By now most have heard the news that Alaska Governor has been selected by Senator John McCain to be his vice presidential nominee. Until recently I knew nothing about her.
Last spring Dr. Al Mohler posted an important and moving article on Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Here is an excerpt:
A little boy with an extra chromosome was born on April 18. His name is Trig Paxson Van Palin and his new home is the Alaska Governor's Mansion in Juneau. His mom is Governor Sarah Palin, who along with her husband Todd, has welcomed Trig as their second son and fifth child.
Governor Palin has already made a mark on the political scene. A high school basketball star and beauty queen, she was elected Alaska's governor in 2006...
This past December, Sarah Palin was told that her baby was likely to have Down syndrome -- just one extra chromosome...
When he was told, Todd Palin quickly said, "We shouldn't be asking, 'Why us?' We should be saying, 'Well, why not us?'"
The Palins never considered aborting the baby. That means that Trig Palin is now is a very rare group of very special children, because it is now believed that the vast majority of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome before birth are being aborted...
Modern diagnostic tests are driving a "search and destroy mission" to eliminate babies judged to be inferior, disabled, or deformed. Some experts now believe that up to 90 percent of all pregnancies diagnosed as having a likelihood of Down syndrome end in abortion...
Trig Paxson Van Palin has an extra chromosome, two proud and loving parents, four very happy siblings, and he will bring his own joy to untold numbers of lives...
He will face some unique challenges, but he has a loving family who will face those with him. They will learn together the wonder and beauty of a Down syndrome child and will learn to see the glory of God in his trusting face...
Welcome to the world, Trig Paxson Van Palin. Your very existence defies the Culture of Death and gives us all hope.
This pretty much speaks for itself. You can read the entire post here: Welcome to the World, Trig Paxson Van Palin
4 comments:
Whereas previously, a Down’s child could be born without the prior knowledge of the mother, going forward, a parent with a Down’s child will likely have made a conscious choice to have that child. As prenatal testing for trisomy 21 becomes ubiquitous, Down’s children (and eventually those with other genetic disorders) will increasingly become symbols of faith – a freak show meant to communicate the “family values” of their parents. The children will become public sacrifices made by their parents for their faith. They will be a symbol of religious reverence in the same way as the scarred backs of Catholics who flagellate themselves, or Buddhist monks who set themselves on fire, or Sunni Muslims who mutilate their girl’s genitals or Shiites who bloody their children’s heads with swords.
Genuine moral virtues – such as integrity, honesty, and productivity are not useful as evidence of religious virtue. To the extent that their practical benefit is visible to everyone, they do not represent the special domain of religion. To demonstrate religious virtue, it is necessary to sacrifice authentic moral values in favor of “religious” values. The particular object of the sacrifice is not important – there is nothing particularly “biblical” about being prolife (the Christian bible just as easily supports the opposite position.) If Christian fundamentalists decided that cutting of one’s hand sufficed as proof of moral virtue, they would be wrong to do so, but not much more so than the numerous other ways that people find to be self-destructive.
What is really vicious about fundamentalists in America is that the prey on the most vulnerable –poor pregnant young girls and women, those dying from painful terminal illnesses, the loved ones of brain-dead patients, — and children afflicted with terrible genetic illnesses. One can at least grasp the moral indifference with which a fundamentalist can force a single young mother to abandon her goals and dreams and condemn her and her child to poverty. But what can we say about a parent that chooses a life of suffering upon their child? If we are morally outraged by child rapists, how should we judge a parent who chooses a lifetime of suffering on their own child?
"Freak show"? You've got to be kidding. How about choosing life because one must give an account to God for their choices and how they have lived?
The prophet Micah recorded a beautiful summary of what is required of every human: "What does the LORD require? But to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
Wow, no time to answer a rant like this.
He, he, looks like you got flamed by an objectivist. Ah, the beauty of life within a tight little circle of "logic" - beauty like a steel cage.
He's probably still in his 20's. Hopefully there's time for him to grow up.
Wayne
Heroiclife,
I have to say I was stunned by your comment. I was even more stunned to see (in your profile) that you and I have so much in common -- we like the same authors, we hold capitalism as the best system for preserving and advancing liberty -- yet you write as if you despise parents of Down's children. You write as if the chief mark of a Down's child's life is suffering. I must ask -- how many do you know?
I know a few. I work with one man, who is too modest for me to name without his permission, who with his wife raise three children. Their middle child has
Down's. Her name is Rebecca. She is sweet and beautiful and yes, even evokes pity from time to time for her differences. She plays with my daughter. She is cherished by her entire family, her family's friends, her parents' coworkers, her neighbors, her own friends, her church, and, well, I can't think of anyone who has treated her badly (although it must happen).
I wish you knew her. I wish you could meet her parents (good capitalists, too). And not because they would tell you off to your face. But because I know your views could not help but change after knowing them, if you indeed esteem reason and what you sense with your own eyes and ears.
Christians understand that it makes little earthly sense to choose life for a Down's child, for many of the reasons you cite. But Christians also understand the imperative to let the baby live. Christians see in such sacrifices the mirror image of God's sacrifices for our good when we, relative to Him, are little more capable than the most impaired child.
I know my words are nonsense to you. That's why I wish for you the experience of meeting my friends, especially Rebecca. I pray God will open your eyes. I urge you to turn from this condemnation of people you do not know who act with motives you do not yet understand.
Joe
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