by DAN GREEN
For those who believe outright in aliens – beings not from our planet and most likely to be more advanced than the average earthling – proof could only arrive with discovery of alien DNA. As this is quite unlikely to happen, maybe we are at fault for setting our sights and expectations too high. However, could human beings with a different brain wiring be considered ‘alien’?
Throughout history there have been individuals who have come to further our progress and move our civilisation along, inventors or those who have made momentous discoveries benefitting us all. One can only wonder how we ever progressed from our earliest stages of being cave men and women existing only from heat made from fires, and then somebody had to have had the inspiration to work out friction in order to produce flame, perhaps by chance.
Two of our more recognised geniuses – the word ‘genius’ now pretty much ruined by its over use in unwarranted cases – are the well-known names of both the German Albert Einstein who developed the theory of relativity and British Isaac Newton who discovered the laws of gravity. However, researchers at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities believe that both luminaries displayed signs of Asperger Syndrome, thus placing them on the autistic spectrum. Many ‘Aspies,’ as they are now popularly and comfortably called, have replaced the one foremost term that was once reserved for the British alone whatever his or her status – eccentric.
These eccentrics both past and present can display the more prominent characteristics of Aspergers, lacking social skills, problems with communication, and have an obsession with complex topics. Those who have studied what we know of both Einstein and Newton think that both men possessed the tell-tale traits to some degree, noticeably Einstein who from an early age was a loner and repeated sentences obsessively until he reached the age of seven. A notoriously confusing lecturer as an adult, in later life the German born scientist did make intimate friends, had numerous affairs and spoke out on political issues which professor Simon Baron Cohen who was involved in the Cambridge study confirms are perfectly compatible with the passion, falling in love and standing up for justice within Asperger Syndrome. Professor Baron-Cohen told New Scientist magazine, ‘What most people with Asperger Syndrome find difficult is casual chatting – they can’t do small talk.’
Einstein – High functioning autism?
It has also been though that Einstein’s delay in his language development and his slow progress throughout education indicate high functioning autism, distinct from Aspergers but still on the spectrum. Einstein didn’t like being in crowds and also had major tantrums and difficulties with finances. Michael Fitzgerald who is a psychiatrist at the Department of Child Psychiatry at Trinity College, Dublin, views Einstein’s interest in physics as an ‘addiction’ and that the scientist simply had to be in control of his own life, his lack of tact, social empathy and often naivety further give away signs that Einstein was an Aspie. Einstein was more at ease being able to process information visually ratherthan verbally and was quoted saying that he rarely thought in words at all.
In Newton’s case it is believe he possessed classic symptoms attributed to Aspergers. He was known to hardly speak, often forgot to eat owing to self-absorption in his work and was either lukewarm or bad tempered with the small circle of friends he had. With adherence to routine, when nobody turned up to his lectures he still went ahead and conducted to the empty room! Depression and paranoia contributed to him having a nervous breakdown at the age of 50. Like Einstein, Newton was more comfortable as a recluse and rarely spoke. It is recorded that the only comment attributed and recorded him during his two years in his capacity as a member of British parliament was a request to have a draughty window closed!
Newton – Asperger Syndrome?
Microsoft founder and the world’s wealthiest man at $76 billion, Bill Gates, is another whom many present as a candidate for Aspergers. Gates demonstrates shyness, has an inability to make eye contact, rocks to and fro, and has a monotone voice and lack of social skills. Attention has also been drawn to an apparent lack of hygiene, his choice in clothes and his obsession with technology.
Bill Gates – The World’s richest Genius?
Another famous inventor suspected of being an Aspie is Serbian-American inventor, electrical and mechanical engineer and physicist, Nikola Tesla, best known for his contributions to the design of the AC electricity supply system. His autobiography has Tesla informing us that he had the ability ‘to visualise with the greatest facility’ enabling him to fully design and test inventions in his mind. A celibate, Tesla was sensitive to touch, had an acute sense of hearing amidst a sensitivity to light and sound, and had obsessions with pigeons and the number three, the latter to the point that he would not stay in any number that did not have a number divisible by it. He set his stall against jewellery and over-weight people, even though he himself had several eating compulsions. Soft spoken and reclusive, similar to Thomas Jefferson’s financial demise, he died almost penniless and alone in a hotel room.
Tesla – Genius who died almost penniless
One opponent amongst many of Michael Fitzgerald’s forward thinking is Yale Child Study Centre’s Fred Volkmar who cynically points out that ‘There is unfortunately a cottage industry of finding everyone has Aspergers’. This search, however, may prefer the highlighting an alternative and coming neurological race possessing genius, of whom some early instigators were the likes of Einstein and Newton. The startling increase in current day autistic birth is alarming to the those known as ‘Neuro-Typicals’ and with child prodigies on the rise we have to consider that one day we may have to abandon the label ‘Aspergers’ if ALL births are fast becoming typical of this new neurological and evolutionary strain. For some it is almost as if they have a microchip in their brain. Are they, in some way, almost an allegory of Bulwer-Lytton’s 1871 classic novel ‘The Coming Race’?
Bulwer-Lytton’s 1871 classic novel
Thomas Jefferson, author of the declaration of independence, was the third president of the United States. Other achievements of his were in the field of diplomat, lawyer, scientist, farmer and architect. Thought to be one of the most brilliant men ever to have been in the White House, he too like Einstein and Newton was shy, struggled to relate to people, was a poor speaker in public and showed a sensitivity to loud noises. Despite recording all his financial transactions, he died in debt. He would have a pet mocking bird always on his shoulder and wore slippers at important meetings.
When ‘Diagnosing Jefferson’, a book by author Norm Ledgin was published in 2000, it claimed that Jefferson’s obvious genius was due to Aspergers, matching his behaviours with five diagnostic criteria for the syndrome, thus explaining his 54 year obsession with building/rebuilding Monticello, his inability to control his spending and his affair with a child/slave. Although historians had always pointed out surrounding Jefferson it took the author Ledgin, whose son has Asperger Syndrome, to recognise what the historians had not.
Now thus far we have now come across two liable individuals with autism, Newton and Jefferson, who have allegedly entangled with the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau which in turn entangles with my own ‘Lincoln Cathedral Code, both areas of research inseparable from whispers of a ‘holy’ bloodline. Newton has been named as a Master of the Priory of Sion and, both surprisingly and amazingly, Jefferson has thought to have possibly visited Rennes covertly! For much of the speculation and possible fact concerning Jefferson, I owe to the impressive research of my friend and author Cort Lindahl.
Thomas Jefferson – A President with Aspergers?
In 1786 Jefferson toured the French Languedoc region the area saturated in stories concerning the Cathars and the Knight Templar. The most important of his definitely confirmed tour was his visit to where he describes in his autobiography as Soutterain St, today marked on maps as St Ferioll. Why is this visit so important? Well, only three miles away from the village we arrive at….Rennes-le-Chateau, and so we ask, did Jefferson, too? Surely if he had been aware of the mystery and legends attached to the village he would be unable to resist going there if only three miles away? Is it so hard to imagine that he did indeed do so but deliberately omitted to record this in his autobiography or elsewhere? As well as perhaps carrying the autism gene, Jefferson is thought to have been of the Knights Templar Strict Observance owing to his entanglement with one book in particular.
Alleged, as so much of these twists and turns are, to have been written by Joseph of Arimathea at Rennes-le-Chateau, ‘The book of the Holy Grail’ sources would like us believe that Jefferson edited the book from French to English with Henry Mercier, French Minister to the United States, re-editing it later in the mid 19th century. Describing Joseph as Jesus’ father for a change, J.R.Ploughman’s foreword to the contemporary edition of the book is entitled ‘The Keys to the Quest’. The portion of the book said to have edited by both Ploughman and Mercier is the original ‘Book of the Holy Grail’, containing a Merovingian bible and, more importantly, a description of a ‘Grail Language’, a code using numerical sequences involving specific numbers. Are we looking here at an effort to present what was at the time the Lost Mother Tongue that over the years my own work has shared?
King George V – obsessive interests
Much of Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’ had rekindled old themes and acted as a reminder of the alleged ‘Holy Bloodline’ of Jesus Christ through a union with Mary Magdalene. My own work dispels this more of an allegory than an actual happening and that instead we should study that symbolic narration to see what it could possibly conceal. What if an autistic gene, particularly with the potential of genius, were to find its way into a Royal Family – might that qualify as, if not holy, an ‘alien’ bloodline? Let us look at some such possible births. King George V was known for his obsessive interests which included stamp collecting, pheasant shooting and uniforms. Having a love of routine he also possessed an awkward personality. Prince John who was his younger son suffered from epilepsy, a condition that is often allied with autism. It was John’s learning impediment causing him to be diagnosed retrospectively a being severely autistic.
The later George VI presented with a social and extreme awkwardness too and would display unpredictable rages of some intensity. Prince Albert too may be suspect owing to a combined shyness and mastery of technical subjects. In a lesser contestable area, HRH Princess Marie of Denmark, whilst choosing not to to disclose which family member has announced publically, ‘I have autism in my immediate family.’ There are rumours circulating the 15 year old Princess Aiko of Japan, the only child of the heir apparent to the Japanese throne, may have ASD. Poomi Jensen, born Bhumi Jensen, grandson of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand was commonly known to have had autism.Sadly at the tender age of 21, the prince was a victim of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake drowned in the tsunami that struck the coast of Southern Thailand.
Kaspar Hauser – first documented case of autism?
However, perhaps the best example of an autist regent would be that of the intriguing tale of German youth Kaspar Hauser (1812-1833) claimed to have grown up in the total isolation of a darkened cell. His fascinating tale can be found with ease upon the world wide web, but my interest is in how this unknown waif with an important hidden history appearing on the streets of Nuremberg in 1828 with no language and completely outside of human culture, destined to a subsequent death of stabbing, was allegedly discovered to be crown prince to the grand ducal House of Baden and, according to Simon Baron-Cohen, was candidate for the first well documented case of autism in both literature and history.
Terry Boardman, author of the book ‘Kaspar Hauser where did he come from?’takes Hauser’s thwarted destiny even further pointing out that if the moral and spiritually minded Hauser had been allowed his rightful crown prince of Baden in 1848 at the time of the German Revolution he might have ended up as the King of United Germany and changed the entire course and history of the nation, Central Europe and the world. A co-operation for the sake of Germany between him and the ‘man of blood and iron’ Bismarck and Prussian Jew Ferdinand Lasalle, founder of the Social Democrat Party of Germany, would have almost certainly changed the course of history, side stepping two world wars. And yet dark forces, as you can research for yourself within the Hauser controversy, conspired to prevent this happening, and the inspiration of autism was prevented what most likely would have been its first regent on a throne.
President Putin – Aspergers?
In February 2015 the news story broke that a study from a Pentagon Think Tank theorised that Russian President Vladimir Putin has Asperger Syndrome, according to a 2008 report.
Returning to the issue of lineage, I will draw your attention to the controversial Tibetan lama Chogyam Trungpa, perhaps the most influential teacher the West has ever seen. Tagtrug Mukpo was born to Chogyam and his wife in 1971, and as a young child young child was recognised by His Holiness the 16thGyalwa Karmapa as one of the several incarnations of Surmang Tenga Rinpoche, a tulku (‘emanated incarnation’) in the Kagye lineage. Also as a youngster he was diagnosed as having autism. He now lives in a sangha member at Karme Choling Meditation Centre, Vermont, USA, requiring around the clock care. At the time of his diagnosis it was thought that Tagtrug was suffering from what the Tibetans call ‘Tulku’s disease’, a situation whereby a tulku is not allowed to pursue his spiritual education.
Tagtrug Mukpo
With autism and Aspergers on a global rise so too is that of the child prodigy, so you should not be surprised to learn of the entanglement with both category. A 2012 study of eight young prodigies who all by the age of ten had achieved acclaim and a professional status openly revealed their high level of autistic traits, most notably in a ferocious attention to detail, as well as over representation of the condition within their closest family members. Regarding their attention and obsessiveness with detail all scored higher with this trait than individuals who did have an actual Asperger diagnosis (suggesting to me that the prodigies were Asperger) and three of the prodigies did in fact have a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder.
Child Prodigies – on the rise
Four of the eight families had reported an autism diagnosis in their first or second degree relatives with three of the families having a total of eleven relatives on the spectrum. The study highlighted some other revelations and unusual parallels between prodigies and individuals with autism. Unless we are falling foul of a sexism here by a reticence (that does exist) to jointly recognise girls on the spectrum and those who have hidden talents, the study informs us that most prodigies and those with autism will be male, whilst females who have been recognised are both associated with difficulty in pregnancies perhaps owing to stages within uterine development.
During the early days of dissemination of his newly found syndrome Hans Asperger described children with it as ‘Little Professors’ on account of their evident prodigious vocabulary and very early expertise in which they would endlessly lecture others unaware of how tedious they might have become in doing so. An early study in 2007 found that the close relatives of prodigies as with the same in people with autism scored higher on autistic traits, the prodigies by contrast benefitting from certain autistic tendencies whilst in avoidance of the shortfalls of others.
Hans Asperger
A standard assessment of autistic related traits showed the prodigies scoring higher than a control group concerned with all measures, also scoring significantly lower than a separate comparison group of Aspergers barring the attention to detail measure. Having to try and seek an explanation for why the child prodigies’ lack of deficit is such it was conceded that whilst they may have a form of autism there is a biological modifier responsible for the suppression of many typical forms of autism whilst leaving their attention to detail untouched and perhaps even enhanced.
Sidestepping the sheer egoism and failure within Nazi Germany’s lack of compassion in their Lebensborn project, we can take heart with finer study in which it is thought perhaps children with autism are the product of the tendency within like-minded engineers, physicists, mathematicians and other ‘systemisers’ to marry each other. Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen has given consideration that there is a link between the impaired ability of a person on the autistic spectrum to communicate, recognise emotions and socialise with the genes enabling a person to find laws that that govern how a system works.
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Cambridge University
Calling it ‘assortative mating’ Baron-Cohen is suggesting that these systemisers who marry have done so by an attraction that is beyond chance and what comes with this is an increased risk of having a child with autism. Such studies are usually received by the mainstream as defensive with a distinct lack of an air of optimism or positivity, owing to the general perception that autism is an undesirable condition to have. However, couldn’t Baron-Cohen’s observations and studies be put another way. There is a subtle genius that is now producing a potential for further genius , (perhaps it will be responsible for musicians and sound technicians discovering ways capable of creating recordings that can penetrate the thin veil of dimensions) and this is the way that nature and a changing evolution is planning it?
If Hitler and his chums had been around a little long and into the advent of the introduction of Asperger Syndrome into our societies, I can’t help thinking he and his mad scientists and a little help from geneticists might have recognised the dawning of the ‘Super Race’ they were hoping to achieve, but for Germany alone. However, now in 2017 the genius is out there and we wait to see where it will take us. Dr Temple Grandin, American Doctor of Animal Science and professor at Colorado State University who became a successful engineer more through than despite her autism once famously called NASA ‘a sheltered workshop for people with autism and Asperger Syndrome’ and with the belief that persons with ASD are the great innovators, adding that ‘if the world was left to you socialites, nothing would get done and we would still be in caves talking to each other.’
Dr Temple Grandin – ‘Improve conditions’
Instead of perhaps resisting the statement and offending ourselves with it, we should consider that she may be right. I asked Temple if she used her capacity for cosmic thoughts to contemplate Life’s Mystery. ‘When I was younger I had all kinds of complex theories and looked for the Meaning of Life,’ she told me in 2009, ‘Today at age 62 I have found that the meaning of life is really simple. Do things here on earth to improve conditions. The world needs logical thinking Aspies to do practical real things to help other people. I gave up my complex theories about 15 years ago’. In passing, this lady’s very noticeable name contains both ‘In Grand Temple’, and ‘Grail’.
I’ll leave the final word to the belief held by Hans Asperger. ‘For success in science or art, a dash of autism is essential. The essential ingredient may be an ability to turn away from the everyday world, from the simply practical and to rethink a subject with originality so as to create in new untrodden ways with all abilities canalised into the one speciality.’
Undetected aliens?
Copyright 2017 by Dan Green