Autism, RFK Jr., and the Conversation Everyone Keeps Missing

Hot Takes, Hard Truths, and a Side of Organic Sass

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I’ve spent way too many years stuck in the “I’m not worthy” hamster wheel. You know the one—running full speed, getting nowhere, and still apologizing to everyone around you for even existing. Yeah, that’s done. I'm off the ride. I’m reclaiming my space like a midwestern mom at a Black Friday sale. And if that means I lose a few people along the way? Well, bless their hearts and pack ‘em a snack for the road.

Now onto the chaos.

RFK Jr.—yep, he’s back in the headlines. Again. This time, not for his biceps (because, let's be honest, even his enemies can't ignore those) but for his comments on autism that have some folks cheering and others throwing things at their screens.

Autism: Not a Monolith, Not Your Talking Point

So here’s what happened: RFK Jr. continues to claim that vaccines are a big reason we’re seeing more autism. He’s said things like autism “didn’t exist” when he was a kid (spoiler alert: it did, we just didn’t diagnose it because apparently neurodivergent kids were just “quirky” or “troublemakers” back then).

Science has repeatedly said: please stop. The CDC, WHO, and approximately every peer-reviewed study under the sun have found no causal link between vaccines and autism. But RFK Jr. sticks to his script like your uncle at Thanksgiving who still thinks microwaves give you cancer. Side note: they can!

And this is where it gets messy. Because some parents in the “deep down the rabbit hole” crowd are practically popping champagne, while many autistic folks are rightfully pissed. Why? Because no one likes being spoken about instead of to. Especially when it’s from a pulpit of pity and panic.

Let me say this louder for the people in the back: Autism is a spectrum. It doesn’t come in one flavor. It’s more Baskin Robbins than vanilla soft-serve. Trying to define it with one sweeping statement is like trying to describe “music” by referencing only Nickelback. (No shade. Okay, maybe a little.)

When society says ‘Pick a box,’ but you’re over here setting the damn boxes on fire and planting heirloom tomatoes in the ashes.” 🌱🔥

Meanwhile, Back on Planet Earth…

While everyone’s screaming over soundbites, here’s what we’re ignoring: We all want change.

Yep, you heard me. Whether you believe RFK Jr. is a savior or a lunatic in loafers, chances are you agree on this much:

• The food system is broken (if I need a chemistry degree to read a cereal box, we have a problem).
  

• Our water has more contaminants than a reality TV reunion.
  

• The healthcare system is a bloated mess where sick care masquerades as wellness.
  

But no one’s talking about that. Nope. We’re too busy typing in all caps on Twitter and calling people “sheep” or “conspiracy nuts” instead of, I don’t know, having a thoughtful conversation like grown adults?

Let’s Talk Boxes (No, Not Amazon)

We’ve also got this weird obsession with putting people into neat little boxes. You’re either “autistic enough” or “too high-functioning to count.” You either have anxiety or you’re just dramatic. PTSD? You better be a veteran, otherwise, you’re probably just sensitive. It's exhausting.

Here’s a wild idea: maybe none of those boxes fit. Maybe we need to burn the boxes and hand everyone a freaking crate of crayons so they can draw their own damn picture.

Whether it’s autism, ADHD, depression, alcoholism (been there), or garden-variety anxiety (also been there—hi, it’s me), we’re all navigating a spectrum of humanity that refuses to fit into categories. And we shouldn’t have to.

The RFK Speech Rabbit Hole (Bring Snacks)

Now, I’ve listened to RFK Jr.’s speeches. Not just the five-second TikTok clips that get passed around like bad gossip at church—but the whole speeches. And here’s the inconvenient truth: if you zoom out far enough, there’s a pattern.

Yes, he’s said some truly dumb stuff. No, it doesn't erase it. And no, I don’t think we’re on the brink of opening special camps for neurodivergent kids (seriously, take a breath). If anyone even thought of threatening our kids, the mama bears would tear the system to the ground before you could say “gluten-free.”

But here’s where nuance comes in—remember nuance? It’s like common sense, but less fashionable these days. You can disagree with RFK Jr.’s autism rhetoric and still see value in some of the bigger things he’s trying to expose: food corruption, Big Pharma greed, regulatory capture, and the overall dumpster fire that is public health policy in this country.

Can We Not Just... Be Adults?

Every time someone doesn’t agree with every single word another person says, we toss them into the pit of name-calling and cancelation. RFK Jr. is either a messiah or a madman depending on which subreddit you’re reading. Apparently, there’s no room in between.

Well, I live in the in-between. And I’m raising my hand to say: let’s look at the whole picture.

Let’s tally the pros and cons. Let’s debate ideas without throwing digital tomatoes. Let’s get to the root issues and stop playing this game of political Whac-A-Mole where we beat down anyone who steps out of line.

Final Thoughts (Before I Go Hug My Garden)

I didn’t write this to defend RFK Jr. I’m not fangirling over anyone. But I am begging for sanity. For the sake of our kids and our communities, we need to stop missing the forest because we’re busy yelling about the trees.

Let’s fix our food. Let’s clean our water. Let’s demand healthcare that actually cares. And for the love of all things fermented and home-canned, let’s stop calling people names just because we disagree.

We’re better than that.

See the whole picture. Question the narrative. And if someone tries to shove you in a box—flip it over and plant herbs in it instead.

P.S. This isn’t about picking sides or swaying anyone. Frankly, I don’t care what side you’re on. I’m sharing my thoughts on the behaviors and comments I’ve seen in forums—ones that, quite honestly, disgust me. So if your plan is to riddle my comment section with negativity and keyboard warrior nonsense, kindly show yourself the door. As I said from the jump: I’m no longer subscribing to that kind of BS.

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