scientist claims to have discovered a cure for the mutant gene and many mutants from all over the world flock to Muir Island. Some of them seek to be cured because their mutant powers do more harm than good, while others try to convince them that there's nothing wrong with them that needs to be cured. The parallels to the ongoing pro/anti cure debate for autism should be obvious. No matter which side of the debate you're on, this episode should be required viewing as it gives one some definite food for thought.
Personally, I take the latter view that although my autism can make things difficult at times, it has ultimately made me a stronger person because of having to overcome those difficulties and if I were given the option to live my life over without being born autistic, I would not do so because I would no longer be the same person. For better or worse, this is who we are and instead of angsting over it and focusing on the negative aspects, we should embrace it and focus on our potential to do good and make the world a better place. This, I believe, is the ultimate lesson to be learned from the X-Men series and Marvel deserves great praise for giving it to us. Now all we have to do is go out into the world and apply it. Easier said than done, I know, but we should never stop trying.
