Eugenics
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The possibility of detecting genetic disorders in utero leads to disturbing possibilities. Already, 90% of parents who discover that their unborn child has Down's Syndrome choose abortion; what other undesirable traits in an unborn child will lead to his/her destruction? Is our society soon going to welcome eugenics? Read the article "Almost Abortion Consensus" from World magazine. After you've had a chance to digest it, check out the links found in the article and read AT LEAST two of them. (Note that one is from a fundamentally different worldview.) After you have thought about these matters, write a minimum 200-word response and post it. It would be a good idea to grab a piece of paper and jot down some notes as you read the articles, or else print them up, then highlight and write notes on them as you read; later you can use your notes to help you write a thoughtful response.
NOTE: this is a bigger-than-usual blog; it will count for more. Last day to post is TUESDAY MARCH 25th -- NO EXCEPTIONS. You may post responses to others' comments for a better grade.
We are entering a time where life has never been looked upon with such disrespect. But why should we be surprised about the statistics? I mean put yourself in the 90 percent's position, both parent's probably have a job, they probably are old enough to have already have had the children they want, retirement is coming as well so they are trying to save money, etc. (BESIDES the fact most of them are fine with abortion in general). The fact is we ALL would be scared in their position. And as mentioned in the hyperlinks the people who get these tests usually have already planned to get an abortion if positive. I agree that adoption should be an option, I agree that Down Syndrome should be introduced to parents in a more neutral way. It drives me cazy why do doctors seem to be so blood thirsty these days? Why do they always incourage abortion unless they believe it to be morally wrong? If parents are killing their children because they are disabled, I shudder the thought of a day when children are aborted because they don't have the parent's desired eye-color. This bill though I think can stop this horrible downward spiral by giving parents the option of adoption and letting other people adopt these children to show other's that these are not mutants their humans whose state of mind is not inferior to our own. I've been at camp with mentally disabled people and they were pretty dang cool, probably the most annoying thing they did during the week was slightly interfere with my sleep.
Posted by Jimmy — Mar 25, 2008 16:19
I think that a person should not have a abortion no matter what. I think that a person with down syndrome or any other mental illness can be brought up with help and might even help the family.And as jimmy said the people who have the test are already planning a abortion and there is a high percent that the test might come out wrong. I think that a parent should not have a abortion out of a stupid test because they could have had the child and it might have no disabilities or even if it did it might not be that bad.
Posted by carrie — Mar 25, 2008 21:49
Wow. Reading some of those articles seriously frustrated me. When it said read two, I went on and read more. Knowing that abortion is allowed in the world in generally makes me quite mad, because I disagree entirely about letting someone choose on someone else’s life, but not just a life, but such a young life, a baby. Reading some of these stories about parents talking about if they knew if there child was "retarded" they would have never had them.. I mean come on, if you asked them if they were born with a sickness of any kind, would they want there parents to kill them? Make the choice on there life? Its not like people that have Down's syndrome don't have feelings or a heart. Just because there mind stops at the age of 5, or 10, doesn't mean there heart doesn't keep growing.. What else makes me sick, is out of that 90% there’s probably a majority of them who have animals, and would give up a lot of money or something special to them to save that dog, or cat, or fish. Or whatever.. Knowing and really thinking about that. hurts, I mean knowing that if I had Down Syndrome with in the 90% of those parents, I'd be dead.
Posted by Hannah — Mar 25, 2008 22:44
Down syndrome, kinda a weird topic, but it is a good one. I feel that children with Down syndrome are made with a purpose just like the rest of us. They have the right to live and be known to the world. Aaron, Sydney’s brother, can get on her nerves but he teaches her something new everyday. Aaron acts just like a normal child would. He wrestles and tickles, goes to school and out about the town. Down syndrome children live just like I do. They may be slower in some areas but they still are human. I love that Senator Brownback and Kennedy are trying to pass a bill to stop abortion against genetically disabled babies. Their efforts to teach parents of the disorder and how to deal with it prior to the babies birth is the most common sense thing I have ever heard of. Wait America does not have common sense. I support Brownback and Kennedy in their efforts with this bill. I hope that this bill is passed and that parents will think twice before they have an abortion. If the parents do not want the child because they feel that they will not be able to raise it then they should give it up for adoption and give those that can not have a child a chance to have one.
Posted by Jessica — Mar 25, 2008 23:03
i think it is stupid to kill a baby because its not perfect,its still Gods creation.They have a right to be here just as much as someone who is "perfect"and no one is so......and i agree with jimmy,people will just keep finding more reasons why they should abort their babies,like they dont look exactly the way they want them to,these are never good reasons to take away life.Adoption is deffenetly a better choice.
Posted by serena — Mar 25, 2008 23:52
okay,hi again,lol,ummm im just adding more to what i already wrote.In one of the columns,Dickerson seems to think that no one else would want to adopt a disabled child.Disabled children in my opinion are not horrible,they just need a little extra care,they are probably the sweetest people.I think there are plenty of people who would be willing to adopt a child with down syndrome,and that adoption should be a choice given before even thinking about abortion.I think it is wronge to deprive a baby of life,just because it has down syndrome.I dont think anyone should have a right to take that away.I wonder if some of the people who aborted their baby just because it had down syndrome would have felt the same if they actually let it live,and grow up,if they would actually go back and make the same choice.In the article it talks about how a teen learns lessons from her disabled brother ,and how a mother says her Down Syndrome son changed her perspective on life.Letting a child with down syndrome live would deffentley not be a mistake.
Posted by serena marie — Mar 26, 2008 23:26
Yeah, i agree with jimmy. If it is legal for abortion to take place, you might as well just take away murder as a crime. Its the same exact thing if i went out a just shot someone. But speaking about Down Syndrome kids, they are no different from me and you basicly. Sure there are some definite physical problems but my parents friends, son has down syndrome, and he comprehends what your saying and everything, the only thing is that it is kind of hard to understand him talking. But regardless of a little speaking problem or not he is still a human being and should be treated like one.
Posted by Greg — Mar 27, 2008 12:50
yo, like every else said, its pretty heart wrenching to read about this happening. its just another down ward step for our nation. just because people have a sickness doesn't make them any less of a person. they are still a human being, and god created them like that for a reason. i think people can learn a lot from a mentaly or phisicaly disabled person. i think people are just trying to find more and more exuses to abort babys. if we dont nip this in the bud now, it could very well go to aborting childen because of perfered traits the parents wanted and didnt get.
Posted by dan — Mar 27, 2008 12:53
I'm glad I stumbled upon your blog site, I'll have to check-in often or get a feed.
Posted by jcubed — Jun 04, 2008 18:23