Tag Archives: Down’s Syndrome

I commented the other day on a Pajama’s Media post to the effect that I couldn’t imagine anyone purposely aborting a Down’s Syndrome baby, such as Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s newborn. Yet, another commenter came back, it’s done about eighty percent of the time. It’s not my business to tell others what to do about such things, but the Down’s kids I have known, including the son of an editor I worked for years ago, were quite bright and curious and had sparkling personalities. In recent years, at least one such young man has written a book with help. Abortion, I think, should continue to be legal, and I have no doubt that it will. But we should not return to the past when children born with disabilities were slain. People should rethink their ability to practice eugenics, and consider, as Bridget Johnson does, what normal really is. The main tragedy of a Down’s child is that he often dies young. I well remember my old editor’s inconsolable grief when his son died before reaching high school.