What I’m Reading: Sperm Donors, Religion and 9/11, and the Images of Down Syndrome

Last updated on: September 9, 2011 at 5:19 pm by Amy Julia Becker

What I’m Reading: Sperm Donors, Religion and 9/11, and the Images of Down Syndrome 2011-09-09T17:19:49-04:00 Amy Julia Becker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Three articles I recommend for your reading this weekend:

First, a New York Times piece about the impact of artificial insemination as more and more children discover their “half-siblings.” When one man “fathers” 150 children, the chances of those siblings accidentally meeting and even, theoretically, having children of their own, increases. What ethical guidelines should inform these decisions. Read the article here: “One Sperm Donor: 150 Offspring”

Second, another Times article about the ceremony that has happened for the past ten years to remember the tragic events of 9/11. Should religion play a role? “Omitting Clergy at 9/11 Ceremony Prompts Protest”

Finally, a beautiful essay by George Estreich on Bloom–Parenting Kids with Disabilities, “Why Pictures Matter.” George is the author of a new book that hit my bedside table last night, The Shape of the Eye: Down Syndrome, Family, and the Stories We Inherit, a memoir about his daughter with Down syndrome as well as his family history and, from what I can tell, much more beside. He is a beautiful and thoughtful writer. I commend to you his book and his post on Bloom, where he concludes:

It seemed and seems to me that people with Down syndrome are seen either as “good-natured,” in a childlike way, or are held up as examples of bad nature. Too often they are seen either as angels or defects; too often, they are seen as perpetual children. I think that we would be better served seeing them as present and future citizens; that our medical interventions would be best if we keep that vision of adulthood and citizenship in mind; and that narrative – a narrative which is clear-eyed about medical realities, yet without surrendering hope – provides one means to make that vision real to the doctors of today and tomorrow.

Articles

Disability

Down Syndrome

Previous Post

September 9, 2011

Does Every Man Use Porn? Really?

Next Post

September 12, 2011 Questions for your Book Club

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Books Disability Down Syndrome Faith family Perfectly Human Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz