David,
I'm glad that was just a TACS moment. FWIW, I am now 3/4 through the
book and am finding it wonderfully written and remarkably well told.
So just as an act of professional writing, I think you deserve a lot
of credit. Not to mention serving as a terrific and credible
representative for the story.

I think it's worth taking a moment in this thread to reflect on the
tone of our interactions with one another and how we transmit our
messages and present to more external audiences. It's really
important to remember that things many of us (or subsets within our
community) come to see as completely obvious, are just not always so
obvious to outsiders and even to some within the parent community. We
do ourselves a disservice if we leap to strongly to conclusions
that "everybody knows....[fill in the blank]" And then we do an
additional disservice if we demand from each other some kind of
Stalinist orthodoxy with respect to how we phrase and represent
arguments.

The reality is, everyone does not even know that there is an autism
epidemic and at a practical level, simply establishing that fact
remains the most important work we can and must do. And this remains
a subject of great and active debate among scientific audiences that
matter to us. But when we succeed in establishing that fact and it
corollary that environmental causes must be involved, we are
certainly not at a point where mercury's singular causal role has
been "proven." It's a basic principle of the scientific method, that
theories can and should be subject to tests of "falsification" far
more easily than they can stand up to "verification." We may hold a
belief that mercury explains a lot and that is deserves exhaustive
research, even that it is a robust and powerful theory, but that is
not the same as "verification."

In short, I believe David is saying the only principled thing he can
say when he promotes the evidence and considers the attempts at
falsification. For the same reason, if we care about the truth about
what happened to our kids, we should not just blithely assume we know
all the science we need to know simply because a few studies support
our biases. We also need to reconicle the studies we don't like with
our preference for the models we preferred.

And we need to recognize that if we attack sympathetic voices within
our own community (e.g. David) and make them feel bruised and
unwelcome. just think of how others in a less knowledgable audience
may feel. Having been guilty of venting a fiar amount in public
myself, I would simply underscore how important it is to maintain
professionalism and respect for others even when we demonstrate our
passion for the issues.

Just my .02
Mark

--- In EOHarm@yahoogroups.com, "dkirby@n..." <dkirby@n...> wrote:
>
> No idea. At this point, I am not sure if anything will sway them
one way or
> another....
>
> thanks though, to everyone, for all your wonderful support, and
sorry --
> again-- I was so punchy the other night . I too suffer once in a
while from
> TACS (Tired And Cranky Syndrome). The only cure is a stiff Martini
and a
> good night's hybernation. To that end, I am heading back to
Brooklyn today
> for 2 weeks "off the road" so my mood should moderate considerably!
>
> cheers, and HAPPY MOMS DAY to all you awesome moms
>
> dk
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: Kerbob robertbloch@c...
> Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 04:20:28 -0400
> To: EOHarm@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [EOHarm] Re: Bill Maher
>
>
> David,
>
> Do you think we parents should lay off for a little while and see
what
> happens on the circuits for you? I wonder if things will pick up if
parents
> quiet down?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: dkirby@n...
> To: EOHarm@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 9:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [EOHarm] Re: Bill Maher
>
>
> Thanks Bob!
>
> I still dont get the connection to me being cancelled and then
the show
> being cancelled (it was about a week later) but oh well
>
> I will ask SMP to contact Rhodes and Franken again.
>
> iginal Message:
> -----------------
> From: Robert J. Krakow rkrakow@e...
> Date: Sat, 07 May 2005 21:26:33 -0400
> To: EOHarm@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [EOHarm] Re: Bill Maher
>
>
> David,
>
> In response to a letter by Gus T. , a parent, complaining to Air
> America they responded by stating that the show you were to
appear on,
> Unfiltered with Rachel Madow, Liz Winstead and Chuck D was
canceled
> after you had been scheduled. They were in fact canceled and
Jerry
> Springer took their place only days after you were supposed to go
on.
> Given that Lujene was on the show a few months ago and they got a
huge
> response to her appearance, I think that is likely the case. The
test
> is whether another of their shows has you on. Randi Rhodes, who
is on
> in the pm, has mentioned the Thimerosal-Autism connection a
number of
> times. And rumor has it that Al Franken is looking at the issue.
I
> would keep trying with Franken, or rather we parents should keep
> pushing with him.
>
> Bob
>
>
> On May 7, 2005, at 9:12 PM, dkirby@n... wrote:
>
> > Thanks
> >
> > I was scheduled way in advance to go on Air America, and they
> > cancelled
> > about 12 hours before the interview, apparently with no
intention of
> > rescheduling.
> >
> > Go figure
> >
> > DK
> >
> > Original Message:
> > -----------------
> > From: rdurano@u...
> > Date: Sat, 07 May 2005 19:37:28 -0500
> > To: EOHarm@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [EOHarm] Re: Bill Maher
> >
> >
> > Hi Dave. I want to tank you personally for the wonderful
favor you
> > have
> > done for the entire mercury-autism community by writing
> > EOH...Regarding Bill
> > Maher..What a shame that the host of "Politically Incorrect"
does not
> > want
> > to risk being politically incorrect. Have you had any luck
getting
> > on
> > "Air America" with Al Franken and Co?. Tim
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <dkirby@n...>
> > To: <EOHarm@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 2:45 AM
> > Subject: RE: [EOHarm] Re: Bill Maher
> >
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> > FYI - We have written to Mr. Maher several times, I sent him a
signed
> > copy
> > of the book with a very nice note from me and a letter from my
editor,
> > called his show and his agent several times.
> >
> > But, the usual wall of national TV silence rises up yet again
to meet
> > EOH.
> >
> > Thanks for your support, but I wouldnt hold my breath for him
to have
> > me
> > on. Believe me, we tried...
> >
> > DK
> >
> > Original Message:
> > -----------------
> > From: judyhope2004 judyhope@m...
> > Date: Sat, 07 May 2005 01:45:11 +0000
> > To: EOHarm@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [EOHarm] Re: Bill Maher
> >
> >
> > Hi Bob,
> > I can't imagine he's managed to redeem himself from that low.
No
> > matter...I don't forget and I don't forgive!
> >
> > Now, just don't get me started on ER....
> >
> > BTW, Bob, you were supposed to give me useful things to do to
help
> > the cause. Never heard back from you. Still waiting for my
> > marching orders....
> >
> > Judy
> >
> > --- In EOHarm@yahoogroups.com, Robert J. Krakow <rkrakow@e...>
wrote:
> > > Thanks for sharing that, Judy. I never knew about Maher's
stupid
> > > statements. Well, if he tries again he will have his phone
line
> > and
> > > email tied up for weeks. What an a--h---!
> > >
> > > Bob
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On May 6, 2005, at 9:25 PM, judyhope2004 wrote:
> > >
> > > > Jennifer, after Mr. Maher's 2001 comments on his former
show,
> > > > Politically Incorrect, I'm not sure he's exactly the type
of
> > guy we
> > > > want helping us with this fight. He's filth. There's a
> > difference
> > > > between political incorrectness and cruelty.
> > > >
> > > > See below:
> > > >
> > > > Judy
> > > > _________________
> > > >
> > > > Politically Insensitive
> > > > from Floyd Tilton
> > > >
> > > > The Story Begins: January 11, 2001
> > > > When the words "politically incorrect" came into vogue,
they
> > were to
> > > > describe statements which were not the accepted rhetoric
in
> > > > communication. It included examples like the substitution
of the
> > > > word people in the Gettysburg Address, so that it
read, "All
> > people
> > > > are created equal," instead of Lincoln's, "All men are
created
> > > > equal", or saying, "To boldly go where no one has gone
before"
> > > > instead of "where no man...". They were designed to
remove the
> > > > language that some felt offensive. However, the term was
> > stretched
> > > > beyond its breaking point by ABC Television's Bill Maher,
host
> > of
> > > > the program "Politically Incorrect," It evolved into
exactly the
> > > > thing the people who coined the phrase intended to change.
> > > >
> > > > On January 11, 2001, this program reached a new low in
taste and
> > > > responsible behavior when it described mentally
handicapped
> > children
> > > > in the following scene between the host, Martin Short,
Sarah
> > > > Ferguson, Jay Nordlinger and Cynthia Garrett.
> > > >
> > > > Sponsored Links
> > > > Beyond The Wall of Autism
> > > > Life on the autism spectrum. Find out more.
> > > > www.autismasperger.net
> > > >
> > > > Teach your Autistic Child
> > > > Seven Steps to Reading for Visual Learners and Children
with
> > Autism
> > > > www.computhera.com
> > > >
> > > > Autism is reversible
> > > > We are parent-funded, non-profit. Focused on truth and
> > treatment.
> > > > www.generationrescue.org
> > > > This should be of concern to the autism community.
Children on
> > the
> > > > autism spectrum are disabled and many of these children
also
> > have
> > > > mental handicaps. These statements, unless stopped now,
could
> > spread
> > > > to other disabilities as well and create a true snowball
effect.
> > > >
> > > > Bill: But I've often said that if I had -- I have two
dogs --
> > if I
> > > > had two retarded children, I'd be a hero. And yet the
dogs,
> > which
> > > > are pretty much the same thing --
> > > > [ Laughter ]
> > > > What? They're sweet. They're loving. They're kind, but
they
> > don't
> > > > mentally advance at all.
> > > > Cynthia: I'm going to throw my shoe at you for that one --
oh!
> > > > Bill: What? Dogs are like retarded children.
> > > > Jay: The show is living up to its name.
> > > > [ Scattered boos]
> > > > Sarah: Boo.
> > > > Cynthia: My 9-year-old nephew is retarded. I've never
thought
> > of him
> > > > like a little dog.
> > > > Bill: Well, maybe you should.
> > > > [ Scattered boos ]
> > > > Sarah: But I don't think you ought to use the word
retarded. I
> > don't
> > > > think that's right.
> > > > Bill: Don't use the word "retarded"? Well, what word
should we
> > use?
> > > > Sarah: Just a regular person.
> > > > Bill: But they're not a regular person.
> > > > Sarah: Well, they are regular people. They have a heart
and a
> > soul.
> > > > Cynthia: Limitations.
> > > > Bill: They have a heart and a soul and a brain that's
retarded.
> > > > That's a fact, people! Excuse me!
> > > > Sarah: No, because you can't say that. Do you know their
brain
> > is
> > > > retarded -- this word retarded? They could just be
lacking in
> > the
> > > > ability.
> > > > Bill: That's what we call retarded.
> > > > [ Laughter ]
> > > > Bill: I mean, people, are you all retarded? I mean --
> > > > [ Laughter ]
> > > > Bill: That's a fact.
> > > > Martin: I'm not gonna comment. You're a hideous, cold
person.
> > > > Bill: I'm a truthful person. We've gotta take a break.
We'll be
> > > > right back.
> > > > [ Applause ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In EOHarm@yahoogroups.com, "jennyjoesand3"
> > <jennyjoesand3@y...>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > Hi everyone,
> > > > > I don't know if anyone watches Real Time with Bill
Maher on
> > HBO
> > > > but he
> > > > > has book authors on frequently and he doesn't shy away
from
> > > > conflict.
> > > > > His show is not g-rated though.A while back he had
Janet Reno
> > on
> > > > there
> > > > > and she brought up that every child needed to be fully
> > vaccinated
> > > > and
> > > > > he said he wasn't sure he agreed with that. Anyway I
went to
> > the
> > > > shows
> > > > > website and submitted a request for him to read the
book and
> > have
> > > > Mr.
> > > > > Kirby on the show. If some others made the same request
he
> > might
> > > > look
> > > > > into it, he frequently has politicians on his show. I
think
> > he had
> > > > > Rep. Dan Burton on awhile back for a different topic.
> > > > > go to www.hbo.com/billmaher/
> > > > >
> > > > > Jennifer
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > > . To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EOHarm/
> > > >
> > > > . To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > > EOHarm-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > >
> > > > . Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
> > Terms of
> > > > Service.
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
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> > Yahoo! Groups Links
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> >
> Robert J. Krakow
> Attorney At Law
> 225 Broadway, Suite 2700
> New York, New York 10007
> (212) 227-0600
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