WFT Part 2

Following the below, here's my riposte to Marrin's piece, as per today's paper. They took out my joke about Magda Goebbels, alas. NB if you'd like to comment, please do so below the article, not below this entry - thanks.

Comments

[supermother]

Great to read strong views. I agree with Minette Marrin, not the view in today's article and that is not because I am thinking about down's circa 1960 (and I did have a down's sister who died as a baby and I think it was beset she did die) but from an informed position in 2008.

But thank goodness we live in a country with a press free enough that both views are given space in the press.

[Annabel]

It's easy to see why you're a journalist and I'm not! You put into a couple of 1000 words, everthing that would have taken me a book to explain - and still not got it right!

[Alison Doig]

Great response, India-you said everything I felt when I read Minette Marrin's article. Our daughter is 18, has a dual diagnosis of Downs/ASD, plus insulin-dependent diabetes. Sure, life isn't always easy, and is looking to be pretty difficult in the months ahead as she moves from her wonderful special school to adult services. (There seems to be a major problem in adult services with giving diabetic injections-has anyone out there any experience of this? It has never been a problem at school or in respite heretofore). The implication that our family must have been 'damaged' by having our daughter is very offensive to me. Despite the problems and the frequent stresses she has brought so much to us as parents and to her three older siblings.Through her we have also come into contact with some pretty amazing people!

[Caroline]

India - thank God we have you to say what needs to be said so eloquently!

[Annette Kramer]

The only people in a position to decide whether or not to abort a child are the parents. If you start imposing restrictions on what women are and are not allowed to do with their bodies, it is the end of a woman’s right to choose.

In the US, where the Supreme Court has chipped away at a woman’s right to choose to the point of no return, abortion can become illegal at any moment.

It is not for anyone to decide for anyone else what sort of child or life with a child a parent must choose.

All of these arguments against what Minette says are ridiculous.