1-0 to the cartoon

[kattahj]

Apparently, an adaptation being wildly different from the original isn't always a bad thing.

My previous post made me look up some of my old cartoon favourites, including Quest for Camelot. Which is a crappy movie in so many ways, but as any true fan, I look at what could be rather than at what is

Comments

[sarcasticwriter]

This is the world, after all, in which it's seen as a good thing that Denmark has 50% fewer children born with Down Syndrome since Nuchal translucency testing was introduced.

Uh...okay, I'm stumped. I can't see any possible objection to a reduction in Down's Syndrome cases via genetic screening. It's a debilitating disease that prevents many, if not most, of its victims from achieving self-sufficiency as adults. To be doomed to perpetual childhood is unbelievably cruel. Not to mention, Down's Syndrome is packaged with many physical diseases nobody should have to suffer, and a short life expectancy. I can't see any prospective parent wanting to subject their precious child to those horrors.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's morally wrong not to terminate a Down's Syndrome pregnancy (or any other similarly crippling mental disability that tests positive). Providing fifty years (or more!) of decent care for such patients is prohibitively expensive for the vast majority of the world's population. State-run care systems can

[kattahj]

I work with people who have Down's Syndrome, and I'm sorry, but I'm not having this discussion with you. I wish I could, but if you really want rational arguments I'm sure you can get them elsewhere. I can't even articulate beyond the rage. You and I have very different philosophical outlooks on life, human responsibility, dignity and so on, and we're always going to clash on these issues. I have accepted this fact. I ask you to accept that I cannot discuss this with you.

[sarcasticwriter]

I can respect that. I hope, when you cool down, you'll consider maybe writing an LJ entry about your general experiences and especially why people should not have genetic screening/selective abortion. I won't even comment on it, if you'd rather I not.

I will say that my views on genetic screening have nothing to do with actual living Down Syndrome sufferers. Once a human being is able to survive without heroic measures outside of a womb, they're entitled to life (until the moment they attempt to commit murder, anyway). I'm not advocating that any living person be treated badly. No way