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ESSAY: ARGUING EUGENICS

2016-02-05T14:59:46-06:00Categories: |

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avail_on_kin_logo_blk__SY100_“Arguing Eugenics: a case for changing the world” is an essay by advocate and speaker, Mardra Sikora. Mrs. Sikora addresses the issue of entire nations becoming “Down syndrome free” and argues the case for children considered to be imperfect. Filled with facts about Down syndrome, quotes from specialists, and personal anecdotes, this quick read will leave you with a clearer picture of the power of potential.

This is not an essay about Pro-Choice or Pro-Life. This essay is directed towards: Parents-to-be who want

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Arguing Eugenics FREE this weekend

2014-10-14T12:03:08-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , |

In September, Arguing Eugenics was noted a Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 2014 Finalist. Here’s a snippet:

Fortunately, there are new easy to administer prenatal blood tests enabling doctors to diagnose with some certainty an unborn child with Down syndrome at only 10 weeks. This way the doctor knows to monitor the growing fetus so that appropriate pediatric specialists are on hand at the birth if there appears to be a risk. It also empowers the parents to prepare accordingly.

Or not.

Stephen Quake, a professor of

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“My Son Pinocchio” and Eugenics

2014-06-25T17:26:50-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , |

theatre thursday

 Marcus and I saw My Son Pinocchio at the Elkhorn Community Theater on Sunday. Let me just start with, I didn’t love it.

Was it because the themes ran a bit too close to home?

A bit too close to the issues I find myself reading and writing about every day?

What? You’re thinking, From Pinocchio?

Well, yes. You see it was a different story than the one you already know. In the words

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Arguing Eugenics

2013-10-21T17:43:08-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , , , |

Around the globe women are pressured to abort children deemed unworthy of life outside the womb with the justification of creating better humans. Many others do so, not forced per se, but make this decision based on fear. Even something as simple as facts are given, withheld, and measured through that filter of fear. Arguing Eugenics delves into this discussion.

I recently read this super interesting article on the 17 time points of When Does Life Begin? *From the website PLOS Blogs: perspectives on Science and Medicine. (If you ever want to lose yourself in several hours of learning cool stuff in an accessible format, this is one spot to do it.)

Even on a science website, the comments proved widely varied on the agreement as to where life begins on the 17 point chart. This is science people! Does it begin at the beginning or not?! The author of the article believes life begins at the point when: "The ability to survive outside the body of another sets a practical limit on defining when a sustainable human life begins."

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Arguing Eugenics Essay and Down Syndrome Awareness Month

2013-10-11T08:24:02-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , |

Two years ago I read in an article that Denmark will be "Down syndrome free" by the year 2030.

Not because of any great scientific breakthrough either, only through eugenics. Eugenics is the processes of weeding out unwanted genetic traits in order to purify the human race.

It was a kick to the gut.

I then proceeded to write several beginnings to speculative fiction worlds where...

Well, those stories were mostly terrible, because I wasn't saying what I really wanted to say. So finally one day I sat down and said it. And said it. And said it. I put all of my arguments on a page. I put opposing arguments on the page, too, and argued some more.

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What Marcus Taught Me in Iceland

2020-02-08T10:45:13-06:00Categories: Featured on Grown Ups, Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , , , |

The Most Important Lesson from our Trip Happened in Iceland.

Can you imagine what it’s like to have your own child’s value, as a human being, debated? A world where you regularly encounter the opinion of scientists and doctors who are literally working to eliminate the entire segment of humanity of which your child is a part…and it all happens without public outrage. In fact, it is happening throughout entire cultures.

I frequently listen to the band Of Monsters and Men when I am writing. I love their lyric videos and their melodies drive emotion. Of Monsters and Men happen

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If You’re Worried About a World Without Down Syndrome, Read This and Share

2017-08-20T17:46:27-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

My Most Important Job

Roughly 27 years ago the universe looked over my resume, took into account my previous experience, my qualifications, and my goals and gave me a job that I was totally – I mean utterly – unqualified for.

Parent.

And as an added bonus and complete surprise, the universe also immediately promoted me, as a show of good faith, to the role of “special needs parent.”

The application process was cleverly disguised, I won’t bore you with those details but the final result was a new lifelong job with

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Grown Ups and Downs – A Down Syndrome Blog

2019-07-21T10:46:08-05:00

Mother Teresa taught, “You cannot do great things in this world, only small things with great love.” I hope that sharing Marcus with you in this Down syndrome blog will change his world, and your world, too, for the better. That’s why we are here.

In 2013 I asked Google about healthy adults with Down syndrome. It replied with the sound of crickets and a tumbleweed floated across the screen.

So we started this Down syndrome blog, and the world opened up. We have made many new friends and met many valuable advocates. This website is in part a

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Teachers Among Us

2017-09-03T11:16:49-05:00Categories: Black Day, Change Your World, Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , , , , , |

speech note

Imagine living in a world where people of influence openly claim someone you love is not worthy of life? Can you imagine what it’s like to have your own child’s value, as a human being, debated? A world where you regularly encounter the opinion of scientists and doctors who are literally working to eliminate the entire segment of humanity of which your child is a part…and it all happens without public outrage.

It’s not hard for me to imagine

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Have You Met Natty and Downs Side Up?

2016-01-10T15:49:39-06:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , |

Marcus Natty BookSometimes we just have to say: “Looky what I got!”

 

This little book came across the pond. It is a sibling’s story to share about Down syndrome and what it means to a family. Mia and her mom are doing their best to change the world and I am honored to have received a copy of their book. Here’s a bit more about the book and its release. “I Love You Natty: An Important Book Announcement.”

If you’re on

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