SEP 03, 2019
Jon Queally / Common
Dreams
Champions of Greta
Thunberg—and the 16-year-old climate activist herself—hit back against malicious
right-wing bullies over the weekend as she called her
Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis a “superpower” and her defenders said
there is but one reason that people attack the person who has galvanized the
global climate strike movement: they are afraid of her.
“The bile thrown at Greta
Thunberg is motivated by one thing alone: this incredibly intelligent,
eloquent, and compassionate 16-year-old has terrified some of the most hateful
and reactionary so-called ‘grown ups’ on earth,” said British
political columnist activist Owen Jones. “She’s achieved more [at age] 16 than
they ever will.”
Following her recent arrival
in the United States to attend rallies outside the United Nations and promote a
week of international climate strike actions, taking place from Sept. 20 – 27,
Thunberg on Saturday suggested that a fresh wave of criticism directed
at her from climate science denialists and right-wingers—including those
mocking her Asperger’s diagnosis—exposes much more about them than her.
When haters go after your
looks and differences, it means they have nowhere left to go. And then you know
you’re winning!
I have Aspergers and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And - given the right circumstances- being different is a superpower.#aspiepower
“I’m not public about my
diagnosis to ‘hide’ behind it, but because I know many ignorant people still
see it as an ‘illness’, or something negative,” Thunberg added. “And believe
me, my diagnosis has limited me before.”
In a column on Al-Jazeera
English published Monday,
writer Andrew Mitrovica came to the defense of Thunberg as he referred to those
attacking her as “scientifically illiterate bullies.” According to Mitrovica,
agreeing with Jones, it is Thunberg’s attributes—including her fearlessness and
ability to speak and act so matter-of-factly—that makes hers such a potent
voice. He writes:
She disdains celebrity. She
makes no claim to heroism. She rebuffs efforts to idolize her. She isn’t
calculating or preoccupied with fame or ego. There is no artifice about
her. She speaks plainly, without affectation or embroidery.
In words and deeds, Thunberg
is the embodiment of philosopher Howard Zinn’s admonition: “We don’t have to
engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small
acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can quietly become a power no
government can suppress, a power that can transform the world.”
Meanwhile, in an interview
with the UK’s Channel 4 News, Thunberg said she has nothing to say to
people who refuse to believe in the scientific warnings about the climate
crisis.
16-year-old climate activist @GretaThunberg says she “has
nothing to say” to people who don’t believe in climate change - including
President Trump.
There is no time to waste, there is no planet B. #ActOnClimate #GreenNewDeal
There is no time to waste, there is no planet B. #ActOnClimate #GreenNewDeal
Asked if there was still time
to address the planetary emergency, Thunberg said, “Yes, we do. We still have
time. But that time will not last for long so we need to something now and we
need to do it quickly and we need to do it drastically.”
But while part of Thunberg’s
story lends itself to the notion that “one person can make a difference,” she
is also the first to acknowledge that it is going to demand massive collective
action—from everyone and all over the world—to solve the climate emergency.
On Friday the 20th and 27th of
September we will strike again for the right to a future. But we can’t do it
alone. To really make a difference we need the adults to join us.
The children in India leads the way!! #FridaysForFuture #ClimateStrike https://twitter.com/fridays_india/status/1168177177281454080 …
The children in India leads the way!! #FridaysForFuture #ClimateStrike https://twitter.com/fridays_india/status/1168177177281454080 …
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