wMay 9, 2007 | |||
babies I really don't have time to write an entire blog post, which is sad, because I have things to say. So I guess I'll just pick one and go with it (and close one of my open tabs in my web browser). Antoine sent me a link to this article, which you should read. The premise is that the population of people with Down syndrome is dwindling because when pregnant mothers find out they have such a child, 9 times out of 10, they abort it. Fewer people with Down syndrome means those that have it have less of a chance to socialize, and for parents to network with one another. It also becomes more difficult for them to lobby for funding for things like scientific research. I find it incredibly sad that 90% of pregnant women who get a positive test for Down syndrome babies abort their babies. I get really disgusted when people think they can play God. Especially if you want to have a child - but what? Not that child? There are conservative Christians who have said that if there was a way to find out whether or not their child was gay, they would abort their baby. What kind of a society is this, where we can decide which babies do and do not deserve because of their genes? Their genes which we give them? 90%. What the fuck. So, let me ask you, blog readers - if you or your significant other became pregnant and you knew the child had Down syndrome, would you want/get an abortion? Current Music: the fan, bringing cooler air into my room Labels: social commentary scribbled mystickeeper at 10:57 PM4 comments 4 Comments:
Choosing to have a child with severe mental and physical problems is a moral atrocity. There's no way to get around the fact that Down syndrome causes suffering in everyone involved, especially the child. The parents who support bringing more people burdened with this illness into the world only want to extend their and their children's suffering to everyone else. They should be named for what they are - evil. By David Veksler, at 11:39 PM, May 09, 2007
I feel like you haven't had much experience with people who do have Down syndrome, if you are capable of thinking that their lives are defined by suffering. One of my co-workers has Down syndrome, and I was a part-time caretaker last summer for someone with Down syndrome. Having spent a lot of time around both of them, I would say that they are two of the happiest people I've ever met. Did you read the article? The girl with Down syndrome said, "I just want you to know, even though I have Down syndrome, I'm okay." By mystickeeper, at 6:53 AM, May 10, 2007
David, you gave me a lot to think about. I stumbled about this for a while and just thought about what you stated. The problem I'm having with your arguments though (which Jack kind of mentioned) is the definition of suffering. You say the people around you and the child shouldn't be made to suffer. But don't we all suffer in some sort of way? I'm not sure where my life will lead me, but I may develop Alzheimer’s in my 60's. No offense, I would gladly take the "suffering" and hope to God my family will allow me that luxury as I would let them to enjoy 60 years of "full life" and 20 some with the "debilitating disease." By Unknown, at 9:01 AM, May 10, 2007
My position is a bit less radical that David's: By Antoine, at 9:23 AM, May 10, 2007 |
|||
wBlog Vitals | |||
Posts Sorted by Tags Purpose of This Blog Site Feed | |||
wI'm all over the Internet | |||
Blogger profile LiveJournal profile To-Do Booklog Anime Log Most of the comment-conversation takes place over at the LiveJournal version of this blog. Plus, all of my cute and/or heinous icons are there. |
|||
wCurrently... | |||
Feeling: |
|||
wOther People | |||
LJ Friends |
|||
wThe Good Stuff | |||
|
|||
wFF7 Is Cooler Than You | |||
|
|||