Kurt Kondrich
The ticking clock - - Down syndrome "heart-ending decisions"
By Kurt Kondrich
I recently read a very disturbing editorial concerning the 20-week abortion ban: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/06/30/20-week-abortion-ban-editorials-debates/2477579/
The editorial references fetal anomalies and states "While some genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, can be detected with amniocentesis at 16 to 22 weeks, even then it can take two weeks to get results. Add specialists, research and time to reflect, and a 20-week ban forces women and couples to make heartrending decisions against a ticking clock. In some cases, they'd have no opportunity at all." The editorial continues "The debate will continue. What's undeniable, though, is that heart-wrenching personal medical decisions ought to be made with accurate information – which often isn't available before 20 weeks."
The reality is that the "heartrending decision" made to target and eliminate a child diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome is actually a "heart-ending" decision for the child. Children like my beautiful daughter Chloe are the human beings up against the "ticking clock" as 90%+ of these precious, irreplaceable individuals are being identified, targeted and terminated in a silent eugenic movement that needs a national and international debate. The "accurate information" is something I witness every day, and it is that individuals with Down syndrome are priceless, amazing gifts to this misguided world who focus all of us on the real meaning of unconditional love and purity. The fact is that we DESPERATELY need these people!
An "Anomaly" is defined as "Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected." I challenge those in the culture who wish to label certain human beings like my awesome daughter who has Down syndrome as "defective" to show and detail to me what they have mandated as "standard" or "normal." If and when somebody develops a postnatal anomaly should we also consider heart ending decisions? Once human life is devalued prenatally then why not implement these same tests and standards postnatal? There are some cultures who view a prenatal female child as an anomaly because they don't meet the "expected" requirements and these women are eliminated before they can shine their beauty and light. Where are the protests and outcry?
The clock is definitely ticking on all of humanity, and if we don't soon embrace and protect our most precious, valuable resource – human life, then we will continue as a society to venture further into darkness and despair. My Chloe is an Angel not an Anomaly, and those who meet her are very lucky indeed!
© Kurt Kondrich
July 9, 2013
I recently read a very disturbing editorial concerning the 20-week abortion ban: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/06/30/20-week-abortion-ban-editorials-debates/2477579/
The editorial references fetal anomalies and states "While some genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, can be detected with amniocentesis at 16 to 22 weeks, even then it can take two weeks to get results. Add specialists, research and time to reflect, and a 20-week ban forces women and couples to make heartrending decisions against a ticking clock. In some cases, they'd have no opportunity at all." The editorial continues "The debate will continue. What's undeniable, though, is that heart-wrenching personal medical decisions ought to be made with accurate information – which often isn't available before 20 weeks."
The reality is that the "heartrending decision" made to target and eliminate a child diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome is actually a "heart-ending" decision for the child. Children like my beautiful daughter Chloe are the human beings up against the "ticking clock" as 90%+ of these precious, irreplaceable individuals are being identified, targeted and terminated in a silent eugenic movement that needs a national and international debate. The "accurate information" is something I witness every day, and it is that individuals with Down syndrome are priceless, amazing gifts to this misguided world who focus all of us on the real meaning of unconditional love and purity. The fact is that we DESPERATELY need these people!
An "Anomaly" is defined as "Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected." I challenge those in the culture who wish to label certain human beings like my awesome daughter who has Down syndrome as "defective" to show and detail to me what they have mandated as "standard" or "normal." If and when somebody develops a postnatal anomaly should we also consider heart ending decisions? Once human life is devalued prenatally then why not implement these same tests and standards postnatal? There are some cultures who view a prenatal female child as an anomaly because they don't meet the "expected" requirements and these women are eliminated before they can shine their beauty and light. Where are the protests and outcry?
The clock is definitely ticking on all of humanity, and if we don't soon embrace and protect our most precious, valuable resource – human life, then we will continue as a society to venture further into darkness and despair. My Chloe is an Angel not an Anomaly, and those who meet her are very lucky indeed!
© Kurt Kondrich
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