The value of human life is under constant review. From hot topic issues such as abortion, or Syrian Refugees lines are consistently drawn in the proverbial sand, to the left is logic which values self, and to the right is compassion which values others. People with Down Syndrome (DS) are caught within fiery fringes of human speculation concerning their value. Authorial intent will seek to prove the equal value of life concerning those with DS, no less the value of a life with single chromosomes. Through books, online articles, and interviews, influential people such as Richard Dawkins who have sought to reduce the value of life for those with DS will be examined, religious prejudice and the beauty and reality of God’s fashioning of humanity will be exposed, and lastly, the value of those with DS and their capabilities in the Twenty-First Century will be celebrated. Far too long have fears of the unknown prejudiced and isolated a people. Shallow-hearted fears of those with special needs, in general, must have its day. “Perfect love cast out fear” (ESV. 1 Jn. 4:18), thus, if those with DS are to be shown equal to those without DS, love will prevail fear.
RICHARD DAWKINS AND VALUE FOR HUMAN LIFE
On August 20, 2014 the renown scientist Richard Dawkins tweeted the following statement concerning Down Syndrome, “Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice” (Dawkins. Web). In another Tweet, Dawkins defended his “logical” position stating, “Apparently I’m a horrid monster for recommending WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPANS to the great majority of Down Syndrome fetuses. They are aborted” (Dawkins. Web). Responding to public backlash he further stated, “Given a free choice of having an early abortion or deliberately bringing a Down child into the world, I think the moral and sensible choice would be to abort. And, indeed, that is what the great majority of women, in America and especially in Europe, actually do. I personally would go further and say that, if your morality is based, as mine is, on a desire to increase the sum of happiness and reduce suffering, the decision to deliberately give birth to a Down baby, when you have the choice to abort it early in the pregnancy, might actually be immoral from the point of view of the child’s own welfare" (Dawkins. Web).
Dawkins’ conviction conveys value for human life as determined by perceptual happiness. Conceptually, Dawkins renders those with DS worthless, in juxtaposition with one’s happiness alongside level of suffering; consequently, appropriating their birth “immoral,” while accusing opposition morally incompetent. Concluding happiness as the sum of one’s own “welfare” (Dawkins. Web).
Furthermore, Dawkins’ position aims to convey cultural implications which justify mass genocide of babies diagnosed with DS. One may proverbially see his eyes role as he affirms abortion is “What the great majority of women…actually do” (Web), as he implies ascertainment. Dawkins’ persuasive speech remains central toward the staggering 90% abortion rates concerning those diagnosed with DS (Ford. 137). Abortion rates of this escalation prove widespread influence of Dawkins and his contemporaries. Dawkins’ philosophy maintaining suffering as enemy of happiness rationalizes value for human life; justifying abortion. Therefore, Dawkins’ voice “grants” plausible reasoning toward said “Moral” and “Sensible” response. Summating decreased value for human life through desensitizing cultural precepts; rendering value for life subsequent to opinionated standard of well being.
Thus, are those with Down Syndrome unhappy? The American Journal of Medical Genetics published an article called “Self-Perceptions from People with Down Syndrome” regarding happiness among those with DS. Their research conveyed the following: “We analyzed valid and reliable survey instruments from 284 people with DS on the mailing lists of 6 non-profit DS organizations around the country. Among those surveyed, nearly 99% of people with DS indicated that they were happy with their lives, 97% liked who they are, and 96% liked how they look. Nearly 99% people with DS expressed love for their families, and 97% liked their brothers and sisters. While 86% of people with DS felt they could make friends easily, those with difficulties mostly had isolating living situations” (Skotko, Levine, and Goldstein. 2360-2369). While the National Down Syndrome Society recognizes those with DS are not always happy, saying, “They respond to positive expressions of friendship and are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior” (NDSS. Web); in many cases those with DS remain positive unless extreme cases of neglect and/or physical abuse evoke depressive or oppressive emotions. Clinically depressed patients with DS, as explained by Leonard Shengold, is “Soul murder,” to which he defines, saying, “Soul murder is the term I have used for the apparently willful abuse and neglect of children by adults that are of sufficient intensity and frequency to be traumatic” (Shengold. 328). The question of happiness lies little with genetic disposition or medical history, rather, the happiness and “wellbeing” of those with DS stand on foundations of how they are treated. Dawkins’ presumptuous attitude toward aborting those with DS as the “Moral and sensible choice” in consideration toward “happiness” and “wellbeing” measures off base, and one may conclude, regardless of Dawkins’ end means, facts prove happiness and wellbeing of those with DS are a result of other humans placing value upon their existence. Thus, Dawkins’ sense of morality proves nonsensically bias, arduously propagated by arbitrary opinion falsifying itself as fact. One must consider highly actual facts before ignorantly supporting such fallacy.
RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE AND THE FASHIONING OF GOD
Within ecclesia, secular attitude toward persons with DS stand conspicuous; what is not comprehensibly noticeable are ignorant subtle prejudices to which marginalize and exclude. Dr. Stephen Grcevich, President and Founder of Key Ministry, reports, “More than 90% of church-going special needs parents cited the most helpful support to be a “welcoming attitude toward people with disabilities.” Meanwhile, only about 80% of those parents said that welcoming attitude was present at their church… Almost 1/3 (32.3%) of special needs families said they had left at least one church because their child was not included or welcomed. Nearly 50% (46.6%) of special needs parents said they refrained from participating in a religious activity because their child was not included or welcomed” (Grcevich. Web). And while attitudes within Churches have warmed up toward those with disabilities, “86.5% said that their Church needs more education and training about disability” (Grcevich. Web). Marginalization of those with disabilities, not general attitude, appears primary as culprit of Church prejudice. People may treat those with DS with love and compassion, yet it is sad silence pertaining their value to the work of the Church which renders exclusion.
Alongside exclusion, roots of sin, healing, and fear often isolate those with DS and their families as “wonder” of consequence. Ellen Stumbo, a Pastor’s wife and author, testifies, “When my daughter was born with Down syndrome, one of my friends confessed she thought I deserved it. She said that I must have done something wrong for God to give me a child with a disability. Sadly, this is the message she had heard from her church, the same church I had attended growing up, the same message I’d heard. Thankfully, at that point in life I had personal experience with children with disabilities. I also had a real, deep relationship with God, the same God that whispered to me, I don’t make mistakes” (Stumbo. Web). The Church often blames sin for disability, mocks faith when healing is absent, and generally fears those with DS due these unsettled resolutions concerning God, suffering, and human disability. In the same way “Americans may heartily cheer participants in the Special Olympics, but we abort some 90 percent of all gestating infants diagnosed with genetic disabilities such as DS, dwarfism, and spina bifida” (Smith. Web); the Church readily cheers those with DS through an acceptance lens. They are free to worship and socialize, yet persisting marginalization proves how little one is valued as contributable. DS exist due the fallen state of this world, and sin [which is of Satan] seeks to steal, kill, and destroy the things of God (Jn. 10:10). However, suggesting DS is punishment due to parent’s sin is unbiblical, and irrational (Jn. 9:1-3).
John Piper, “Disability and the Sovereignty of God,” writes, “One estimate is that 70% of the women who get abortions in America are professing Christians” (Piper. 62). This catastrophic nightmare contrast greatly with the God who forms children in their mother’s womb. Piper elaborates, writing, “The message is that God knits all the children together in their mothers’ wombs, and they are all—all of them of every degree of ability—conceived for the purpose of displaying the glory of God” (Piper. 63). It is ignorance to glorify God knitting one together in their mother’s womb, yet maintain God’s absence in the knitting together of a baby with DS. Many people, even within the Church, treat DS like a Cancer diagnosis. This must change. The Church has an active role toward redefining how future America appropriates its relationship with DS. Furthermore, disembarking with the notion which predicates morality to abort those diagnosed with DS is not only the right thing to do, endeavoring love, mercy, and strength to those with DS and their families is unto glorifying God. And while this mystery of chromosomal abnormality perplexes the mind, nonetheless, Trisomy 21 does not elude God’s epochal glory, His delightful sovereign hand in the fashioning together of all babies.
CAPABILITIES OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY PERSON WITH DOWN SYNDROME
America, in ignorance toward educating those with DS, has long shown prejudice. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation elaborates, saying, “Historically in the United States, the majority of people with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities were kept in inhumane institutions where they were deprived of education, healthcare and even plumbing. In the United States, until the 1980s and in some cases as late as the 1990s, the way in which people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities were treated represents a shameful chapter of inhumanity and discrimination in our country” (GDSF. Web). However, in the last twenty-five years, prejudice has weakened, human rights prevailed, leading to modern advancements which have improved cognitive ability and successful societal functionality, drastically. As value for human life increased, thus did value to reach those with DS where they are, educationally speaking. The medical world has expanded potential for those with DS through “Early Intervention,” “Alternative Therapies,” “Occupational Therapy,” “Physical Therapy,” “Speech and Language Therapy” (NDSS. Web); to name a few. A single generation valuing those with DS through compassion and education has unlocked their capacity to succeed in life; including more 246 college and universities which provide secondary level education for those with disabilities (Think College, Web).
From atrocious discrimination, to victory through inclusion, let us now look at a few accomplishments within the DS community which testify to the power of valuing one’s life, regardless of disability. Paraphrasing Nancy Flanders’ article, 9 Successful People With Down Syndrome Who Prove Life is Worth Living: In 2013 Angela Bachiller was elected councilwomen in Spain; Megan McCormick became the first person with DS to graduate from technical college; Tim Harris not only graduated from college, he owns a restaurant called “Tim’s Place;” Pablo Pineda of Spain has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, and successfully won a Best Actor award in 2009; Christian Royal is a successful pottery maker in South Carolina; Bernadette Resha’ paintings have been displayed in film, television, music videos, and magazines. She also can play the violin; Michael Johnson has more than five-hundred commissioned portrait paintings which have landed him national success; and, Sujeet Desai can play seven instruments. Alongside multiple awards, he has graced Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, 20/20, and the Oprah Winfrey Show (Flanders. Web). Flanders’ documentation only scratches the surface of success stories one may easily access.
Celebrating the life and value of those with DS, transcends merely showing kindness. Celebrating their value includes responsibility to educate and steward them toward success. When those with DS are treated with value and educated with intent of their value, biased limitations toward their value crumble, and the worth and value of their lives are proven.
CONCLUSION
Authorial intent has sought to demonstrate how bias fears create prejudice toward those with Down Syndrome. Dawkins appeals scientifically and psychologically, attributing happiness as an end means toward one’s point in this life, assuming suffering health issues grants warrant for “moral responsibility” to abort. Emphatically, readership has discovered this perception off base, thereby rendering Dawkins bias substantially inadequate. Authorial intent has sought to demonstrate how fears within Church walls toward those with Down Syndrome have isolated a people looking for hope. Readership has discovered how proper understanding of God’s sovereignty reduces fear toward those with Down Syndrome, to which encourages unbiased treatment of those with DS in the Church. Furthermore, authorial intent has sought to celebrate twenty-first century pedagogical advancements, to which have provided those with DS an ability to function high scholastically, socially, and productively within the business world.
To say the least, far too long have Christian mouths remained silent concerning prejudice toward those with DS; their mere existence is at stake, should liberal-science have the last say. Christian, open your mouth for the proverbial voiceless. Let these few stated facts burn resonation upon hearts toward advocating on behalf of those whom our culture has deemed less-than. Christian, behold the God of creation within each knitted baby in their mother womb; let not that which is unusual deter mercy, compassion, love, kindness, and friendship. Christian, behold a world often neglected, hurting, with long history of murderous intent and abuse, behold a world to which needs the Church in this great hour of social, scientific, and often Church prejudice toward their disposition. Far too long has the Church drank from worldly enterprise, far too long has the Church remained silent. Let the Church lead a revolution of recognition concerning the value and worth of those lives with Down Syndrome. “In a world of cynicism, pride, and unrealistic expectations, those with Down syndrome bring authenticity, innocence, a lack of guile, and a burst of unrelenting happiness. Why extinguish that” (Rosati. Web)? Trisomy 21, while abnormal, is not a curse, but a gift to those who would appropriate worth and value toward all humanity. Prejudice and fear prove the great crisis of heart, namely, disvalue for human life.
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