Please note that neither of them directly address the special needs issue. They just talk about children in general. Also, no, that's not how it works. A kid with special needs is a lifetime drain on your energy. You CAN'T give 300% and think that's enough because Trig is going to need that full 300% and anything you have to spare. Even having the best help doesn't guarantee anything -- Esti's brother died when he was four, after all, and there's no way that I believe that Esti's mom would've been giving anything other than her best and all the help they can afford, which would've been a lot since that family's pretty loaded.
I love you too, obviously. And yes, there are definitely other reasons to not vote Palin (anyone that's on record as anti-contraceptive makes me go all "BUT WHAT ABOUT AIDS AND STDS?!") but this is the one that I had the most instant, visceral gut reaction to it. I think I called it evil to the guy I was ranting to at the time, because I've seen politicians before with stances I disliked but this is the first time that I've encountered someone who did something that I find so profoundly and personally cruel. Calling her stupid is at least giving her the benefit of the doubt and assuming she didn't deliberately decide to trade in on the 'this is my stance!' value of not aborting a DS kid.
It's black and white to me because I've lived with it, and I've seen a lot of kids with DS. If Governor Palin actually had experience with DS kids, I think she might've been less likely to stick on principle, knowing what she'd be bringing Trig into.
Also, speaking of causes/awareness raising -- My Sister's Friends House (http://mysisterfriendshouse.blogspot.com/) -- It's like Little Bird Woman House, a domestic violence shelter for women of Native American descent, or those who live around those communities. They're going to be shut down if they can't raise 35K for operating expenses for 3 months, which'll give them enough breathing room to apply for federal grants and the like. Go spread the word! I will actually make a proper post about it, but I want to wait until I've activated my new card (had to cancel the old one after someone snagged the numbers and started ordering stuff, boo sucks), and managed to make a donation myself.
Pat 2
I love you too, obviously. And yes, there are definitely other reasons to not vote Palin (anyone that's on record as anti-contraceptive makes me go all "BUT WHAT ABOUT AIDS AND STDS?!") but this is the one that I had the most instant, visceral gut reaction to it. I think I called it evil to the guy I was ranting to at the time, because I've seen politicians before with stances I disliked but this is the first time that I've encountered someone who did something that I find so profoundly and personally cruel. Calling her stupid is at least giving her the benefit of the doubt and assuming she didn't deliberately decide to trade in on the 'this is my stance!' value of not aborting a DS kid.
It's black and white to me because I've lived with it, and I've seen a lot of kids with DS. If Governor Palin actually had experience with DS kids, I think she might've been less likely to stick on principle, knowing what she'd be bringing Trig into.
Also, speaking of causes/awareness raising -- My Sister's Friends House (http://mysisterfriendshouse.blogspot.com/) -- It's like Little Bird Woman House, a domestic violence shelter for women of Native American descent, or those who live around those communities. They're going to be shut down if they can't raise 35K for operating expenses for 3 months, which'll give them enough breathing room to apply for federal grants and the like. Go spread the word! I will actually make a proper post about it, but I want to wait until I've activated my new card (had to cancel the old one after someone snagged the numbers and started ordering stuff, boo sucks), and managed to make a donation myself.