Richard Dawkins: 'Immoral' not to abort Down's foetuses

skookumchuck

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Jan 19, 2012
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There is a very deep pothole involved in raising a child with Downs syndrome. Two friends of mine have done so and i very much like their boy who is now graduated from high school (in a sense). That being said, i cannot imagine myself spending the time required to raise such a child. Most people will tough it out for a while, mess up their lives and their other children's lives, then sooner or later expect the government to take over. Therein lies the problem for society and the child.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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There are oodles of families who are willing to adopt Downs babies who have the potential of being productive taxpayers.
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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There is a very deep pothole involved in raising a child with Downs syndrome. Two friends of mine have done so and i very much like their boy who is now graduated from high school (in a sense). That being said, i cannot imagine myself spending the time required to raise such a child. Most people will tough it out for a while, mess up their lives and their other children's lives, then sooner or later expect the government to take over. Therein lies the problem for society and the child.

Another problem of course is that kids usually out-live their parents, even Downs Syndrome kids who have mostly learned to use the bathroom by themselves and other stuff but they are not independent by any stretch.
 

petros

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Nov 21, 2008
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Another problem of course is that kids usually out-live their parents, even Downs Syndrome kids who have mostly learned to use the bathroom by themselves and other stuff but they are not independent by any stretch.
Really? Tell that to the Downs guy who is assistant manger of a Tim's who lives on his own just like other people with Downs.
 

Walter

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Jan 28, 2007
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Only those with IQ's of 160 or more should be allowed to live.
 

#juan

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So, T-4 programme?

I've never advocated euthanasia. My child rearing days are long over but Dawkins is right. If you have a choice, why would you choose to raise a retarded child?. Somebody said,"let the parents choose". Do the parents have a right to choose?
 

Tecumsehsbones

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Mar 18, 2013
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I've never advocated euthanasia.
Me neither. Little Chinese kids are on their own as far as I'm concerned.

My child rearing days are long over but Dawkins is right. If you have a choice, why would you choose to raise a retarded child?. Somebody said,"let the parents choose".
That was me.

Do the parents have a right to choose?
Who else could possibly have the right? Except maybe the T-4 Programme administrators.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
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retard
Line breaks: re¦tard
VERB

Pronunciation: /rɪˈtɑːd * /
[WITH OBJECT]
Delay or hold back in terms of progress or development:
his progress was retarded by his limp
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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retard
Line breaks: re¦tard
VERB

Pronunciation: /rɪˈtɑːd * /
[WITH OBJECT]
Delay or hold back in terms of progress or development:
his progress was retarded by his limp

Could we say "mentally challenged"?
 

talloola

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Nov 14, 2006
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I have mixed feelings about this. How early do we know if a feotus(sp)is is going to have Downs?

good question juan, and i don't think there is any test for adults to confirm if they carry the gene
to produce downs syndrome, but maybe there is, maybe someone knows.

if an embryo could be terminated, say at 4 to 6 weeks because it has downs, how is that any more
cruel than not producing any children because one carries the gene, as that is deliberately preventing
a life of a child as well, but i'm sure no one will see that point at all.

my friend, who has a downs child, also has 2 other children who are not affected. not sure what the
odds are.