Ernie Els and autism

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peacock2121 · #1 Post by **peacock2121** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:30 pm

Ernie has a 5 year old son who has autism. They had been dealing with it privately for the last few years and he has now gone public about it. He contacted Autism Speaks and offered his 'celebrity' as a way to bring attention to it and to raise money.

Buffacuse · #2 Post by **Buffacuse** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:39 pm

I saw the same thing and my heart goes out to him. I don't know what I would do if I was a public figure--by going public, Els is in effect forever labeling his son and making him a de facto public figure--a decision any five-year-old can't possibly comprehend or have a reasoned say in, let alone one with autism. I understand the argument about raising awareness, but, then too, I think we have plenty of public awareness of autism these days.

Very tough call--you don't want to appear ashamed of the situation but it puts a burden on a child w/o the child getting a vote.

Ritterskoop · #3 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:07 pm

Buffacuse wrote:I saw the same thing and my heart goes out to him. I don't know what I would do if I was a public figure--by going public, Els is in effect forever labeling his son and making him a de facto public figure--a decision any five-year-old can't possibly comprehend or have a reasoned say in, let alone one with autism. I understand the argument about raising awareness, but, then too, I think we have plenty of public awareness of autism these days.

Very tough call--you don't want to appear ashamed of the situation but it puts a burden on a child w/o the child getting a vote.

I think he was going to be outed anyway, and decided he would do it himself.

Buffacuse · #4 Post by **Buffacuse** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:13 pm

I think he was going to be outed anyway, and decided he would do it himself.[/quote]

If that's so that couldn't suck more.

peacock2121 · #5 Post by **peacock2121** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:09 am

I saw it as a magnanimous thing to do. All that I read told me that he and his wife searched their heart. They checked in with their daughter to make sure she was behind the plan. They saw that in order to make an impact, this condition needs to be in the public's eye - it needs money and it needs awareness - who better than someone people already know who is dealing with the condition at home?

Besides - it is Ernie who will bear the brunt of the public eye - he will be the golfer whose kid has autism. No one will really know his kid who doesn't currently know his kid.

I admire him for going public.

ne1410s · #6 Post by **ne1410s** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:49 am

pea:

I admire him for going public.

Me, too, Pea. I see only good coming from this announcement.