On Down Syndrome and Abortion

In case you missed it, after Monday’s showdown between Romney and President Obama, Ann Coulter was dumb enough to tweet and call Obama a “retard.” I’ll spare you a soapbox rant on Coulter. You can read more here.

In response, John Franklin Stephens, a man with Down Syndrome, wrote Coulter an eloquently worded “open letter” explaining how her use of the word was hurtful and unintelligent. The entire piece was as well-crafted as this portion:

After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. …

Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.

No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.

Go read the rest of it. Now. (Seriously.) And come back. Here’s that link again.

…

OK, welcome back.

Good read, isn’t it? I’m no writer… but I know enough amazing people to know that dude is not only a great writer, but an excellent communicator.

I’m thankful for Stephens’ response.
And for his intelligence.
And for his… existence.

Keep this in mind next time you hear about someone with Down Syndrome: Around 90% of babies with Down Syndrome are aborted when diagnosed in utero. (Source and note below.)

90%. That’s literally 9 out of 10 lives that don’t make it.

All life is precious indeed - even those who are “slow,” and even still those who need ‘round the clock care. But I can’t help but wonder how many of those who are aborted, could be as brave, talented, and “life-loving” as John Franklin Stephens. They’ll never have the chance.

Read more:

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Source
Note: I’m aware this stat is over 12 years old, but there is no updated evidence that I’ve found that contradicts this number. 
Related: While overall abortion rates since 1999 are actually down, Planned Parenthood has substantially increased their abortion activity in the same timeframe.

I really, really hope this is factually incorrect… by which I mean I wish the blue bars were all actually 0. __________ Update, Oct. 26, 2012 - Here’s an article from 2009 which gives hard numbers to the chart here. According to Planned Parenthood’s latest report, abortions increased to 305,310 abortions up from 289,750 in 2006. … Looking at Planned Parenthood data from 1997 to the present, the increase in government funding corresponds with an increase in the number of abortions. … In 1997, Planned Parenthood did about 160,000 abortions and received approximately $160 million in total taxpayer funding from various levels of government. Both the number of abortions and the amount of money received from government, supposedly for family planning to reduce abortions, has double(d) since then.
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I really, really hope this is factually incorrect… by which I mean I wish the blue bars were all actually 0.

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Update, Oct. 26, 2012 -

Here’s an article from 2009 which gives hard numbers to the chart here.

According to Planned Parenthood’s latest report, abortions increased to 305,310 abortions up from 289,750 in 2006.

…

Looking at Planned Parenthood data from 1997 to the present, the increase in government funding corresponds with an increase in the number of abortions.

…

In 1997, Planned Parenthood did about 160,000 abortions and received approximately $160 million in total taxpayer funding from various levels of government. Both the number of abortions and the amount of money received from government, supposedly for family planning to reduce abortions, has double(d) since then.

(via moochiethinks)