Worth Reading

Last updated on: February 10, 2012 at 2:23 pm by Amy Julia Becker

Worth Reading 2012-02-09T16:35:38-05:00 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.

Number one on my list this week, because it combines individuals with disabilities, families, adoption, hope, and some amazing dogs: “Wonder Dog” from the New York Times.

Number two, because it is a beautiful meditation on aging and being young, and because my beloved 91-year old grandfather broke his pelvis last week and is suffering through the beginning of recovery: “The Man Love Raised” by Mama Monk

So I wanted to quote pretty much this whole essay, but instead I will encourage you to follow the link and read To Cade and the 8 Percent (also published on Huff Po as “In Defense of Down Syndrome Children . . . Like My Son“). Here’s perhaps the most important part:

So, why should you care about a Down syndrome diagnoses? This isn’t just about Down syndrome. It’s about our understanding of the common good.

The historic definition of the “common good” is the most good for all people. But today this definition has a competitor called the “public interest.” In this presupposed progressive view, the most good for the most people is all that matters. Only one word changed but the implications are enormous. A commitment to the common good demands we value the elderly, the disabled, the unborn and those unlike us. It’s an old, rooted conception being lost on a generation consumed with progress.

We must allow life in our world that doesn’t follow our scripted narrative.
We must have the courage to choose that which is good over what is convenient.

Our fellow citizens have fought hard to encourage and protect diversity and acceptance in our society. We wear political correctness as a badge of honor; but the rising statistics of pregnancies terminated after a Down syndrome diagnosis reveal the hypocrisy of our celebration. We see equality as sameness and diversity in shades of color. We embrace differences when they fall within our market-driven, politically correct framework but rarely when they disrupt our status quo. When a fetus is diagnosed with Down syndrome and the mother chooses not to carry the child to term, more is lost than her future inconvenience and fear. The world loses another soul in its greater body.

Finally, an article written in December, but one I just had the privilege to read, “Letting Ruth Go” from the Boston Globe magazine, also about adoption, a child with a disability, grief, joy, and love.

Previous Post

February 10, 2012

Spirituality for Busy Moms Tip #5: Pray as you are

Next Post

February 13, 2012 Down syndrome, dancing, and delight

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