Latest news with #mon
Indianapolis Star
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
My son has autism. He deserves better than RFK Jr.'s ignorance.
I'm the father of a child with autism. My son is smart, curious, and endlessly creative. He loves Pokémon, plays video games with friends, and has a wonderful way of using wordplay for laughs. He thinks on a macroscale about the injustices of the world and how we should lead with kindness. And like many of his peers with a similar condition, he thinks about things on a microscale — he can solve complex math with ease, has a deep knowledge of intricate storylines and lore from a multitude of cultures and literary sources, and he has a very defined understanding of what is right and what is wrong. So when I heard Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently claim that people with autism 'will never pay taxes, never hold a job, never go on a date, or use a toilet unassisted,' I wasn't just offended. I was heartbroken — and furious. This is my son we're talking about. And millions of others like him. They are not statistics. They are not burdens. They are not broken. They are people. Kennedy's comments don't reflect science, compassion or truth. They reflect ignorance. And ignorance at this level, when held by someone in his position, is dangerous. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Opinion: Make Indiana Healthy Again is about cost-cutting, not wellness Autism is a spectrum. That's not a metaphor — it's a medical reality. Some individuals do need lifelong support. Others live independently, pursue careers, fall in love and raise families. Many are somewhere in between. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in 36 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with autism, and there's growing research into how autistic adults thrive when supported with inclusive education, employment opportunities and community engagement. But reducing every autistic person to a hopeless stereotype isn't just wrong. It causes actual harm. It undermines inclusion. It increases stigma. And it sends a message — to my son and to others like him — that they're not worth the effort. That's unacceptable. My son deserves better. So does every person with autism. So do the parents, educators, therapists, and communities working every day to support them — not 'fix' them, but meet them where they are and help them grow. Autism doesn't need to be "cured." It needs to be understood. And autistic people don't need pity — they need opportunity, support and respect. They need people in power to stop speaking about them without listening to them. To be clear, I'm not suggesting that autism isn't without challenges. We know the realities. But we also know the beauty, the resilience, the insight that comes from seeing the world differently. My son has taught me more about patience, perception, and empathy than any book, classroom, or has-been politician ever could. Opinion: If Braun wants to make Indiana healthy again, here's how to do it So here's my message to Kennedy and anyone else who sees autism as a tragedy: Spend a day with someone like my son. Talk to autistic adults. Visit an inclusive classroom. Walk into that experience with curiosity, not assumptions. Because the problem isn't autism. The problem is the way people talk about it. It's time we stop talking about autism like it's the end of something. It's time to listen to autistic voices. It's time to elevate stories that show the full humanity of people across the spectrum. For our family — and for so many others — it's simply a different beginning. One filled with joy, complexity and, yes, extraordinary love. Anyone who can't see that shouldn't be speaking for our future. Joseph Ball lives with his family on the northwest side of Indianapolis. He is a marketing and communications manager, has worked as the digital editor for Indianapolis Monthly and is chair of Tonic Ball, a charitable music festival that benefits Second Helpings.
Local France
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French Phrase of the Day: Touche pas à mon
Why do I need to know touche pas à mon? Because this slogan is an important cultural reference in France. What does it mean? Touche pas à mon - roughly pronounced toosh pah ah moan - is usually followed by a noun and translates as an informal version of 'don't touch my', in English you might say 'hands off my . . .' You'll see a lot of different variations of this phrase in France, as it has really entered the general consciousness in the last 40 years. The origins of the expression come from an anti-racism campaign from the 1980s. Touche pas à mon pote (don't touch my friend, or more informally 'hands off my mate') was launched in 1985 as the official slogan of the French association SOS Racisme. The design shows a yellow hand with the logo inscribed onto the palm. Since then, the phrase touche pas à mon has remained in the French consciousness, and it is often used for other campaigns, or even advertising slogans. It is also the name of the popular (yet controversial) TV show Touche pas à mon poste (TPMP) , hosted by Cyril Hanouna . The TV series is a play on words with the original - instead of mon pote the show uses mon poste , so it means 'Don't touch my TV set'. Advertisement There are plenty of other variations. For example, the campaign to protect party-goers from being unknowingly drugged is called touche pas à mon verre (don't touch my drink), while feminist campaigners used touche pas à mon IVG (hands off my right to abortion). Meanwhile, the left-wing French political party, La France Insoumise, has a podcast called touche pas à mon peuple (hands off my people). Manual widget for ML (class="ml-manual-widget-container") Use it like this L'association de défense des droits des automobilistes a lancé une campagne contre les modifications des permis de conduire, intitulée « Touche pas à mon permis ». - The motorists' rights group launched a campaign against changes to driving licences called 'Don't touch my licence'. La campagne « Touche pas à mon pote » a inspiré de nombreuses personnes dans les années 80. - The anti-racism campaign 'Hands off my mate' inspired a lot of people in the 80s.
USA Today
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'I need this': Fans react as Lego and Pokémon announce new partnership starting in 2026
Get ready to not only catch 'em all, but build 'em all next year. Lego and Pokémon announced on Tuesday that they have entered a multi-year partnership to bring "Lego Pokémon" to life in 2026. The announcement doesn't share details about the partnership, whether folks can expect Pokémon building sets; a Lego Pokémon video game; or limited edition playing cards, but fans have already begun to speculate. Instead, a short teaser video featuring a Pikachu tail made of Lego bricks bounces across the screen. "I need this, I need this," TikTok user Eric Bricks said in a video on Tuesday. "I can already see this theme selling like hot cakes. We know how crazy Pokémon fans are." With the news hot off the presses, here's what we know so far about the Lego and Pokémon partnership. What does the Lego Pokémon partnership include? As of Tuesday, Lego and Pokémon's announcement remains quite vague for what their "multi-year partnership" includes. Fans are encouraged to check in on the Lego Pokémon website for updates at Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. When will Lego Pokémon be released? Lego Pokémon will be released in 2026, the companies shared. Have Lego and Pokémon worked together before? No, Lego has not made Pokémon building sets before. Up until now, popular Pokémon buildable sets have almost exclusively been created and sold by Mattel under the company's Mega Bloks brand. What are builders, trainers saying? Lego and Pokémon fans alike have taken to social media to share their excitement for the collaboration. "I have lost count of the amount of times people have asked me what my dream Lego theme would be and I always answer the same way: 'Pokémon. Give me Pokémon.' And it's finally happening," TikTok user Block Party UK said in a video sharing the news. TikTok user cjBricklz, a Lego ambassador, said he hopes the brands release each of the first generation Pokémon (think Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle) as brick-build characters. "I think those would be some amazing 18+ sets and I would spend hundreds on those," cjBricklz said in his video. The Pokémon collaboration isn't the first time Lego has dipped its toes in the video game waters. Over the years, Lego has released Super Mario Bros., The Legend the Zelda, Minecraft and Animal Crossing sets. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
