At this event, drawing on my own experiences and failures, I raised the following issue:
“It is my impression that among those who become deeply drawn into populism, conspiracy theories, and cults, there are a significant number of people with pronounced or uneven neurodevelopmental traits. Similar tendencies may also be found among those who incite and manipulate them.”
I also argued that while many people with neurodevelopmental traits go on to become entrepreneurs and others who make use of their exceptional talents, some among them can develop extremely rationalistic or utilitarian ways of thinking. I suggested that we should think carefully about what happens when people with such tendencies enter politics, and that Japan needs to diversify its education system in order to help prevent people from losing their way.
However, a man named Ken Inoue distorted what I had said and responded with something along the lines of, “It is wrong to say that people with developmental disabilities should not aspire to become politicians,” thereby creating the impression that I was somehow discriminating against people with developmental disabilities.
Perhaps it is immature of me, but even more than six months later, I still feel deeply indignant about what happened.
At the event, the moderator and staff took the microphone away from me, leaving me no opportunity to respond.
Mr. Inoue concluded with a feel-good slogan along the lines of “Everyone First,” yet said nothing about what specifically should be done to actually make that ideal a reality.
By contrast, I offered at least one concrete answer: “We should strengthen inclusive education and education that develops critical-thinking skills, while making education itself more diverse.”
Frankly, I find it troubling that this is the level of discourse we are getting from a United Nations official.
I believe the issue I raised was one that was very much worthy of debate if we are serious about strengthening the health of democracy.
There are many people with uneven neurodevelopmental traits who make meaningful contributions to society. Indeed, if we look back through history, there are countless examples of people whose cognition and sensibilities fell outside conventional frameworks and who helped advance science, art, culture, technology, and other fields.
But that is the brighter side of the picture.
On the other hand, there are also people who lose their way because they have not had sufficient opportunities to develop critical thinking and self-understanding.
That is precisely why I believe we need to rethink education.
According to one prominent psychiatrist, people with borderline or subclinical neurodevelopmental conditions often develop depression, while some may, on the other hand, end up becoming perpetrators of harassment.
Furthermore, according to a politician I volunteer for, it is not uncommon for women who spend enormous amounts of money on male hosts and similar relationships to have pronounced or uneven neurodevelopmental traits.
Of course, I have no intention of using these examples to lump all people with neurodevelopmental traits into a single category.
My concern is not with the traits themselves. The question is whether individuals and the people around them are given sufficient opportunities to understand those traits and to cultivate critical thinking and self-awareness.
I feel an extraordinary sense of righteous indignation toward people like Ken Inoue, who do not even attempt to see the heart of the issue, who merely trumpet platitudes, and who offer no concrete vision whatsoever.
In Oppenheimer, there are moments that make it seem as though Robert Oppenheimer is somehow tapping into the zero-point field, though maybe that's just me.
Within his consciousness, the past, present, future, and even distant places seem to intersect and coexist all at once.
And yet, even with such a transcendent perspective, he cannot overcome his ego as a scientist and ultimately completes the atomic bomb.
There's something deeply ironic about that.
Back in the Age of Exploration, apparently a whole bunch of adventurers set sail from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, bound for the New World.
I know, you're probably wondering why the hell I'm suddenly talking about this.
“Apparently N*K is going to start outsourcing door-to-door visits again. You’re not going to hire some yakuza-like contractors again, are you? Don’t make the same mistake twice. Enough with this bullshit already. Before any of that, how about actually doing your job as a public broadcaster? And by the way, two years ago, I saw one of your employees riding a bike pretty damn fast on a sidewalk where cycling was prohibited. He nearly ran into a woman.”
The man rattled off his complaints indignantly.
It can be dangerous for society when people with Cluster B personality disorders seek political power without appropriate treatment and adequate self-awareness.