Posted on 11/29/2007 9:56:15 AM PST by marthemaria
All across the land this fall, people have been gathering to promote awareness and acceptance of Down syndrome. Central to their message is the idea that people with the condition are valued family members who lead happy, fulfilling lives. At the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, scientists have been meeting to develop research agendas to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome, the genetic condition that results when a person has three copies of the 21st chromosome instead of the usual pair. But in the places where medicine is practiced, a very different and less benevolent awareness of Down syndrome reigns. As a result of recent changes in technology and standards of care, women are undergoing prenatal diagnostics for Down syndrome in unprecedented numbers -- often multiple times during their pregnancies. When the condition is detected, they are having abortions at rates that are thought to approach 90 percent. Those of us who actually have relationships with people with Down syndrome, and who see them achieving and thriving in their communities, view this paradox as baffling at best, tragic at worst. We cherish our friends and family members and think their unexpected extra chromosome is not the most important thing about them. And we worry that the relentlessness of genetic testing is amplifying stigma and bias against the 350,000 flesh-and-blood Americans who have the condition, as well as people who have other conditions that are now or soon will be prenatally discoverable. In recent conversations with obstetricians and gynecologists, I've found that we family members aren't the only ones with these fears. Physicians say they're disturbed by mounting demands from prospective parents for nothing less than the "perfect" child,. ..
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Our doctor told us it was all about legal CYA.
Here’s a study that will never be allowed, much less funded:
What is the correlation of childhood sexual abuse and post-pubescent homosexuality?
The common sense results of this are negative indications of a “gay gene”.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1125biz-genetest1125.html
This is another interesting story on this.Some of the comments are pretty shocking .
The very idea that a child with Downs is less worthy than any other is repugnant. I have a wonderful, fabulous niece with Downs. She is a family favorite. She is happy, healthy and has a wonderful sense of humor. It doesn’t get any better than Elaine.
This is a travesty. These children are blessings.
A home can be found for this child. Besides, tests are not 100%.
God bless you!!!!!!!
“I know of a woman right now who is pregnant and the children has Downs. She has offer the child for adoption, but if no one steps up she will abort.”
I sure hope this woman didn’t stop at just the first test, which gives a lot of false positives. There are further tests that are more accurate.
Shame on them for even doing the test. There was nothing wrong. Another mom may have oborted the child.
I worked with a wonderful woman who couldn’t have children of her own so she adopted them.
At one point she became aware that Down’s babies were being routinely institutionalized as soon as they were born (this was in the 60’s)
She thought how sad for these children to never even be taken home by their parents. So she adopted one out of the institution and has treated him like royalty ever since.
I suppose there is one of from the “other side of the fence” in every crowd, as evidenced by this post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1593546/posts?page=134#134
(#134 in case you get lost)
XX = Female
XY = Male
KY = ????
Algore? I don’t pay that much attention to his speeches, but making fun of those with Down Syndrome? Ouch. I would wonder how this clashes with his DUmmie audiences’ notions on sensitivity and tolerance, but that would presume the DU are a thinking bunch.
Oh, it was OK, because he was referring to conservatives as “the extra chromosome crowd”.
It’s also OK when a leftist demeans people, races, etc, because they aren’t racist or meanspirited when they do it.
No 'good' comes from it. But it's so the parents can abort. Forget the obvious disconnect between the left's ideas on tolerance and acceptance and the eugenics at work here.
And - it feeds the abortion machine that funds the Dems! Can't slow down that money train...
How badly did you beat the doctor?
Good ‘un.
These are God’s children, too and his commandment to not kill also extends to them. Woe be to anyone who harms one of God’s children.
As a parent of a gay man, I will tell you that was not the case...and of the many gay clients I have was not the case. I am a real estate agent.
Its also OK when a leftist demeans people, races, etc, because they arent racist or meanspirited when they do it.
Well, they are superior. And trying to help us or keep us from hindering them. And we just don't 'get it', you know, because of our deficiencies. /s
;-)
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