Today is World Down Syndrome Day, a time for us to honor our brothers and sisters with Down and to stand up for the value of their lives. From the WDSD website:

21 March 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day and each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder. Down Syndrome International encourages our friends all over the world to choose your own activities and events to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities. We will share your WDSD World Events on our dedicated WDSD website in a single global meeting place. For WDSD 2015, DSI will focus on: ‘My Opportunities, My Choices’ — Enjoying Full and Equal Rights and the Role of Families.

Well, that’s very nice — and nice certainly has its place — but it ignores the 800-pound gorilla in the room. I searched the website, and found not one mention of eugenic abortion that kills 90 percent of Down babies in the USA before they are born.

I searched the website and found not one mention of the problem of genetic counseling pushing the abortion option.
I searched and found not one mention of the problem of Down babies being denied life-saving surgeries that would be abuse to deny to a “normal” baby.

This is akin to all of the suicide prevention groups that remain mum about blatant pro-suicide euthanasia advocacy. 

Which brings the problem I have with “Establishment” type charities into sharp focus. They are afraid to make waves. They avoid all controversy. They worry about losing funding. They don’t want to upset people.

Some benefit comes out of this approach; feel good stories and perhaps some mild improvement in the attitudes of people toward their neighbors and funding for worthy events or care.
But playing it safe is inadequate to address the totality of the threats that vulnerable populations face.

When Down-valuing groups don’t defend the very lives of fetuses with Down being killed, and fail to engage in vigorous persuasion that would lead to more people with Down being born, it is a dereliction of duty.

Cross-posted at Human Exceptionalism.

Image: denys kuvaiev/ Dollar Photo Club.