March 21 - International Day for Down Syndrome

[Кирилл Сызранский]

I see clearly

Attitude to people with Down syndrome in our country - a catastrophic

I see clearly (perspicio lats. - Perspective fr. - Vista)

Down Syndrome - not a disease. It is a given. It can not be cured.

Attitudes towards people with Down syndrome in my country - is catastrophic. "Down" is a common noun and offensive. Stereotype attitudes towards these people is so great that even the experience of other countries are not in a position to change this.

We are not convinced by the example of the Cannes Film Festival, where twelve years ago the entire world elite cinema standing ovation from Belgian actor Pascal Duquesne, a person with Down syndrome, for the performance of the best male role.

We do not care that last year at the International Film Festival in San Sebastian, again for Best Supporting Actor award was given to the Spaniard Pablo Pineda, who at that time was finishing his studies at the university, knew several languages and has participated in international conferences on the issue of people with the syndrome Down.

We are not interested in that, in Spain in toy stores sold and are in great demand among children dolls with obvious signs of Down's syndrome.

We do not want to know that in America, people with Down syndrome exams to drive a car on the same criteria as the rest. And in the case of a satisfactory outcome - are right.

 And it is very unpleasant for us to hear about that in the U.S. adoptions of babies with Down syndrome occurs all of the 250 families. Unlike our country, where 85%of parents refuse such a child still in hospital.

And the fact that almost all European countries, people with Down syndrome learn and work in diverse fields, leads us into confusion. After all, we do not have any such person, who would have been at the hands of the workbook. Many, many people in our country believe these people genetic deviation, defective blanks that need to throw at birth or during pregnancy.

What is the norm? Do only what is determined by the majority? And any deviation from it is necessarily that it is necessary to prohibit and destroy?

People who can take his life a person with genetic, physical or other deviations from the standpoint of the majority - abnormal and strange. Because love and care about the strange and abnormal. As if the following message from one of the book is important for mankind: "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for thereby some, not knowing have entertained angels."

To say that people with Down syndrome - the Angels, I would not. While watching his son, who was born with this syndrome, and for others, I guess that after the Angels - they are following.

Society does not have to love them! Let it be the territory of their parents. But do not let live, tolerate their everyday life - it is necessary! For if we are not able to accept those who differ from us and need our acceptance, - we are limited in their development. We do not have PROSPECTS.

P.S. March 21 - International Day for people with Down syndrome.

Twenty-first day of the third month was chosen to demonstrate that Down syndrome linked to three copies of chromosome 21 (trisomy of chromosome 21).
Vladimir Mishukov
 
http://www.novayagazeta.ru/data/2010/028/14.html