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demigoddess

(6,675 posts)

79. my guess is that Dawkins resents the money being spent

Sun Aug 31, 2014, 03:25 PM

Aug 2014

on special ed in schools, SSI for handicapped adults and other things similar. I have a severely handicapped daughter and in the early years before we settled in a more accepting area, I was stopped on the street and asked why I didn't have an abortion (she's pre Roe v Wade), and others complaining of the money spent on special ed in school that "takes money away from normal children" and her being a 'burden on society". As far as their lives, even though my daughter is very severely retarded, I have seen her do things that made me very proud of her. And her brothers grew up to be very caring men. Not once in their childhoods did I ever have to say to any of my kids "be nice, now, to your brother/sister". They shared beautifully and never fought. My sons have made me extra proud of how they have accepted her and others.

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The Truth About Down Syndrome (What Dawkins got wrong) [View all] loyalsister Aug 2014 OP

Like one of the mother's told me 15 years ago.."He'll be able to do anything but drive" Tikki Aug 2014 #1

I've known mostly adults with Down's. Warpy Aug 2014 #28

In all my years of working with clients with down's I have seen only one child that showed any signs jwirr Aug 2014 #36

People with disabilities were enlisted to be loyalsister Aug 2014 #63

Exactly. jwirr Aug 2014 #64

Fortunately for all of us, LiberalAndProud Aug 2014 #2

I really don't understand the controversy here, unless it's because Dawkins said it. arcane1 Aug 2014 #3

as a self-appointed moral authority loyalsister Aug 2014 #5

Thank you. n/t moriah Aug 2014 #6

It's merely his opinion, no more or less valid than anyone else's. arcane1 Aug 2014 #7

And no one takes opinions of intellectuals seriously loyalsister Aug 2014 #9

Since this isn't his area of expertise, his opinion is no more relevant than his opinion of tv shows arcane1 Aug 2014 #12

He is not a "self-appointed moral authority". Iron Man Aug 2014 #10

He stated his opinion when someone specifically asked it gollygee Aug 2014 #33

Still, never mind eh? mr blur Aug 2014 #59

This is about making a value judgement that he thinks should be applied to others. If he wants to jwirr Aug 2014 #37

It's because Dawkins said it. Mariana Aug 2014 #60

As far as I know Christians do not single out a specific group they are talking about they disagree jwirr Aug 2014 #65

Actually loyalsister Aug 2014 #70

At least in my church there is no such bias and the use of seizures (which my daughter has) was jwirr Aug 2014 #74

Unfortunately there are still literal interpreters who don't see it that way loyalsister Aug 2014 #75

Of course there are. That is much the problem we are having in America today. The rw with their jwirr Aug 2014 #76

landover baptist is a parody site, not a real church independentpiney Aug 2014 #77

Sorry, I should have been more diligent loyalsister Aug 2014 #78

It has nothing to do with Dawkins loyalsister Aug 2014 #71

Fetuses aren't "people with disabilities". nt. Mariana Aug 2014 #72

The statement devalues existing people loyalsister Aug 2014 #73

Exactly. They lead happy lives. I wonder if Dawkins does? Maybe unhappy people applegrove Aug 2014 #4

That was the sentiment behind eugenics policies loyalsister Aug 2014 #8

Eugenics was about race. Iron Man Aug 2014 #11

It was also about disability loyalsister Aug 2014 #14

Thank you. Dawkins seems to be implying that the severely disabled are not as valuable Wella Aug 2014 #20

What if disability-related medical expenses are the reasons she can't afford it? arcane1 Aug 2014 #21

So you think it's a moral duty to abort the disabled? Wella Aug 2014 #22

Putting words in my mouth? Classy. You know I never even implied that. Nice try though. arcane1 Aug 2014 #23

Actually, I'm not. I'm trying to figure out where you stand on this morally Wella Aug 2014 #24

You missed an important phrase there: Iron Man Aug 2014 #55

Where I stand is an irrelevant distraction. arcane1 Aug 2014 #61

It doesn't matter. Iron Man Aug 2014 #54

What is it that you are arguing here? LisaL Aug 2014 #82

No. I pointing out that Dawkins thinks that aborting a Downs syndrome baby is a moral good Wella Sep 2014 #83

Choice goes two ways. jwirr Aug 2014 #40

We should be providing health care for all, so that shouldn't be a question. moriah Aug 2014 #66

It does have that ring loyalsister Aug 2014 #25

I like the way you said that Wella Aug 2014 #26

Eugenics was about a lot more than race. I suggest you read "War Against the Weak: Eugenics and jwirr Aug 2014 #39

:) Puzzledtraveller Aug 2014 #13

I fully support a woman's right to choose, just to be clear. And that means applegrove Aug 2014 #15

i agree Puzzledtraveller Aug 2014 #16

He merely gave an opinion when someone asked a question. Iron Man Aug 2014 #17

He wasn't chosing for other people. LisaL Aug 2014 #41

Is it a happy life PasadenaTrudy Aug 2014 #18

Do you know many parents who are raising or have raised children with DS loyalsister Aug 2014 #19

You can't really know that for sure, unless you're one of the parents ecstatic Aug 2014 #58

well I know many who are advocates for PWD loyalsister Aug 2014 #62

Ask them treestar Aug 2014 #56

why are people defending his opinion? Does he have a right to his opinion? Of course he does. liberal_at_heart Aug 2014 #27

I prefer disabled because it locates the condition more appropriately loyalsister Aug 2014 #32

It's named after some doctor named Down. SheilaT Aug 2014 #29

There are many issues that come with Down syndrome. LisaL Aug 2014 #30

And some go to college and start their own businesses loyalsister Aug 2014 #31

Maybe this will help loyalsister Aug 2014 #34

Men with Down syndrome are sterile, but large number of women with Down syndrome are fertile. LisaL Aug 2014 #38

Often is not the same as always loyalsister Aug 2014 #42

As far as I can tell, only LisaL Aug 2014 #43

Is this a problem that men with down syndrome are concerned about? loyalsister Aug 2014 #48

People without Down's also have these complications. jwirr Aug 2014 #44

Obviously not at the same rate. LisaL Aug 2014 #46

Yes I am aware of that - what I want to know is so what? We should abort then for these reasons? jwirr Aug 2014 #49

If a woman wants to have an abortion for whatever reason, she LisaL Aug 2014 #50

If you read the rest of my post you will see that is what I am saying. I see the devaluation of jwirr Aug 2014 #51

It should be woman's choice. LisaL Aug 2014 #52

Since we still cannot tell the level of functioning for Downs before birth are not one set of facts jwirr Aug 2014 #53

There is also this. LisaL Aug 2014 #47

I didn't know that. Wow. nt ecstatic Aug 2014 #57

So let's dismiss a huge segment of society mentalsolstice Aug 2014 #67

Fetuses aren't a segment of society. nt. Mariana Aug 2014 #68

Disabled people are a segment of society and unless you know some other way of becoming a person, liberal_at_heart Aug 2014 #69

Are you saying that disabled fetus should be afforded the same rights as a disabled person? LisaL Aug 2014 #81

It's up to one person: the mother. I don't consider it a "moral" issue. NYC Liberal Aug 2014 #35

Agreed. That is what those of us who are arguing against what he said are trying to say. jwirr Aug 2014 #45

my guess is that Dawkins resents the money being spent demigoddess Aug 2014 #79

People who resent the money being spent loyalsister Aug 2014 #80