RE: Dawkins sparks outrage for saying Down Syndrome babies should be aborted
August 23, 2014 at 12:30 pm
(This post was last modified: August 23, 2014 at 12:47 pm by c172.)
As a disabled person (spina bifida; look it up [but spell it right]), I'm sort of sorry BQ didn't weigh in with her thoughts on this whole convo. As for terms to call us, I have no clue what to say. I grew up with "disabled". Nowadays, it seems like "person-first") language rules the day. "Person with a disability" is kind of unweildy, so "PWD" is used a lot now. Personally, disabled, handicapped, and PWD are fine. But certain other language, like "cripple" seem to me equivalent to "negro" for a black person (or African-american, if you prefer that).
As for eugenics, I confess I still need to read what the prominent Atheist said, so I may weigh in on this again later (I probably should). I don't wish I hadn't been born. I do sometimes with AB's (able-bodies) were less harsh on us. That is, instead of passing me on the street and saying "Boy, I wouldn't wish your situation on anybody", just maybe say "Hello,", or "Good afternoon", or nothing at all, if you wish. Fine. You feel like superior to the disabled (not any of you, per se, just certain AB's I run across). I get it. But I don't look up to AB's strictly for being able-bodied. It takes a lot more. Hitler was able-bodied. Hussein was able-bodied. A former mayor of Vancouver (and now, IIRC, a Minister of the Legislative Assembly of BC) is a quadriplegic. To me, that's a pretty high quality life, even if he needs assistants for certain tasks.
Granted, I don't know too much about mental disability, which includes Downs. As far as QOL issues, well, my assumption as that most Downs people don't really realize that they are behaviorally difficult. Parents do the parent thing, maybe send them off to special ed classes at the behavioral institute during the day, or to a social program for a Padre or Charger game or something to give themselves some rest, etc. Granted, those families are not planning the next trip to the Wall of China or to the Emmy's or other things, but folks in that boat often find a community within the disability they are affected by. I know that every year, across the country, folks with CF (not a cognitive condition, but still relevant to this, I think) have community fundraisers called Great Strides walks, which also remind people of the community that exists.
Et cetera, et cetera. As for me, I just don't care for kids, plus, I fear interference from my parents or in-laws (though I found an old childhood spina bifida friend on FB, and he is married to an AB woman and they produced a kid). So, I am childless. I do, however, find parenting interesting to observe. As for me, I would not want to raise a potentially difficult kid. But that includes plenty of able-bodied kids. I would only want to raise the star quarterback or head cheerleader. But that's a lot to want, so I'm content without kids, because I, myself, would do a miserable job. But for the reasons implied in the previous paragraph, I can't fault somebody taking a Downs kid (or spina bifida, or CF) to term, as long as that family tries to think outside the box and try to find the relevant community, and support services, etc.
As for eugenics, I confess I still need to read what the prominent Atheist said, so I may weigh in on this again later (I probably should). I don't wish I hadn't been born. I do sometimes with AB's (able-bodies) were less harsh on us. That is, instead of passing me on the street and saying "Boy, I wouldn't wish your situation on anybody", just maybe say "Hello,", or "Good afternoon", or nothing at all, if you wish. Fine. You feel like superior to the disabled (not any of you, per se, just certain AB's I run across). I get it. But I don't look up to AB's strictly for being able-bodied. It takes a lot more. Hitler was able-bodied. Hussein was able-bodied. A former mayor of Vancouver (and now, IIRC, a Minister of the Legislative Assembly of BC) is a quadriplegic. To me, that's a pretty high quality life, even if he needs assistants for certain tasks.
Granted, I don't know too much about mental disability, which includes Downs. As far as QOL issues, well, my assumption as that most Downs people don't really realize that they are behaviorally difficult. Parents do the parent thing, maybe send them off to special ed classes at the behavioral institute during the day, or to a social program for a Padre or Charger game or something to give themselves some rest, etc. Granted, those families are not planning the next trip to the Wall of China or to the Emmy's or other things, but folks in that boat often find a community within the disability they are affected by. I know that every year, across the country, folks with CF (not a cognitive condition, but still relevant to this, I think) have community fundraisers called Great Strides walks, which also remind people of the community that exists.
Et cetera, et cetera. As for me, I just don't care for kids, plus, I fear interference from my parents or in-laws (though I found an old childhood spina bifida friend on FB, and he is married to an AB woman and they produced a kid). So, I am childless. I do, however, find parenting interesting to observe. As for me, I would not want to raise a potentially difficult kid. But that includes plenty of able-bodied kids. I would only want to raise the star quarterback or head cheerleader. But that's a lot to want, so I'm content without kids, because I, myself, would do a miserable job. But for the reasons implied in the previous paragraph, I can't fault somebody taking a Downs kid (or spina bifida, or CF) to term, as long as that family tries to think outside the box and try to find the relevant community, and support services, etc.
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." - Carl Sagan
