Friday, February 01, 2008
Down Syndrome Suicide Bomber
The election day bombing in Iraq this week appears to have been committed by a young woman with Down Syndrome, possibly a child. Here's one of many online articles about this. I'm not sure what to say about this yet, other than that I'm mortified, and I feel like it deserves a more thoughtful comment. I'm going to think about it and post more sometime this weekend. In the meantime, any thoughts?
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4 comments:
A sad thing. But then, these Radical Islamist Fanatics have been using children for a long time now.
Harrogate isn't sure if there's much of a difference in the monstrousness of using a normal child to commit mass slaughter, and using a child afflicted with Down Syndrome to effect the same end.
I agree. I think it's too easy for the media and others to say that this just shows how depraved the movement is. It is what it is.
And I think an additional post is no longer necessary because we're on the same page.
I have to chime in b/c I've been thinking about this all weekend. You all are probably going to hate me for turning this into a discussion of disability rights, but I actually have a problem with the media's response to this and to Harrogate's use of the word "afflicted." First, I agree with you both 100%--using children and a disabled child at that is reprehensible. It only proves the extremes the Islamic Fanatics are willing to go to. That said, I've worked with people who have Down Syndrome and I have a cousin who has Down Syndrome. Neither the individuals I worked with nor my cousin Sam are "afflicted." While what we know about these two young women does suggest that they had no choice in their participation, most people who have down syndrome are capable of understanding right from wrong and are able to understand these kinds of issues. I don't like the way the media is suggesting that all individuals with down syndrome are able to be coerced into doing anything by a person who isn't disabled. It is inaccurate and only serves to strengthen existing stereotypes.
M, that is a good point. "Afflicted" is a poor word choice in this context.
Actually, if there's an "affliction" in this context, it's Radical Islam that is really the affliction.
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