Trig's Breakthrough

[Guest guest]

Trig's Breakthrough

By Gerson, Washington Post http://tinyurl.com/6ghvrw

Wednesday, September 10, 2008; A15

In addition to Barack Obama making history as the first African

American to be nominated for president and Palin taking her

shotgun to the glass ceiling, there was a third civil rights barrier

broken at the political conventions this year.

Trig Paxson Van Palin -- pronounced by his mother " beautiful " and

" perfect " and applauded at center stage of the Republican convention

-- smashed the chromosomal barrier. And it was all the more moving for

the innocence and indifference of this 4-month-old civil rights leader.

It was not always this way. F. Kennedy's younger sister Rosemary,

who was born in 1918, had a mental disability that was treated as a

family secret. For decades Rosemary was hidden as a " childhood victim

of spinal meningitis. " ph Kennedy subjected his daughter to a

destructive lobotomy when she was 23. It was the remarkable Eunice

Kennedy Shriver who talked openly of her sister's condition in 1962

and went on to found the Special Olympics as a summer camp in her back

yard -- part of a great social movement of compassion and inclusion.

Trig's moment in the spotlight is a milestone of that movement. But it

comes at a paradoxical time. Unlike what is accorded African Americans

and women, civil rights protections for people with Down syndrome have

rapidly eroded over the past few decades. Of the cases of Down

syndrome diagnosed by prenatal testing each year, about 90 percent are

eliminated by abortion. Last year the American College of

Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended universal, early testing

for Down syndrome -- not just for older pregnant women. Some expect

this increased screening to reduce the number of Down syndrome births

to something far lower than the 5,500 we see today, perhaps to fewer

than 1,000.

The wrenching diagnosis of 47 chromosomes must seem to parents like

the end of a dream instead of the beginning of a life. But children

born with Down syndrome -- who learn slowly but love deeply -- are

generally not experienced by their parents as a curse but as a complex

blessing. And when allowed to survive, men and women with an extra

chromosome experience themselves as people with abilities, limits and

rights. Yet when Down syndrome is detected through testing, many

parents report that genetic counselors and physicians emphasize the

difficulties of raising a child with a disability and urge abortion.

This is properly called eugenic abortion -- the ending of " imperfect "

lives to remove the social, economic and emotional costs of their

existence. And this practice cannot be separated from the broader

social treatment of people who have disabilities. By eliminating less

perfect humans, deformity and disability become more pronounced and

less acceptable. Those who escape the net of screening are often

viewed as mistakes or burdens. A tragic choice becomes a presumption

-- " Didn't you get an amnio? " -- and then a prejudice. And this feeds

a social Darwinism in which the stronger are regarded as better, the

dependent are viewed as less valuable, and the weak must occasionally

be culled.

The protest against these trends has come in interesting forms. Last

year pro-choice Sen. Kennedy joined with pro-life Sen. Sam

Brownback to propose a bill that would have required medical

professionals to tell expectant parents that genetic tests are

sometimes inaccurate and to give them up-to-date information on the

quality of life that people with Down syndrome can enjoy. The bill did

not pass, but it was a principled gesture from Rosemary's brother.

Yet the pro-choice radicalism held by Kennedy and many others -- the

absolute elevation of individual autonomy over the rights of the weak

-- has enabled the new eugenics. It has also created a moral conflict

at the heart of the Democratic Party. If traditional Democratic

ideology means anything, it is the assertion that America is a single

moral community that includes everyone. How can this vision possibly

be reconciled with the elimination of children with Down syndrome from

American society? Are pro-choice Democrats really comfortable with

this choice?

The family struggles of political leaders can be morally instructive.

Contrast the attitude of ph Kennedy with that of de

Gaulle, who treated his daughter Anne, born with Down syndrome in

1928, with great affection. The image of this arrogant officer rocking

Anne in his arms at night speaks across the years. After her death and

burial at age 20, de Gaulle turned to his wife and said, " Come. Now

she is like the others. "

And now we have met Trig, who is just like the others, in every way

that matters.

[Guest guest]

Yet the pro-choice radicalism held by Kennedy and many others -- theabsolute elevation of individual autonomy over the rights of the weak-- has enabled the new eugenics. It has also created a moral conflictat the heart of the Democratic Party. If traditional Democraticideology means anything, it is the assertion that America is a singlemoral community that includes everyone. How can this vision possiblybe reconciled with the elimination of children with Down syndrome fromAmerican society? Are pro-choice Democrats really comfortable withthis choice?I find the partisan thrust of Mr. Gerson's analysis extremely troubling. Does he really believe that Democrats subscribe to the "new eugenics" and that the Republicans are somehow different? To advance the rights of the disabled, be it individuals with Down Syndrome, autism, or any other disability, the rights of those who walk the earth must be protected along with the unborn. Does he believe that Kennedy subscribes to the notion that individuals with Down syndrome should be "eliminated." Has he shown evidence that the advocates for the unborn have utilized their energy and influence for the disabled children among us. Mr. Gerson's essay is partisan nonsense.Trig is a nice symbol illustrating that the issue of the rights of disabilities must be advocated aggressively and openly. It is a completely open question whether the party cynically brandishing this symbol will truly be advocates for the disabled. Historically this is very much in doubt. Witness the gross underfunding of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) under the Bush administration.Mr. Gerson should be careful about trumpeting the cause of his ideology and bashing others on the backs of children with disabilities, such as my child and your children.I find his piece cynical and utterly corrupt in its use of a child with disabilities to promote his personal ideology.I respect his personal beliefs about abortion and I may even agree. But, that is our PERSONAL belief. If Mr. Gerson wants to force his personal beliefs on all let him try but leave our children out of the discussion. I am one who speaks out regularly against the evils of eugenics and the elevation of genetics into a virtual religion that may lead to the abortion of children who are said to have autism. But Mr. Gerson has twisted the issues in his essay by using "Trig's Breakthrough" as an argument to legislate his personal belief.I reject his analysis and the cynicism that pervades his piece. J. KrakowFather of a child with a disabilityCousin of an individual with a lifelong disabilityOpponent of eugenics Trig's BreakthroughBy Gerson, Washington Post http://tinyurl.com/6ghvrwWednesday, September 10, 2008; A15In addition to Barack Obama making history as the first AfricanAmerican to be nominated for president and Palin taking hershotgun to the glass ceiling, there was a third civil rights barrierbroken at the political conventions this year.Trig Paxson Van Palin -- pronounced by his mother "beautiful" and"perfect" and applauded at center stage of the Republican convention-- smashed the chromosomal barrier. And it was all the more moving forthe innocence and indifference of this 4-month-old civil rights leader.It was not always this way. F. Kennedy's younger sister Rosemary,who was born in 1918, had a mental disability that was treated as afamily secret. For decades Rosemary was hidden as a "childhood victimof spinal meningitis." ph Kennedy subjected his daughter to adestructive lobotomy when she was 23. It was the remarkable EuniceKennedy Shriver who talked openly of her sister's condition in 1962and went on to found the Special Olympics as a summer camp in her backyard -- part of a great social movement of compassion and inclusion.Trig's moment in the spotlight is a milestone of that movement. But itcomes at a paradoxical time. Unlike what is accorded African Americansand women, civil rights protections for people with Down syndrome haverapidly eroded over the past few decades. Of the cases of Downsyndrome diagnosed by prenatal testing each year, about 90 percent areeliminated by abortion. Last year the American College ofObstetricians and Gynecologists recommended universal, early testingfor Down syndrome -- not just for older pregnant women. Some expectthis increased screening to reduce the number of Down syndrome birthsto something far lower than the 5,500 we see today, perhaps to fewerthan 1,000.The wrenching diagnosis of 47 chromosomes must seem to parents likethe end of a dream instead of the beginning of a life. But childrenborn with Down syndrome -- who learn slowly but love deeply -- aregenerally not experienced by their parents as a curse but as a complexblessing. And when allowed to survive, men and women with an extrachromosome experience themselves as people with abilities, limits andrights. Yet when Down syndrome is detected through testing, manyparents report that genetic counselors and physicians emphasize thedifficulties of raising a child with a disability and urge abortion.This is properly called eugenic abortion -- the ending of "imperfect"lives to remove the social, economic and emotional costs of theirexistence. And this practice cannot be separated from the broadersocial treatment of people who have disabilities. By eliminating lessperfect humans, deformity and disability become more pronounced andless acceptable. Those who escape the net of screening are oftenviewed as mistakes or burdens. A tragic choice becomes a presumption-- "Didn't you get an amnio?" -- and then a prejudice. And this feedsa social Darwinism in which the stronger are regarded as better, thedependent are viewed as less valuable, and the weak must occasionallybe culled.The protest against these trends has come in interesting forms. Lastyear pro-choice Sen. Kennedy joined with pro-life Sen. SamBrownback to propose a bill that would have required medicalprofessionals to tell expectant parents that genetic tests aresometimes inaccurate and to give them up-to-date information on thequality of life that people with Down syndrome can enjoy. The bill didnot pass, but it was a principled gesture from Rosemary's brother.Yet the pro-choice radicalism held by Kennedy and many others -- theabsolute elevation of individual autonomy over the rights of the weak-- has enabled the new eugenics. It has also created a moral conflictat the heart of the Democratic Party. If traditional Democraticideology means anything, it is the assertion that America is a singlemoral community that includes everyone. How can this vision possiblybe reconciled with the elimination of children with Down syndrome fromAmerican society? Are pro-choice Democrats really comfortable withthis choice?The family struggles of political leaders can be morally instructive.Contrast the attitude of ph Kennedy with that of deGaulle, who treated his daughter Anne, born with Down syndrome in1928, with great affection. The image of this arrogant officer rockingAnne in his arms at night speaks across the years. After her death andburial at age 20, de Gaulle turned to his wife and said, "Come. Nowshe is like the others."And now we have met Trig, who is just like the others, in every waythat matters. J. KrakowLaw Office of J. Krakow, P.C.1205 lin Avenue, Suite 110Garden City, New York 11530 (NYC) (fax) (Mobile)rkrakow@...

[Guest guest]

This has not been mentioned here, as far as I know, but children born with Down's Syndrome are on a fast track for developing Alzheimer's later in life. I don't know why, and I wish it wasn't so:

http://alzheimers.about.com/cs/diagnosisissues/a/downs.htm

I already heard about this a few years ago from a compounding pharmacist who gave a talk at the Geneva Centre for Autism. Most kids diagnosed with Down's syndrome will develop Alzheimer's later in life.

Why is this happening? Now here's another area worthy of research!

Aasa

Subject: Trig's BreakthroughTo: EOHarm Received: Monday, September 15, 2008, 5:38 PM

Trig's BreakthroughBy Gerson, Washington Post http://tinyurl. com/6ghvrwWednesday, September 10, 2008; A15In addition to Barack Obama making history as the first AfricanAmerican to be nominated for president and Palin taking hershotgun to the glass ceiling, there was a third civil rights barrierbroken at the political conventions this year.Trig Paxson Van Palin -- pronounced by his mother "beautiful" and"perfect" and applauded at center stage of the Republican convention-- smashed the chromosomal barrier. And it was all the more moving forthe innocence and indifference of this 4-month-old civil rights leader.It was not always this way. F. Kennedy's younger sister Rosemary,who was born in 1918, had a mental disability that was treated as afamily secret. For decades Rosemary was hidden as a

"childhood victimof spinal meningitis." ph Kennedy subjected his daughter to adestructive lobotomy when she was 23. It was the remarkable EuniceKennedy Shriver who talked openly of her sister's condition in 1962and went on to found the Special Olympics as a summer camp in her backyard -- part of a great social movement of compassion and inclusion.Trig's moment in the spotlight is a milestone of that movement. But itcomes at a paradoxical time. Unlike what is accorded African Americansand women, civil rights protections for people with Down syndrome haverapidly eroded over the past few decades. Of the cases of Downsyndrome diagnosed by prenatal testing each year, about 90 percent areeliminated by abortion. Last year the American College ofObstetricians and Gynecologists recommended universal, early testingfor Down syndrome -- not just for older pregnant women. Some expectthis increased

screening to reduce the number of Down syndrome birthsto something far lower than the 5,500 we see today, perhaps to fewerthan 1,000.The wrenching diagnosis of 47 chromosomes must seem to parents likethe end of a dream instead of the beginning of a life. But childrenborn with Down syndrome -- who learn slowly but love deeply -- aregenerally not experienced by their parents as a curse but as a complexblessing. And when allowed to survive, men and women with an extrachromosome experience themselves as people with abilities, limits andrights. Yet when Down syndrome is detected through testing, manyparents report that genetic counselors and physicians emphasize thedifficulties of raising a child with a disability and urge abortion.This is properly called eugenic abortion -- the ending of "imperfect"lives to remove the social, economic and emotional costs of theirexistence. And this practice

cannot be separated from the broadersocial treatment of people who have disabilities. By eliminating lessperfect humans, deformity and disability become more pronounced andless acceptable. Those who escape the net of screening are oftenviewed as mistakes or burdens. A tragic choice becomes a presumption-- "Didn't you get an amnio?" -- and then a prejudice. And this feedsa social Darwinism in which the stronger are regarded as better, thedependent are viewed as less valuable, and the weak must occasionallybe culled.The protest against these trends has come in interesting forms. Lastyear pro-choice Sen. Kennedy joined with pro-life Sen. SamBrownback to propose a bill that would have required medicalprofessionals to tell expectant parents that genetic tests aresometimes inaccurate and to give them up-to-date information on thequality of life that people with Down syndrome can enjoy. The

bill didnot pass, but it was a principled gesture from Rosemary's brother.Yet the pro-choice radicalism held by Kennedy and many others -- theabsolute elevation of individual autonomy over the rights of the weak-- has enabled the new eugenics. It has also created a moral conflictat the heart of the Democratic Party. If traditional Democraticideology means anything, it is the assertion that America is a singlemoral community that includes everyone. How can this vision possiblybe reconciled with the elimination of children with Down syndrome fromAmerican society? Are pro-choice Democrats really comfortable withthis choice?The family struggles of political leaders can be morally instructive.Contrast the attitude of ph Kennedy with that of deGaulle, who treated his daughter Anne, born with Down syndrome in1928, with great affection. The image of this arrogant officer rockingAnne

in his arms at night speaks across the years. After her death andburial at age 20, de Gaulle turned to his wife and said, "Come. Nowshe is like the others."And now we have met Trig, who is just like the others, in every waythat matters.

[Guest guest]

Here's a bit more info. What do you make of it? Aasa

http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/TOPIC552.HTM---

Subject: Re: Trig's BreakthroughTo: EOHarm Received: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 2:38 AM

This has not been mentioned here, as far as I know, but children born with Down's Syndrome are on a fast track for developing Alzheimer's later in life. I don't know why, and I wish it wasn't so:

http://alzheimers. about.com/ cs/diagnosisissu es/a/downs. htm

I already heard about this a few years ago from a compounding pharmacist who gave a talk at the Geneva Centre for Autism. Most kids diagnosed with Down's syndrome will develop Alzheimer's later in life.

Why is this happening? Now here's another area worthy of research!

Aasa

From: schaferatsprynet <schafersprynet (DOT) com>Subject: Trig's BreakthroughTo: EOHarmyahoogroups (DOT) comReceived: Monday, September 15, 2008, 5:38 PM

Trig's BreakthroughBy Gerson, Washington Post http://tinyurl. com/6ghvrwWednesday, September 10, 2008; A15In addition to Barack Obama making history as the first AfricanAmerican to be nominated for president and Palin taking hershotgun to the glass ceiling, there was a third civil rights barrierbroken at the political conventions this year.Trig Paxson Van Palin -- pronounced by his mother "beautiful" and"perfect" and applauded at center stage of the Republican convention-- smashed the chromosomal barrier. And it was all the more moving forthe innocence and indifference of this 4-month-old civil rights leader.It was not always this way. F. Kennedy's younger sister Rosemary,who was born in 1918, had a mental disability that was treated as afamily secret. For decades Rosemary was hidden as a

"childhood victimof spinal meningitis." ph Kennedy subjected his daughter to adestructive lobotomy when she was 23. It was the remarkable EuniceKennedy Shriver who talked openly of her sister's condition in 1962and went on to found the Special Olympics as a summer camp in her backyard -- part of a great social movement of compassion and inclusion.Trig's moment in the spotlight is a milestone of that movement. But itcomes at a paradoxical time. Unlike what is accorded African Americansand women, civil rights protections for people with Down syndrome haverapidly eroded over the past few decades. Of the cases of Downsyndrome diagnosed by prenatal testing each year, about 90 percent areeliminated by abortion. Last year the American College ofObstetricians and Gynecologists recommended universal, early testingfor Down syndrome -- not just for older pregnant women. Some expectthis increased

screening to reduce the number of Down syndrome birthsto something far lower than the 5,500 we see today, perhaps to fewerthan 1,000.The wrenching diagnosis of 47 chromosomes must seem to parents likethe end of a dream instead of the beginning of a life. But childrenborn with Down syndrome -- who learn slowly but love deeply -- aregenerally not experienced by their parents as a curse but as a complexblessing. And when allowed to survive, men and women with an extrachromosome experience themselves as people with abilities, limits andrights. Yet when Down syndrome is detected through testing, manyparents report that genetic counselors and physicians emphasize thedifficulties of raising a child with a disability and urge abortion.This is properly called eugenic abortion -- the ending of "imperfect"lives to remove the social, economic and emotional costs of theirexistence. And this practice

cannot be separated from the broadersocial treatment of people who have disabilities. By eliminating lessperfect humans, deformity and disability become more pronounced andless acceptable. Those who escape the net of screening are oftenviewed as mistakes or burdens. A tragic choice becomes a presumption-- "Didn't you get an amnio?" -- and then a prejudice. And this feedsa social Darwinism in which the stronger are regarded as better, thedependent are viewed as less valuable, and the weak must occasionallybe culled.The protest against these trends has come in interesting forms. Lastyear pro-choice Sen. Kennedy joined with pro-life Sen. SamBrownback to propose a bill that would have required medicalprofessionals to tell expectant parents that genetic tests aresometimes inaccurate and to give them up-to-date information on thequality of life that people with Down syndrome can enjoy. The

bill didnot pass, but it was a principled gesture from Rosemary's brother.Yet the pro-choice radicalism held by Kennedy and many others -- theabsolute elevation of individual autonomy over the rights of the weak-- has enabled the new eugenics. It has also created a moral conflictat the heart of the Democratic Party. If traditional Democraticideology means anything, it is the assertion that America is a singlemoral community that includes everyone. How can this vision possiblybe reconciled with the elimination of children with Down syndrome fromAmerican society? Are pro-choice Democrats really comfortable withthis choice?The family struggles of political leaders can be morally instructive.Contrast the attitude of ph Kennedy with that of deGaulle, who treated his daughter Anne, born with Down syndrome in1928, with great affection. The image of this arrogant officer rockingAnne

in his arms at night speaks across the years. After her death andburial at age 20, de Gaulle turned to his wife and said, "Come. Nowshe is like the others."And now we have met Trig, who is just like the others, in every waythat matters.