What makes me so sad about this article? The fact that for many people the diagnosis of Down syndrome automatically equates to a death sentence.
This is not about abortion for me ~ I firmly believe in a woman's right over her own body and her right to choices.
For me, this article smacks of Eugenics, pure and simple.
Ms. Eftimiades should grieve for her precious son. She should grieve over the fact that she allowed fear, prejudice and discrimination to steer her actions.
I'm the same age as Ms. Eftimiades [well almost, I'll be 42 next month] and as a Woman and a Mother, I feel deeply for her loss. She has no clue to the incredible magic that T21 would have brought to her life. She wanted so much to be a mother, and for that loss I ache for her, because being a Mother is truly the essence of who I am now as a human being. But Ms. Eftimiades should really re-think her desire to be a Mother, it seems to me by her reasoning and actions with this child she is not ready to be a Mother and she doesn't fully understand what it MEANS to be a Mother.
Mothering is unconditional love, unconditional care, unconditional nurturing.........It is embracing your child, your whole child and going forth in life with this child and doing the best you can, unconditionally.
Ms. Eftimiades should grieve, grieve for her little boy who would have looked more like his parents, than not. A little boy who would have loved them unconditionally, irregardless of their fears and biases. Their son would most likely verbalize to them that he disagreed with their thought process of making the *right choice for the three of them*............he would most likely say "Mom, you made this choice for the two of you,,,,,,because you see Mom, I would have embraced my life with all my heart and soul and I would have filled your lives with so much love, laughter, joy, excitement and enlightenment."
This article hurts me, Ms. Eftimiades...........It hurts me as a MOTHER, because you have publicly proclaimed to the world that MY daughter and every other human being with Down syndrome has no worth,,,,,is disposable...
You should grieve, Ms. Eftimiades,,,,,,,,because you are wrong, so very wrong.
~~~~~~~
Update: I found this wonderful letter on NRO regarding this article.
After a Prenatal Test Shows Down Syndrome, A Wrenching Decision
By Maria Eftimiades
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, November 15, 2005; Page HE01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What makes me so sad about this article? The fact that for many people the diagnosis of Down syndrome automatically equates to a death sentence.
This is not about abortion for me ~ I firmly believe in a woman's right over her own body and her right to choices.
For me, this article smacks of Eugenics, pure and simple.
Ms. Eftimiades should grieve for her precious son. She should grieve over the fact that she allowed fear, prejudice and discrimination to steer her actions.
I'm the same age as Ms. Eftimiades [well almost, I'll be 42 next month] and as a Woman and a Mother, I feel deeply for her loss. She has no clue to the incredible magic that T21 would have brought to her life. She wanted so much to be a mother, and for that loss I ache for her, because being a Mother is truly the essence of who I am now as a human being. But Ms. Eftimiades should really re-think her desire to be a Mother, it seems to me by her reasoning and actions with this child she is not ready to be a Mother and she doesn't fully understand what it MEANS to be a Mother.
Mothering is unconditional love, unconditional care, unconditional nurturing.........It is embracing your child, your whole child and going forth in life with this child and doing the best you can, unconditionally.
Ms. Eftimiades should grieve, grieve for her little boy who would have looked more like his parents, than not. A little boy who would have loved them unconditionally, irregardless of their fears and biases. Their son would most likely verbalize to them that he disagreed with their thought process of making the *right choice for the three of them*............he would most likely say "Mom, you made this choice for the two of you,,,,,,because you see Mom, I would have embraced my life with all my heart and soul and I would have filled your lives with so much love, laughter, joy, excitement and enlightenment."
This article hurts me, Ms. Eftimiades...........It hurts me as a MOTHER, because you have publicly proclaimed to the world that MY daughter and every other human being with Down syndrome has no worth,,,,,is disposable...
You should grieve, Ms. Eftimiades,,,,,,,,because you are wrong, so very wrong.
~~~~~~~
Update: I found this wonderful letter on NRO regarding this article.