| Eugenics
Eugenics
is a term which one seldom hears now. But its meaning and
implications are increasingly prevalent.
Eugenics
is about creating a perfect race, refining the human gene
pool, purifying the human race. It is racism, bigotry, unadulterated
hatred in its purest and most dangerous form. Making better
people might seem like a common sense idea. One shared by
Hitler, countless believers in ethnic cleansing, Margaret
Sanger, founder of the Planned Parenthood Foundation, among
others.
On
deeper examination it is about denying the humanity of particular
group of people based on a common characteristic that is unpalatable
to the eugenicist. Jews, people with disability, many ethnic
groups involved in conflict, Black Americans, Irish Catholics
during penal times and thousands more have all been systemically
targeted for some superficial reason. Hitler's desirables
included the blond, beautiful and brainy. His undesirables
were many, from homosexuals to gypsies to those of the Jewish
faith.
Ireland
has the great privilege of hosting the Special Olympics 2003. We have
the honour of welcoming into our country, people with disability
from all over the world. It is these very same sons and daughters,
sisters and brothers, friends, people who have so much love
to offer the world, so much to teach us, that are considered
to be the undesirables today. Part of me is ashamed of my
government's inertia in extending education to those with
learning disabilities as illustrated so poignantly by Jamie
Sinnot's recent court battles. As part of my medical studies
I was required to experience a physical disability for an
afternoon. I was appalled at the huge amount of work still
needed to make Dublin wheelchair accessible. Despite the long
road ahead of us, I think Irish people are willing to make
an effort to make all welcome. Fianna Fail's motto "A
lot done, more to do" rings especially true in the area
of rights for people with disability. I can't wait for the
Special Olympics, to see people of all shapes and sizes and
who, in many eyes are "defective" show the world
that they are not just a disability but have a zest for life,
determination, energy, passion and most importantly big dreams.
Introduction
to Eugenics - From the American Bioethics Advisory Commission
Eugenics
Watch From Africa 2000 Includes membership of the "professional"
Eugenics Societies of US and Britain.
The
X-Files : Xenophobia, Racism, Demographics
Eugenics
& Population Control By Mary Meehan
The Negro Is
Your Brother - 63.08 Matin Luther King on civil rights
and racism. From the classic American journal The Atlantic Monthly
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