On Down Syndrome and other self-inflicted tragedies
Earlier this week Salon published an article about a mother dealing with an adult Autistic son, who’s out of control violence led her to desperate measures. Her story reminded me of the angry responses I’ve received whenever I’ve written against Down syndrome.
Dozens of parents have responded to each post, claiming to have adorable little children with Down’s. (The context to keep in mind here is that Down syndrome is now an optional illness, now that safe and effective testing is available for all mothers in the developed world.) Yet, I haven’t received a single comment from parents of adults with Down syndrome. Where are all the adorable little adults with Down syndrome?
I suspect there are three reasons why I haven’t seen their comments.
First, many of their children died prematurely due to the many health complications of Down Syndrome. (See previous posts for details.)
Second, many children have grown up to become severely disabled adults, and are living in mental institutions at taxpayer expense – or sometimes, in homeless shelters or on the streets.
Third, the minority of parents whose children survived to adulthood and who remained committed to taking care of them on their own know that their adorable babies turned into incomprehensible, obstinate, sullen, capricious, and sometimes very violent adults. Their mental illness makes the world an incomprehensible place to them, and their unpredictable behavior makes them bewildering to their caretakers.
Have you ever noticed the ratio of mentally disabled children to that of mentally disabled adults in social situations? The apparent disparity goes beyond their lower life expectancy. I suspect that the surviving retarded children grow into retarded adults, fundamentally unable to deal with civilized life, and hidden away in homes and institution and highway underpasses.
My point is that human disabilities, mental and physical, are a tragedy to be avoided at all costs, not something to be accepted as unavoidable fate, or worse, to be cherished for their uniqueness. They ought to be screened, aborted, and engineered out of the human race as soon as medically and technologically possible. If this is obvious to you, great. Unfortunately, inexplicably, even rational people whom I respect differ with me on this issue. The only proper response for parents who make such choices ought to be moral condemnation: if they have chosen to have crippled children, they ought to condemned, and all the pain, frustration, violence, and expense caused by their choice ought to be placed squarely on the parents.
(In response to the inevitable comments, I must emphasize that the condemnation extends only to the parents. Like all human beings, the victims of their parents’ choice ought to be cherished, and every effort should be made to integrate them into society and make them productive adults.)
One last observation: I’ve already written how many parents who choose to have Down children treat them as religious icons when they are small. When they grow large, how many of them treat them as pets that have grown too large to keep in the house, and delegate them to a locked basement, or a mental institution?
Update: Thanks to everyone for their comments. Rather than trying to respond to individual comments, I have summarized my response here: The One Minute Case for Designer Babies. Many of the other comments address abortion and eugenics. I responded to those arguments in this post.
How Ayn Rand of you. Even as a conservative and capitalist, I’m tired of the paeans to Ayn Rand and your post epitomizes my reasoning.
Enjoy your objectivism – it must be so lonely in your eugenically sterile place.
Wow..your ignorance amazes me. I really didn’t think anyone could possibly be that ignorant.
I would rather live in a world where people accept what God has created than live in a place where idiots like you spread your evil , misinformed, idiotic opinions.
It seems like you are a very uneducated individual to make the comments that you have made. Please go to the following links and get yourself educated!
http://www.ndsccenter.org and http://www.ndss.org
I’ll pay for your memberships, just send me your address and I’ll have the information sent to you every month so that you can start getting the real facts.
I am sorry you feel the way you do. I would have to disagree with you. It seems to me that far more costly to society is ignorance and hate. That is what is behind most crime and that is far more costly than expenses incurred from medical treatment.
I guess one would have to ask, would you consider your life worth saving if you lost a limb or your memory in a car crash? Since a person born without a limb is disabled, you’d now be disabled. As well, without a memory you would be unable to function in a high paying career and would need assistance. So, where does life lose its value with you?
I would say that all life has value and the things one can learn from having a child or sibling or friend with a disability will make you a better person. I will even go so far as to say that even your life has value. I completely disagree with nearly every word you ‘speak’ but I know that my God and Saviour died for your sins, not just mine. So, on that note I would fight to save your life, just as He did.
I guess until you’ve had your own child and realised the unconditional love they give you won’t understand about fighting to save a life. I hope that one day you will have someone love you so purely and unconditionally you will want to fight for their life. Once you’ve felt that kind of love you don’t ever want to let it go.
So, whilst the things you have said, once again, are hurtful and filled with hate and ignorance, you don’t and can’t make me angry. Your ignorance can not change the way God made me. But it can bring me to my knees to pray for you. It is more than pity I have for you, it is compassion for you clearly have proven that the only love you have ever had was filled with conditions.
May God bless you.
Go Denny!! I can hardly find the words to describe what I feel about you. I have a wonderful thriving joy filled almost 3 year old child with Downs. He is the light of our lives. Including his 8 year old brothers life! We know that there will be challanges in life for him and for us, but he is OUR SON!!! Regardless of his “disabilities” and his “challenges” we will always love him and be there for him, no matter his age or how great his challenges may become. I can not wait to see him grow and help him grow into a wonderful young and eventually old man! If that means I take care of MY SON until he passes one day, that is what having any child means. Just because he has Down’s doesn’t make him any more or less OUR SON and part of our family. Just because he has Downs doesn’t mean he should be abborted or doesnt mean they will be violent, sullen or any other the other terrible things you have said about these wonderful HUMAN BEINGS!!!
IDOIT!!!!
Some one commented that they wish you a chid with Down syndrome. NO..you dont’ deserve to have any children.
I agree with Denny. Go and get yourself educated.
Roberto Sarrionandia = moron + neo-con – true constitutionalist = embarrassment to any true capitalist
I read this article and felt sick to my stomach.
I am a pro-choice woman…very much so. However…I dont look at that position, as allowing science to “weed out” what you and others may find incomprehensible.
What exactly fuels your ideas? I really am not trying to be rude…but your entire post is an insult to many people. Some are anti abortion…some pro choice..some with children and yes…adults with disabilities.
What happens down the road when Science can tell us who will get cancer and end up costing the system the money? Do we abort then too?
Please …get a grip.
Soylent Green…
Logan’s Run…
David V…
Buddy, I hope you never become less than the perfect person, through either accident or genetics. But then again, karma is a fickle thing, and I’m sorely afraid the deck is heavily stacked against you.
Someone said they wished you to have a child with Down Syndrome, well, you aren’t lucky or fortunate enough to be able to love someone that special! God would never allow you to have the HONOR of having a child with Down’s…EVER!
You are an absolute idiot. In order to speak intelligently about a topic that you obviously have little true knowledge of, is almost impossible, and in your case, ridiculous. It is condescending and arrogant closed-minded individuals like yourself who make things harder on people living with disabilities. I am proud of my daughter and her great accomplishments thus far. She is within the “typical” range in ALL areas of skills and development, and will never be institutionalized, but instead grow up to be a positive and productive member of society. You obviously have no idea how to do that- so perhaps you should begin writing about your own ignorance and shortcomings, of which I am sure you would never run out of. I bet there would be TONS of posts for that!
[...] I only pray that the Convention will never be ratified here, lest these kind of opinions take away the life of my Rascal 1. I happened upon this on a blog promoting “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.” [...]
Where shall I begin? I have read all of your posts regarding Down syndrome. Obviously, you have no knowledge of the condition. You should actually do some research before opening your mouth and inserting your foot.
On the note that Down syndrome is a “disorder”… you, dear little boy (I only call you that because you are in serious need of an education and should return to elementary school), have a spelling disorder. I found several grammatical errors in your posting. Quote -“Disorder” means a condition which is unhealthy or detrimental to life as a human being.- Therefore, according to your own “editorial”, your life as a human being is “detrimental” and “unhealthy.”
I understand your limited view of those with Down syndrome. Being from the former Soviet Union, you are of the belief that there is no greater being than the Supreme Soviet. There is no such thing as a miracle, you either spontaneously combusted or evolved from a chimpanzee. God, since He does not exist, had nothing to do with your creation. Was it your father’s blatant abuse of Vodka that caused your ignorance? Your mother, although probably beaten on a daily basis, should have had an amniocentesis to discover the diagnosis. The death of your fetus would not have been missed. Oh, but wait, the testing for ignorant adults has not been created yet. Damn….
Your family “suffers” from the horrible disorder of prejudice. Apparently, it is hereditary and you, your wife, your children and any family members should be sterilized in order to lessen the odds of such a horrible trait. It is undesirable and should not be allowed to continue. You apparently are detrimental to society and need to be locked up in the same basement or institution you claim those with Down syndrome need to be. You breed hate.
You know nothing of truth, justice and the American way. Your words are fictitious and a fragment of your limited imagination. You grew up in a country where there is no justice, hence your need to infect our country. And the American Way is not to institutionalize those blessed by God. Sorry to be the one to inform you of this little truth, but the American justice system institutionalizes those with a history of such hatred as yours. In fact, we tend to use the death penalty.
I know that in the Ukraine, those with Down syndrome do tend to have shortened life spans. They are locked up in institutions and refused medical care. They have no choice but to die. Sadly, this did not happen to you as a child. Your stupidity is incurable, but yet, you were allowed to live. What irony! You have never seen an adult with Down syndrome, as there are none in your country of origin.
Since you now reside in Texas, I highly recommend that you attend the state’s Summer Special Olympics. There you will see numerous adults with Down syndrome who are a much better member of society than you will EVER dream of being.
What a pathetic excuse for a human being you are David all self righteous and indignant. Dont you see how sad you are? You think just because your brainwashed little liberal mind can put two words together to create a rational thought that you are suddenly a subject matter expert on Down Syndrome or any other subject? The fact is that you don’t have the first clue of what it’s like to have child with a disability, and how amazing it is to see them overcome those disabilities to grow up to be the most amazing people you will ever meet but thankfully for all of us we never will because you’re to scared to recognize the true beauty of these special people, instead you wallow in you pathetic excuse for a life with the pea brain of Nazi. Good luck with your sad little life and please stay away from people that are enjoying their lives to the fullest without hatred and cynicism.
You are a monster.
[...] above comments were taken from a seriously disturbing, or enlightening, post here. How odd, I find it, that this same man who would willingly dispose of fetuses children because of [...]
I am a mother of a adult with down syndrome. She is still darling. Everyone loves her and she loves everyone. If she could choose a pill to make her down syndrome go away…she wouldn’t do it. She loves her life! You are an idiot! You should really take the American Way off your title. Cause your not American.
You are a jackass!!! Actually I don’t idol my daughter or look to her as a religious icon. I believe in God. I do not know of anyone that locks their child in the basement. You are a freakin idiot!
The more you write about Down’s syndrome the more you reveal about how little you actually know about it. I just don’t understand why someone would want to be seen to be reveling in their own ignorance.
“Pain, frustration, violence, and expense” can be brought into the world by plenty of “normal” children, so once the Downs kids are gone, who will be next on your docket? It occurs to me that you have no statistics at all to back up your assertions. Not all adults with Downs go on to homelessness or institutionalization, as has been proven by the parents of adults with Downs who have written to you here. They are not pets who are discarded once they have “lost their charm” when they grow up. No one who has ever had a child would make the mistake of equating him / her with an animal. I wonder why you say we should cherish them after they are born, but not before? By your standards, why should we cherish anyone who does not meet your standards for being human? You lack perspective and compassion. All you have accomplished here is to prove that in this wonderful free land of ours, everyone is entitled to their own uninformed, stupid opinion.
David, I have a feeling that you don’t have a disability, otherwise at the very least, you probably wouldn’t be so quick to condemn mothers who knowingly bring people with disabilities into the world. I know many people with disabilities and none of them show any sign of wanting to die, or wishing they were never born. Walk up to one of them, and tell them how horrible their parents were for bringing someone with their condition into the world and they will hate you for it, and see you as a monster. I will repeat myself, based on your logic, we could just as easily argue that mothers who know, they are about to give birth to people with disabled child should be forced against their will into having abortions. Would you support that? Neither your “The One Minute Case for Designer Babies” or the follow up you wrote to your Down Syndrome post, even attempt to refute my that objection. What’s more you’re guilty of fallaciously assuming that the birth of someone with a disability is always a net loss. There are many historical figures of great importance who did a great deal of good, and had exactly the kind of things, (some of them born with their condition) that you would consider a disability.
Oh, and by the way, these two objections of mine, are just as valid, regardless of weather or not one has the right to voluntarily have an abortion in the first place.
I am a mom with a child with Down syndrome, and I am very angry and sad as find people like you, with a high level of ignorance, here I will attach a paragraph from an article about this topic. Honestly I never read more stupidity and ignorance together as I read on your article.
People with Down syndrome can develop an emotional intelligence similar to those not affected by this condition, except that learning is slower than their peers. In this sense and with a more holistic perspective, it is not exact said that people with Down syndrome have a “mental deficiency”, considering that these deficiencies are cognitive not affective (5).
Author: Dr. José María Figueroa S. Resident Family Medicine PUC
Soy una mama con una niña con síndrome de down y me pone muy enfadada y triste encontrar gente como usted con un alto grado de ignorancia, aquí le adjunto el párrafo de articulo sobre el tema. Sinceramente nunca había leído más estupideces e ignorancia juntas como las que leí en su artículo.
“Las personas con Síndrome de Down pueden desarrollar una inteligencia emocional de manera similar a aquellas no afectadas por esta condición, salvo que su aprendizaje es más lento que el de sus pares. En este sentido y con una perspectiva más integral, no es exacto argumentar que las personas con Síndrome de Down tienen una “deficiencia mental”, considerando que sus carencias son de tipo cognitivo y no afectivo (5)”
Autor: Dra. María José Figueroa S. Residente Medicina Familiar PUC
Adriana Toro, PROUD mother of a girl with Down Syndrome
To all who read this thread. It may help to understand where the origins of David’s ideas and those like him come from. I recently read an excellent book: “10 Books That Screwed Up the World: And 5 Others That Didn’t Help” by Benjamin Wiker which provides the background that will help us to understand the origins of David’s disease.
I encourage anyone who reads this thread to get this book and read it, then pass it on. It’s time for true science and devotion to following the truth no matter where it leads us to bring about a reformation and renaissance of thought or we will may bring on our own judgement as societies down through the ages have.
p.s. I am the father of an 18 year old son who has five loving sisters, all younger than him – the eldest of these auditioned and was recently accepted to the Boston Ballet’s Summer Intensive program and is a straight A student. All indications are that her sisters will likely excel in their pursuits as well. Sometimes life circumstances defy logic and if we’re brutally honest, we have to accept that there’s a bigger logic out there than what our little minds can conceive.
enthusiastically,
mark
I forgot to write that my son has Autism.
[...] worship of suffering Posted on May 3, 2009 by K. M. I chanced upon this post at “Truth, Justice and the American Way”. Go read the post. Then read the comments. [...]
I was appalled when I read your site. I can’t believe someone in their right mind could ever suggest that a disability was a tradgedy. You have obviously never been around someone with a disability before because if you had these thoughts would have never come to play. My daughter has down syndrome and its been the best thing we could ever ask for. I know and have worked with many adults with down syndrome and they are the most kind, free-spirited people I have ever met. At first I thought you should be ashamed of yourself but now I just feel sorry for you. Sorry that you have not been blessed with someone with down syndrome in your life. I encourage you to volunteer at the special olympics and get to know the people with disabilities that you speak so lowly of. You never know they could become your best friends.
You were right: based on the way people reacted to this article, they do act as if DS is a condition to be worshipped or thought of as a gift or a special blessing from the gods. This shows you the state of our culture. Why is a crippling condition thought of as a virtue? What ideas could make one want to choose to make a human being exist with DS when it doesn’t have to be so? Why is allowing to come into existence such a human being regarded as a virtue and not an evil, cruel thing to do to a human being?
Jeff,
I’ll ask you the same question, I’ve asked David.
Should people like Palin be forced against their will into having abortions, if we know their about to give birth to a baby with down Syndrome, or any other disability?
Damien,
No, the individual should not be forced to have such a thing done to her. An individual should have complete control of the use and disposal of his or her body and its functions. This means that no other person or entity can or should dictate that to the individual.
Jeff
Jeff,
Than how is the choice to bring someone with down syndrome into the world evil, and if you agree with David’s reasoning, how can it be equivalent to rape to as he claims?
You are an idiot. I hope you do not reproduce.
Meg,
I don’t know if you are addressing me or David, but either way, insult is not a valid argument. Why should I care if you think I’m an idiot? It says nothing about the truth or falsehood of anything I wrote.
David,
I am hoping to change your mind but am aware I don’t have control over others. I am not only the parent of an adult with ds. I am the foster parent. He has changed my life and calmed me considerably. He does not speak but he has taught me to listen with my heart. I thank God everyday for bringing him to me. His parents are dead. My angel makes me laugh everyday. He volunteers by passing water at a nursing home. He does meals on wheels and brings a smile to the faces of most people that are fortunate enough to meet him.
I am sorry you are unable to see the beauty in someone like my angel. I hope something in your life happens to soften your heart. We are all one. God makes nothing that isnt perfect . That includes you and others that think like you. When you realize you are part of the same soul as everyone else maybe you will learn to love.There is enough for everyone.Just believe it.
Although Veksler is a bit objectivoid and therefor weird, most of the people making comments are just being emotive and stupid. I suspect Heinlein has more to do with his views than the fact that he is Ukranian. While I don’t agree that it is ‘obvious’ that people should abort various genetic abnormalities of this sort, I certainly wouldn’t blame them for doing so. What’s more, not engineering out these issues (if it’s technically feasible) is just stupid. Human enhancement ought to be a foregone conclusion for anyone concerned with not living in the present world of idiots, which includes preventing and/or engineering out serious mental and physical disabilities. That is not to say we ought to execute retards, but it does mean that someone deliberately siring an ape is not exactly contributing.
Being amoral myself, I don’t really have any horses in this race. But for people who can’t respond with anything other than ‘you are so stupid’ or ‘Ukranians hate life’, STFU.
Dear David (if thats really your name)
I believe you are a very ignorant person, who apparently hasn’t done very much research, or spent any time at all with adults with down syndrome. I would guess you are still living in the past because all you have to do is look around and see there are many adults with down syndrome that are living full lives with joy and purpose. Also, like another wrote, just go visit a special olympics event in your area (where a disguise) and witness the countless adults with not only downs but many other disabilities. Get enlightened brother!
But I would also guess that you really don’t care what people think of you. This blog is clearly a cry for attention, you probably have a lot of needs that are unmet, and this is the only way you can satisfy the deep longing for acceptance that you crave. It is kind of a sad reality for you indeed.
Just to put some goodness out to counteract your negative spirit I’d like you to know that we know 3 adults personally that have down syndrome. One is 29, Karen Gaffney, she travels the world on speaking engagements to promote inclusion. We meet her and she is remarkable. Another who is 18, Emily D., she is living and working in a law firm in Virginia, a very happy young lady, well mannered, poised, and content. Lastly, Heather C. is 17 that is a wiz at sign language, works with little children to teach them sign, she getting ready to graduate from high school and attend college in a program called Options. Heather too is articulate, beautiful, engaging and very happy.
If you really wanted to know the truth, you would look for it, and see there are countless others. But my guess is you don’t really want the truth because that would end your negative blogging.
While it may be true that some are in dire straights, so many more are not, and if everyone felt like you, the world might very well be a very dark place. I do want to say that am glad that you are the minority.
We have a little one with Down Syndrome, I won’t bother going into details trying to convince you she is an angel because I am sure you don’t really care. But I will tell you that we do bare all the costs associated with her life – - just like all parents of all children do, and our plan is to give her everything humanly possible to help her succeed in spite of people like you.
Children come in all shapes and sizes, my guess is you weren’t perfect either. But your family chose to keep you and I am glad they did because you no doubt have the potential to do really good things in this life. I hope at some point you will choose to do good things in this life.
I also hope someone is praying for you, because when you approach the gates of heaven, you may have trouble. Your time on earth that was spent in this negative manner may be a very eye opening experience for you and you may be very disappointed.
My guess is, you don’t believe in God either, so I am going to pray for you.
One thing to add, I viewed your site for your upcoming wedding and I noticed that your bride used to teach in a Montessori School. She no doubt understands the need for inclusion and acceptance. Montessori was created for children with down syndrome and children with special needs.
So how about that…
I believe there is hope for you.
Good luck in your new life and may God bless your marriage.
I don’t think it’s very feasable for all fetuses to be tested for Down’s Syndrome. Who would pay for the testing? Who would pay for the therapy for the mothers who would be then be obligated to undergo abortion? Who says these kids/adults live horrible lives and must be spared?
Hi Lunacie,
Thanks for a calm and intelligent comment.
> Who would pay for the testing?
I don’t think the testing is any more expensive than any of the other dozens of prenatal tests that mothers in Western countries undergo. If they are willing to do that much for the sake of their children’s health, I think they will do one more, now that it is safe and cheap.
>Who would pay for the therapy for the mothers who would be then be obligated to undergo abortion?
Therapy for what? And who suggested that mother’s would be “obligated” to have abortions? Abortion is a personal choice.
> Who says these kids/adults live horrible lives and must be spared?
No one, but I say that they would live healthier and happier lives – and so would their parents if they grew up healthy.
I have been reading all these nasty posts to you and apologise for the writers on their behalf. You ARE entitled to your opinion – that IS what makes this a free speech country to begin with. I tend to somewhat agree with you (Not about DS kids ’cause most have been mainstreamed and taught to serve some function) but about some children who are so severely handcapped that they will never be able to function without help. My husband teaches these types of children (example: one student was born with 1/2 a brain and would consistently bang his head on the wall of the classroom without provocation) and he has loved and adored every one of his students including the violent one with half a brain. He, like most of your objectors, thinks everyone has a purpose in life and a reason for existence. I, myself, would have aborted a child (even at 9 months!) if I found out they were that severely handcapped and would be a leech on society. And we are happily married lol…. We allow each other to own their own opinions and do not try to enforce our own viwpoints upon each other. Maybe some of the people who have responded to your blog ought to try that sometime – the world would certainly be a heck of a lot more peaceful!
I just happened upon this website while searching what to get a 39 yr. old Down Syndrome boy for Christmas, and God only knows why I ended up here! I am the mother of this 39yr.old and he has brought so much joy to my life and someone like you could never understand the meaning of LOVE! No it has not been easy at times we had our struggles, but there is no way on earth I would have ever wanted him any different! He is not a burden to society, he lives at home with his parents, he goes everywhere we do, he eats out in restaurants, bowls, goes to the movies, etc. he can and does do about everything we do. Yes he needs help with life skills but so what! He can’t manage money , read or write but so what!He didn’t go to college or highschool, but so what!. From the sounds of it you are an angry and unloving human being. You should have more compassion for people with dissabilities! I don’t have much compassion for someone like you, and I don’t have much compassion for people who are strung out on drugs and fried their brain by choice! They are the ones who are draining on our society, they are the ones under the bridges and asking for handouts. I don’t know what your problem is , but you are against the wrong group of people, God put these people in our lives and we are to take care of them, he didn’t put the drug addicts and others whom choose to destroy their brains themselves in our lives to be taken care of! You need to do some furthur study’s of our society!
Damien,
The choice of whether to bring an individual with Down’s Syndrome into the world or not rightfully belongs to the individual, not the state. Now, that a person would consciously do such a thing is a different matter. Is it right or wrong? (I preveiously used the term “evil” and “cruel” in discussing the matter.) Let me now elaborate on this point. Between the the pregnant woman and the fetus, it is the woman that has the right to decide what form of life, if any, she will permit to come into existence. If she chooses to have a baby with Down’s Syndrome that is entirely up to her. Whether her choosing to have a baby with Down’s is morally good or bad (under which “evil” falls) depends on her reason for doing so. There may be rational reasons for a woman to have the baby. However, “Because the gods say so,” is not one of them. In my view, such reasoning (or, more appropriately, lack thereof) is monstrous.
Now, getting back to the point of your question, although I regard such a decision as wrong, not all forms of wrong (even “evil”) are matters in which the state can properly intervene.
I think you are totally 1000% wrong in this factor. you have NO right in any form as to say if Special needs children should be brought into this world. they are the people who keep life interesting. give meaning to life. who care! unlike people like yourself! After reading your article in class at school. the students voted 100% that you are just like Hitler!. you do not care for anyone who is ” less important” then you are. you think that because people are not “normal” that they should be exterminated! well here is a new flash for you
******PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS ARE HUMAN *******
so deal with it! don’t tell others what to do. i have not met one single person with special needs that are violent or disturbed. they are all very sweet! and more lovable than most ‘normal’ humans as some people would like to put it. well if you want to talk normal and special needs.. who is to deside what is normal…for all we know we might be the people with the special needs and the people with Down Syndrome and CP and Autism and any other form of ‘special needs’ are the normal. we are the odd ones who need to learn lessons..
my parents did not know that they were going to have a Child with Downs syndrome. and even if they did. they would of kept him. My brother is the best thing that could ever happen to this family. he is in school with other kids his age. he has a loving supporting family and friends who LOVE him for who he is. people don’t care about what he has. he walked up to police officers at a coffee shop and they joked with him. played with him. He is a perfect stranger and these cops who were on duty, recognized that he has something special about him. My brother is a friend to all and everyone excepts him.
i think the problem today is the people who don’t have support. people who hear people like you talk and think that ” maybe this is more trouble then what its worth”. but let me tell you. having a special needs child in your home may be a bit more physical work then a ‘normal’ child but they are more understanding, more loving, more caring, and they seem to have more instincts about whats wrong or right. they know that life is a gift and not something that can be taken if someone else doesn’t want you to live.
a fetus no matter how young it is when someone desires to abort it. would of grown to become a beautiful child, someone who would be overjoyed for a little attention and love. someone who would like to be given a chance to live.
put yourself in the shoes of one of these “special needs” children. would you not of wanted to have a chance to live? to spread some love around? to show others how to be truly happy? to have a life? to maybe experience what is like to fall in love? to have a heart break because someone you loved died?
GET A LIFE! stop thinking about stupid things like ” if we exterminate all the people with special needs ( like we exterminate the bugs in our house) this world would be a better place” Well it will not be!!.. the sane people would go insane! because they have nobody who truly care for and listens to them . there is only a few people who will accept anyone for who they are!and people with special needs are the majority of them
this is proven by articles like the one you wrote you do not care for anyone but yourself! Stop being so selfish and think of how others feel! and what others would like for a change!
I just ran across this site and the letter by the Ukrainian. We had a wonderful daughter with Down Syndrome. Unfortunately she passed away 24 March 2010 due to complications of a seizure. I am so thankful for the many lessons she taught us! I miss her so much that sometimes I wonder if I can go on without her. She was blind, autistic, DS, had seizures and could not talk. I would not have traded her for any ‘normal’ child. I will always be grateful that we had her in our lives. She was loved by everyone around her and at her workshop.
By the way, her sister adopted two children from the Ukraine three years ago. As ‘healthy’ children they certainly came with a lot of problems but we love them as if they were our
own. All children are God’s children and should be treated that way! Sharron
I keep re-reading this post, certain that if only I read it one more time, I will finally find the clue that proves it is not a vitreous, nauseating diatribe on the worthlessness of individuals, but merely a Horatian satire, albeit not nearly as well written as Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”.
I must say, although I’m sure you fancy yourself some sort of expert on…well, probably everything given the amount of ego bursting the seams of this single post, your research skills are sorely lacking. One doesn’t have to search too hard to find story after story of adults with Down syndrome living wonderful, fulfilling lives—and they manage to do it without stooping to decry another segment of the population as worthless.
I would much rather sit in a room full of them than a room full of you. Of course, your behemoth ego would leave little space for anyone else, wouldn’t it?
Heck lighten up. My boys have disabilities all have autism & one with DS too and they are all Great:-))). The first thing you do is accept kids as they are. You don’t pine after any sterile icon like these people who seem to try and dominate the agendas. Randians, Eugenicists, Social Darwinists or just plain Sociopaths I don’t care they are all wrong. You Trash another and you trash yourself. Perhaps you’d like to birth a truly iconic Serial Killer like a Global Leader (or lackey of another) who causes a World War. Smile on that! Let’s be Nice to Each other but 100% intolerant of our Global Elite fiends:-)))
How pitiful you are, Hitler, Jr. There are no tests to conclusively determine mental retardation before birth. DS and mental retardation are not the same. You have truly shown your ignorance. Apparently, according to your opinion, your mother should have aborted you.
This is a completely useless post. The only purpose is serves is to inflame and upset people who love children and adults with Down syndrome. Their lives have value and purpose. Sure, abortion is a way out of caring for a child with disabilities. That is a loss of life that could have loved a mother and father completely and unconditionally. (How often does love like that happen to people, David?) A loss of life that could have given parents and siblings a purpose greater than themselves. This life of ours is the only one we have. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t choose to educate people about the benefits (you heard right — benefits) that having a child with disabilities can give a family. Yes, abortion is a choice, but a poor one indeed.
Wow! Skimmed the article bc I don’t allow that much hate to infiltrate my brain… the only comment I have is: your parents didn’t abort you and there is something definitely wrong with your mentality even if it doesn’t involve a chromosome!
I have a daughter with DS whom I chose to adopt because her mother didn’t want her. She tried to abort her but was told that the twin brother may be accidentally aborted instead so THANKFULLY she chickened out on the table. I do not treat her as a god, but I can guarantee she shows more love and affection than you could ever give on a normal day, to a ‘normal’ individual.
DS is not a blessing – agree with that one. You purposefully use harsh language, but with this judgmental attitude, better have all your facts right.
However, here are the facts you got WRONG:
- Most parents do not “plan on” not aborting and having DS children. Even in most parts of the developed world (as a fellow eastern European, I love this expression!), non-invasive screening was not available until very recently. The needle biopsy carries a 1% spontaneous abortion risk, and can be performed at 16-20 weeks of the pregnancy (pretty late, just ask anyone). Imagine a family, after several miscarriages they might not take this risk, after all, having a DS pregnancy is less probable.
The test is not recommended by MDs for low-risk groups, i.e. women under 35. Most DS babies are born to low-risk parents who don’t want to risk aborting a healthy baby.
So not much basis to blame most parents, that’s the point.
(A non-invasive technology might be on its way in the US, or -maybe- already available. It’s not available in eastern Europe yet, that’s for sure.)
- Many DS people are sterile – most men are, and there are very few babies born to DS women – so your fear of ruining humanity’s gene pool makes no sense.
- Many disabled children / adults and their families suffer unnecessarily because of purposefully cruel attitudes even in the “developed world”, not to mention other places (e.g. look around in Russia during your next trip) – encouraging this “treatment” through articles like yours is irresponsible. You claim that you are a thinking person – many sociopaths will just feel justified after reading your lines.