Autistic Pride Day: “Osaka, Appendum, Appendum”
Did you know that today is “Autistic Pride Day”? I sure didn’t. We can argue the potential merits and backfirings of something like this all the live long holiday. I bring this up because I happen to be considered Autistic by the government of Canada. Of course, I’m just a wee bit skeptical.
See, the problem with Autism is that it’s really, really vague and difficult to pinpoint as being unique from a bazillion other, similar disorders. And that’s if the subject even has any disorder. And when you consider that not all forms of Autism are the same, there’s most likely a lot of improperly diagnosed people out there. It could be from doctors trying to make a name for themselves by “contributing” to the study of a slippery new health issue. It could be intelligent, experienced doctors making a calculated guess with what they see. Even the best of us are going to be wrong sooner or later. We may never know just how many of us are true Autists, and how many are just borderline, or similar.
Maybe they’re just shy and good with numbers. That’s something I heard recently: According to CP24, scientific studies showed that “diagnosed Autists are 40% faster at problem-solving than everyone else“. The first thing that came to mind when I heard that was a scene in Azumanga Daioh, where Osaka correctly answers a string of purposely confusing word-games by Tomo. Her answers are spot-on and instantaneous, while the same questions stump the otherwise sharp-minded Chiyo-chan. Many other moments in this show could reasonably paint this character in that light. It’s impossible to watch it and not think about it.
(I’m sorry, I know I promised I wouldn’t talk about AD anymore… Well actually, I promised I had no further plans to talk about it. I did not plan on this. This snuck up on me, and gave me another chance to examine, and perhaps understand this elusive and original character. And perhaps why I feel like I can relate so well to a character not of my gender, nationality or even world-view.)
Is Osaka Autistic? I don’t know. Does it matter? Perhaps not, but it’s been on my mind. Maybe she is, or maybe she’s just a weird, different gal. That’s good enough for me. Neither would detract from what this character offers: a fresh look at high school life.
If I had to guess, I’d say she’s just an interesting little lady. I believe those quirks are her own, and not the byproduct of some brain irregularity. To me, it is a matter of free will. It would be convenient to say that I am the way I am due to a disorder I have no control over. Too convenient. Then I would no longer be fully liable for my weaknesses or strengths. And then those weaknesses and strengths would mean much less than when they are of my choosing.
It's probably not helping that I chose some of the most retarded pictures of her imaginable.
But at the same time, I can’t deny that if she were presented to people in the field of medicine, or even just regular folks who’ve some experience with Autistic people, at least one would be confident otherwise. This show is wisely silent, unconcerned with trivialities like that. We’re left to draw our own conclusions, if we must.
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~A.H.
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