This is really a shame! Children naturally love other children; they are color blind too! Too bad parents cannot realize that this world is made up of so many wonderful people disabled or not!
To teach differences at an early age is a good thing, children can grow into loving and accepting adults. Too bad those people missed the boat, their lives would've been enriched ten-fold!
Mary Caliendo
Tea
So true!
I caught a re-run of a show (I just looked it up: Trading Spouses - the moms were Judy L and Julie C) and the tragically self-centered and insensitive gal (Julie) felt she had to spout off about what she would do if her baby was prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome. That comment, among others, was mentioned at a dinner party where one of the women had a wonderful child with Down syndrome who of course the other dinner guests knew and appreciated, as they were all friends of the warm and compassionate family.
My son (who was born with DS) walked in just in time to hear a couple of the comments and decided to watch TV in the other room for the rest of the evening. I wish that the show's editors had included any comments defending or extolling the virtues of the child with DS. I know that I am sometimes speechless when even well-meaning people choose to tell me their strong (negative) opinions about prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, but surely there was something positive that was said at that dinner table.
I don't think anyone reached out to the hateful woman with kindness or compassion (not that I would probably have found it within me, either) but it would have been helpful for viewers who agree with the unpleasant woman's opinions to have found one person who had great enough compassion to attempt to kindly educate her, and them.
Not that anything short of including children or adults with Down syndrome in television shows and movies would probably work to demonstrate their individuality and potential - but as family members and friends surely there are ways we can reach out to those who don't know any better.
I had noticed that the unpleasant mom and her hubby called their own daughters names and were shockingly over-critical of them. Maybe this episode served to remind lots of mainstream parents that they can build better relationships with their kids by foregoing humilation and rough language. I have to admit, I only watched it briefly, but hoped for the best. Sometimes it's best to show people who are proud of their unpleasant opinions so open discussion follows. I believe that children with Down syndrome are born into all kinds of families, and few are immune to the positive changes in attitudes and behavior that being passionately committed to a child with special needs can cause.
I do much prefer media stories like:
Student wins MLK award for speech on disability rights Patricia E Bauer wrote: Cal State Fullerton student Gina Alessi, 19, won the university�s first Martin Luther King Speech Competition by comparing the African American civil rights movement to the current struggle for equality in the disability community. Alessi has two sisters, Patricia, 20, and Madeline, 15, who have Down syndrome.
Pam W
SE of Seattle
Welcoming Babies with Down Syndrome http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32534.asp