Seems to me that you suffer from an inability to grasp the timescales involved in evolution, as well as a lack of understanding of evolutionary processes, jambo.

Also, if there is a designer, it does a really shitty job. We could save billions of dollars in biomedical research if a few key things were “designed” better.

A lot of this sort of crap goes on in Canada, too, but it seems that we lack a strong enough spine to go after reigious groups and silly claims of healing and so forth.

Under no circumstances should you let a florist give you a spinal adjustment, or a bunny. Just say “I don’t believe in bunnies!” and run.

marymc – I’m reassured by your comment. I hesitated before writing that bit because I know how a lot of parents of disabled kids talk about them and I didn’t want to start a fight (not about that, anyway).
I know that until recently the Autism Society of America used the image of a puzzle with a piece missing to represent the disorder (nice, huh?). I think that they changed it because a lot of people with autism piped up and said “Uh, we aren’t missing a piece, and you can’t complete us.”

I liked this, “I am a monist – I believe that the mind is a product of the brain. If I had a brain injury and my personality changed, there would be no “old” Natasha lurking in the depths of my brain. Similarly, people with intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses do not have a “normal” or “healthy” self waiting to be uncovered.”

As the mum of an autistic child, I believe this too and it bugs me so much when I constantly hear the “trapped in the shell of autism” rubbish spouted by so many. He is what he is, and that’s the real and only version of him available. And a perfect version it is too, with all his difficulties, quirks and skills.

(but don’t you at least believe in bunnies?)