Down Syndrome Children Don't Deserve Life?

According to a recent New York Times report, 90% of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome are being aborted by their mothers. When dealing with a story like this, I really don't know what to say. I am actually shocked by the selfish and narcissistic attitude of our country, which is something that has not occurred in quite some time. It is not easy to be surprised by narcissism in America these days. Having grown up in this society, however, that constantly preaches equality and diversity; I am amazed at how many women decide a child that would be born with Down syndrome does not have enough value to live. My first question has to be, why? Why are 90% of women deciding that these children should not have the chance to be born? Do they feel that the child would never be able to experience love, joy, or relationship and therefore are better off never being given life? This is the same country that donated millions of dollars to American Idol Gives Back to help those less fortunate in the world, right? We do have a sense of caring for the weak and less fortunate. Or is it only the ones that require a $20 check and a picture on our fridge that deserve assistance and aid? Perhaps having a child with Down syndrome would just be too much of a hassle to these women. I mean, giving money is one thing, but actually caring for a child with special needs… That would mean putting others before yourself. In an age where children seem to be more of an accessory in life and less of a gift from God, it actually starts to make sense now. Are these women simply deciding that having a child with Down Syndrome would be too hard on their career and consume too much of their time? It is a story like this that really shows the true colors of our advanced society. We are appalled by the horrors once done in Sparta to newborns that were deemed physically deformed, yet we commit the same atrocities today; we simply have the audacity to rationalize our sins as a merciful act done for the child. Perhaps the best thing that can be done about this is to have Angelina Jolie or Madonna adopt a child with Down syndrome, because we all know that in this wonderful country we live in, it isn't a noble thing until an A-list celebrity does it.



Here is the story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/us/09down.html?hp=&pagewanted=print