“Abort it and try again.” That was the advice given by atheist Richard Dawkins, who further told a woman “It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice.” That seems to be the prevalent thinking in places like Iceland, which CBS News reported was “on pace to virtually eliminate Down syndrome through abortion.”
The Atlantic is out with a cover story called “The Last Children of Down Syndrome,” and it heavily features Denmark, which offers prenatal Down syndrome screening to every pregnant woman; more than 95 percent choose to abort.
Read our December 2020 cover story by @SarahZhang: The Last Children of Down Syndrome. https://t.co/03N0q0sGSB pic.twitter.com/Qow48LH6um
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) November 18, 2020
The medical field has also been grappling with its ability to offer this power. “If no one with Down syndrome had ever existed or ever would exist—is that a terrible thing? I don’t know,” says Laura Hercher, a genetic counselor and the director of student research at Sarah Lawrence College. If you take the health complications linked to Down syndrome, such as increased likelihood of early-onset Alzheimer’s, leukemia, and heart defects, she told me, “I don’t think anyone would argue that those are good things.”
But she went on. “If our world didn’t have people with special needs and these vulnerabilities,” she asked, “would we be missing a part of our humanity?”
Yes.
Man, that is fucked up.
— An Unforgiving Meat (@monkeyboy100001) November 18, 2020
What a horrific evil to consider this, let alone publish and praise it.
— ? Jordan Deck The Halls? (@JD6Ope5) November 18, 2020
#Eugenics is evil.
— Rachel Brondyke (@theconservmomma) November 18, 2020
“If no one with Down syndrome had ever existed or ever would exist—is that a terrible thing?” Yes, yes it would be a terrible thing. Less unconditional love, forgiveness, joy, and triumph. My life would be less without my daughter, our family incomplete.
— Melanie Mathews (@melmathews) November 19, 2020
This is so sick. Eugenics is evil.
— cml (@CML915) November 18, 2020
"How a society treats its disabled is the true measure of a civilization." This includes eugenics. Destroying such lives was the position of many in the US (including FDR and others) before the nation saw the logical outcome via the Third Reich carrying it to the "logical" end.
— Veterans4Virginia (@GeorgeP03657877) November 18, 2020
I'll add, before the war, my grandmother, a US rep for social workers, was shown a few of the "exhibit" camps which housed the disabled and the mentally ill. These were where they were sterilized in the name of "mercy." And that was in the open, before the death camps. Stage 1.
— Veterans4Virginia (@GeorgeP03657877) November 18, 2020
The really disabled people are people who think this is a solution. Disgusting.
— Amber Sneddon?? (@arsneddon) November 18, 2020
Eugenics never really went out of style, did it? The eugenicists just realized they didn't have the tools to accomplish their goals. Now they do.
— Chris Valentine (@cmvalentineb) November 18, 2020
Life is inherently valuable
— Eric Sanchez (@e_sanchez) November 18, 2020
Down syndrome is not a curse. Those touched by this gift have grace that few mortals ever experience. They are blessed with a sense of joy that this wretched world needs more of.
— Sicariothrax (@Sicariothrax) November 18, 2020
"Who gets born and who doesn't"
Eugenics
— Destructive Chemistry (@DestructiveChem) November 19, 2020
Heartbreaking. Eugenics deployed against the most vulnerable.
— FirstGen (@FirstGenShooter) November 18, 2020
This is vile beyond words and if you had even a shred of humanity it would have been buried. pic.twitter.com/tjR8VCXi8u
— Gulag Inmate W-338 (@AnimeJ) November 18, 2020
What trait deemed "different" or "unwanted" will be the next accepted reason for fetal genocide?
— DokctorD (@DokctorD) November 18, 2020
These depraved leftists believe a disabled person may be murdered if an inconvenience to society or their parents. This is nothing new, historically, of course. But the Democrat Left in American stands squarely with these repulsive people. https://t.co/Len2sX6iAB
— Cute Republican Puppy (@JenBrooks727) November 18, 2020
Deciding ourselves which lives are worth granting and which aren’t…. is truly disturbing.
— A W (@alsiw34) November 19, 2020
Do you really hear yourselves?
— Official account of Prez Elect Cliffton Hanger (@AJPJS) November 18, 2020
WTF is wrong with you people.
— #justagirl (@she_brews11) November 18, 2020
A profound loss to our world. Down syndrome is terrible but it makes us confront illness with compassion, these kids save our world from the harshest reality. Like most suffering the blessing is real.
— Bobs your Kracken (@BattleAxMike1) November 18, 2020
Every family I’ve known who has had a child with Down Syndrome in it has been noticeably happier, more loving, has a strong family bond, and just open to anything.
Children with Down Syndrome are gifts from God.
— Based Bubolinski 2.0 (@basedbubolinski) November 18, 2020
Wow
— CRB (@beevmaSheen) November 18, 2020
Some are complaining that commenters didn’t read the article, but the headline makes it pretty clear which direction it points.
Related:
MUST WATCH: Man with Down syndrome gives POWERFUL speech at the UN: 'I don’t need to be eradicated' https://t.co/VZFanms8Ad
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 29, 2018
Join the conversation as a VIP Member