It’s unjust to say that people with Down syndrome exist to teach us lessons about being better people. It’s an extremely common trope we would all do well to avoid.
People with Down syndrome, exist for God’s mysterious purposes: because we give him glory and because he loves us.
People with Down syndrome, exist for God’s mysterious purposes: because we give him glory and because he loves us.
*I don’t know what that errant comma is doing there. It’s kind of embarrassing.
I heard this kind of talk from a very well-meaning pro-life person today, and I appreciate the effort.
But I have a theory (but no data) that this kind of talk actually makes it more likely people with Down syndrome will be aborted, by making them a different kind of creature.
But I have a theory (but no data) that this kind of talk actually makes it more likely people with Down syndrome will be aborted, by making them a different kind of creature.
I think what we mean is that people with obvious needs can make visible by their very being the demands of justice and the demands of love.
Which is true. But we need to be careful about instrumentalizing people.
Which is true. But we need to be careful about instrumentalizing people.
It’s especially problematic when things like “they’re so sweet” are a cover that keep us from seeing that people who process slowly and speak slowly are often agreeable to mask their failure to understand or because they expect not to be listened to.
I suppose the clearest way to state my objection is that language like this puts a set of expectations on a class of people to be a certain way, because that’s where we’ve said their worth is.
But some people aren’t that way, or dont want to be, or whatever.
But some people aren’t that way, or dont want to be, or whatever.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
