Kurt Kondrich
The missing buddies
By Kurt Kondrich
Many cities across the nation hold annual Down syndrome Buddy Walks which promote "acceptance and inclusion" of people with Down syndrome. My family had an amazing time at the 2007 New York City Buddy Walk, and seeing Chloe's picture in the Down syndrome awareness video on the big screen in Times Square was truly magical: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07269/820394-114.stm Unfortunately missing is the fact that 90%+ of children diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome are not "accepted," and these priceless individuals are "excluded" from entering this world. What would be the response to a Down syndrome awareness video that showed ultrasounds of 100 children diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome and then at the end there was a statement that less than 10 of these children make it out alive? Buddy Walks are large public events that allow people to see the beautiful faces and focus on the positive blessings individuals with Down syndrome bring to the communities they live in. Sadly during these celebrations there is rarely a mention of the silent, eugenic movement occurring in our culture which identifies targets and terminates 90%+ of future Buddy Walk participants. Would the Jewish community have had large annual celebrations of acceptance and inclusion when they were being identified targeted and terminated during the holocaust? Even though there are no smoke stacks or railroad cars visible, the intentional termination of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome is silent eugenics. Genetic testing is advancing very quickly, and more "undesirable" human characteristic are being identified prenatally by a society obsessed with unattainable "perfection." It is common in certain parts of the world to terminate females once they have been prenatally identified, and the silence on this issue by groups who claim to advocate for women is deafening. We are very foolish indeed to think this prenatal search and destroy mission will stop with Down syndrome, and as we slide down this slippery slope made of solid ice we need to keep asking the question "Who is next to be prenatally targeted and eliminated?"
The dictionary defines "Buddy" as "A good friend; a comrade." When I speak to parents about my beautiful daughter Chloe who has Down syndrome I tell them they should wish and pray that Chloe is their child's "best buddy." Chloe will never lead them astray, she will always be extremely happy to see them, and she will show and teach them unconditional love and purity like no "Buddy" can. I hope and pray one day soon that Down syndrome Buddy Walks become a loud unified Voice to expose this eugenic prenatal targeting of the children they advocate for before these community events merely are a memorial tribute to an extinct, angelic species of human beings this misguided world desperately needs — Hebrews 13:2 "Some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
© Kurt Kondrich
July 9, 2011
Many cities across the nation hold annual Down syndrome Buddy Walks which promote "acceptance and inclusion" of people with Down syndrome. My family had an amazing time at the 2007 New York City Buddy Walk, and seeing Chloe's picture in the Down syndrome awareness video on the big screen in Times Square was truly magical: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07269/820394-114.stm Unfortunately missing is the fact that 90%+ of children diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome are not "accepted," and these priceless individuals are "excluded" from entering this world. What would be the response to a Down syndrome awareness video that showed ultrasounds of 100 children diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome and then at the end there was a statement that less than 10 of these children make it out alive? Buddy Walks are large public events that allow people to see the beautiful faces and focus on the positive blessings individuals with Down syndrome bring to the communities they live in. Sadly during these celebrations there is rarely a mention of the silent, eugenic movement occurring in our culture which identifies targets and terminates 90%+ of future Buddy Walk participants. Would the Jewish community have had large annual celebrations of acceptance and inclusion when they were being identified targeted and terminated during the holocaust? Even though there are no smoke stacks or railroad cars visible, the intentional termination of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome is silent eugenics. Genetic testing is advancing very quickly, and more "undesirable" human characteristic are being identified prenatally by a society obsessed with unattainable "perfection." It is common in certain parts of the world to terminate females once they have been prenatally identified, and the silence on this issue by groups who claim to advocate for women is deafening. We are very foolish indeed to think this prenatal search and destroy mission will stop with Down syndrome, and as we slide down this slippery slope made of solid ice we need to keep asking the question "Who is next to be prenatally targeted and eliminated?"
The dictionary defines "Buddy" as "A good friend; a comrade." When I speak to parents about my beautiful daughter Chloe who has Down syndrome I tell them they should wish and pray that Chloe is their child's "best buddy." Chloe will never lead them astray, she will always be extremely happy to see them, and she will show and teach them unconditional love and purity like no "Buddy" can. I hope and pray one day soon that Down syndrome Buddy Walks become a loud unified Voice to expose this eugenic prenatal targeting of the children they advocate for before these community events merely are a memorial tribute to an extinct, angelic species of human beings this misguided world desperately needs — Hebrews 13:2 "Some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
© Kurt Kondrich
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