Down Syndrome is where the rubber hits the road for opponents of abortion. Approximately 90% of Down Syndrome pregnancies are terminated with an abortion. This behavior is entirely rational, given the enormous difficulties of caring for a Down Syndrome individual from adulthood into old age. These numbers are, however, strikingly discordant with polls showing that a majority of people oppose abortion. While the numbers for Down Syndrome abortions remain so high, abortion poll numbers represent the meaningless expressions of personal preferences for an ideal world rather than core beliefs that survive the reality of an imperfect biological world.
When I lived in Italy, I spent all 5 years of my elementary school in class with a Down person (in Italian elementary schools the teacher and classmates are the same all throughout). He was what is considered "moderately affected", which is the large majority of the individuals with Down Syndrome. Initially, he had behavioral issues, would often expose himself in the class and played all sort of tricks on the teacher and us classmates. He also had vision and mental retardation issues but had a special aid teacher with him to help with the schoolwork. At the end of elementary school, he was a still playful but well behaved individual. Now in his forties, he has had a small job for a while and got married with a DS girl. Although his father had left the family just before he was born, his mother and his extended family have always supported him and now he is a reasonably functional and happy individual. He is not completely independent, as he and his wife live with their parents but I guess, at least in Italy, this is hardly a scandal. My position on abortion is not radical, I would definitely have got an abortion in cases like Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, or other terrible, hopeless developmental pathologies, such as anencephaly. On Down Syndrome, though, I would feel very uncomfortable even only evaluating an abortion, as I have known personally many Down children and the thought of killing them because they cannot look after themselves honestly freaks me out. The thought of living in the US with a Down child, I admit, is scary and, since I have family support there, I would very likely move back to Italy. Despite of its technological and infrastructure potential, life here is simply not kind to the unfit, whether it's a child affected by Down Syndrome, ADHD or unapt academically. I am not sure, though, whether the real 'hypocrisy' is in opposing abortion or sustaining it to spare the child and relatives(?) a life of dependency. It is quite revealing that the reader on your link could spend time writing his reflections on Down Syndrome and abortion rather than even think of lending a hand to take care of his cousin. The problem is that, in our race for independence and individualism, we are giving up being human although we like to think that we are. Hence the hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteSarah Palin walked the walk. That's why you liberals hate her so much.
ReplyDeleteDon't hate Palin. Not a fan but don't hate her. Having known several children from families with Down's children there is a cost for everyone to raise a Down's child. They suck up most of the parent's time and energy leaving a lot of resentment and anger amongst the other children. No doubt this is not always the case but it has been in my experience. In Palin's case her other children are older and she has plenty of help, making it a more practical undertaking.
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