Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I have the privilege of working with people with Down syndrome and children and adults who are differently-abled. In our work to improve funding, research, medical care, education and understanding, it is very clear to me that our work is deeply rooted in the ideals of human and civil rights. If society or individuals do not see our children, our people, as human, what can we achieve? If people who are differently-abled are not seen as equals worthy of rights and participation, what can we achieve?
I have the privilege of working with people with Down syndrome and children and adults who are differently-abled. In our work to improve funding, research, medical care, education and understanding, it is very clear to me that our work is deeply rooted in the ideals of human and civil rights. If society or individuals do not see our children, our people, as human, what can we achieve? If people who are differently-abled are not seen as equals worthy of rights and participation, what can we achieve?
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day, I would like to remember his work, his beliefs, and his words that even today apply to our community of the differently-abled and their families.
We have taken poetic license with his quotes to highlight our population. Please join us in our first VIRTUAL MARCH advocating human and civil rights for people who are differently-abled by choosing your favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quote (for your picket sign :) ) and letting us know why that quote resonates with your own personal story.
We have taken poetic license with his quotes to highlight our population. Please join us in our first VIRTUAL MARCH advocating human and civil rights for people who are differently-abled by choosing your favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quote (for your picket sign :) ) and letting us know why that quote resonates with your own personal story.
Please know, we WILL be heard. And change, just like all those years ago, from Atlanta to Mississippi to Washington DC is in the air.
Sincerely and with much appreciation,
Michelle Sie Whitten, Executive Director, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Michelle Sie Whitten, Executive Director, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
13 comments:
Michelle,
Thanks for covering this topic in your first blog post & thanks for all of your family's great work!
MLK is a great choice for an initial blog post and a personal hero. One important additional point. We in the global DS community also have to remember that MLK would have fought ferosciously for the right of our precious kids to be born. Published letter from Dr. King's niece on this: http://j.mp/AtkXKI )
We live in an era where 90%+ of children with Down Syndrome are killed in the womb. Their only crime? The possession of an extra chromosome... And companies are hard at work developing prenatal "tests" to increase that "termination" percentage...
Abortion is decimating children with Down Syndrome, our children. We, as a global community, must channel MLK and take a stand against this evil and for the inherent worth of their lives.
“The Negro cannot win if he is willing to sacrifice the futures of his children for immediate personal comfort and safety. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968
Sincerely & with very best wishes, Chris
What a wonderful Blog! Martin Luther King Jr. was legendary in his own ways but made strides for individuals to grow and become stronger. Martin Luther King, Jr. remains arguably the most recognisable African American figure in world history. One of my favorite quotes of all times is by Martin Luther King Jr. himself, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?”
Great work!
Hi Chris, Thanks for your thoughts on this important day. For me, I chose the first quote as my favorite. Even before my child with DS was born, I felt ardently for those oppressed because of gender, skin color, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Now I simply have another large group of people to add to that list of people we should protect and advocate for - people who are differently-abled. I hope I can live my life by MLK Jr's credo: I cannot sit idly by and not be concerned about what happens outside my own community. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Happy MLK Day! Michelle Sie Whitten
“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
― Martin Luther King Jr. Remember, MLK day is not "a day off" it's a "day on." I chose "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." It's a strong, poignant statement that is unfortunately as true today as it was when it was said. Susan Rincon
I voted for the Martin Luther King quote: "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people".
Another favorite is:
“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
I am no stranger to violence, hardship, injustice and poverty.
I was born and raised in Romania and I was only 15 when the revolution to take down Ceausescu and his domineering regime happened. I witnessed death, grief, confusion but most importantly, HOPE. Hope that the injustice, the hardship, the fear will be gone.
Today, I am one of the few lucky ones that gets to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and what he stood for.
It is hard to imagine, for most of my American-born friends, what coming to American means to a lot of us, foreign-born citizens. What it takes to be able to call yourself an American citizen. The sacrifices one makes to be able to come to the promised land and be able to live the American dream.
I live the American dream. It is true, for the most part: my kids are well-fed, safe, warm and happy. I have a house and a car, am able to travel, go out with my friends and just enjoy life. And I have a job I love, working on behalf of kiddos and people with Down syndrome.
And yet I have been stunned about the lack of civil and human rights people that are differently-abled have to face in the USA. To see the struggle of integrating a child with special needs into a typical school, to hear the stories of a new mom who is told “sorry” for having giving birth to a child with Down syndrome as if the world is coming to an end. To see the appalling lack of funding for our kids and to witness judgment into people’s eyes when they see a person with special needs.
This is America, the land of freedom, “liberty and justice for all”. We cannot sit idly waiting for justice to happen. To honor those who sacrificed their lives so that WE can live better, we owe it to ourselves as a nation to stand up to the inequality plaguing people with disabilities.
And today, I am HOPEful that we will work as one and fight for justice, equality, funding and rights for people with disabilities.
WHEN YOUR FIRST NAME BECOMES "RETARD”, WHEN YOU ARE HARRIED AND PLAGUED WITH FEAR AND RESENTMENT; WHEN YOU ARE FOREVER FIGHTING A DEGENERATING SENSE OF "NOBODINESS"--THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO WAIT
Michelle: You should know how much I greatly appreciate the enormous work you do in our community and beyond, for those friends, neighbors, and children who are "different" and challenged and need our help. You're an inspiration and a roll model. Together we can work extra hard to institute change to make life better. Today is the perfect day to remind all of us to get the word out once again. Thank you!
Thank you for bringing such an important and timely topic to light. I chose the first quote (“I cannot sit idly by and not be concerned about what happens outside my own community. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”)
Throughout history, inaction against injustice has proven a danger to everyone. People across the world suffer every single day because of hate, discrimination, and intolerance, and these dark practices are a constant threat to everyone. While I am privileged to live in a country that allows its people to actively fight against atrocities against other human beings, even here there still exists a serious imbalance of rights to the differently-abled. From eugenic practices to abuses, prejudice and denial of basic human rights, those who are unable to stand up for themselves have been some of the last to be defended. I often think about how disability can affect any of us and I remember that this fight is always close to home. Together, we can fight for the rights of those who cannot always fight for themselves. I am grateful to the leaders like Martin Luther King that show us that injustice CAN be overturned.
Martin Luther King Jr was a wonderful man who fought continuously for human and civil rights. Today is a very important day in American history to remind us all of the tremendous milestones Martin Luther King accomplished. These first blog posts are true testaments to some of his many accomplishments. Although every quote presented in this poll demonstrates the true character of Martin Luther King and progress he made for civil and human rights the second quote stands out for the truth presented and the progress still ahead.
"Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All discriminatory statutes are unjust because discrimination distorts the soul and damages the personality"
As my effort to continue to make a difference against discrimination and limited human rights for ALL people I raise my picket sign and join the march advocating rights for the differently-abled.
I conclude many of my presentations on prenatal testing and Down syndrome with the following quote from Dr. King:
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." MLK, Jr.
I take it to heart and I hope many others will to speak out about things that matter, like injustice and bigoted discrimination against those with more obvious special needs (because, honestly, we all have needs, and we all believe our specific needs are "special").
Thanks for the rally cry, Michelle.
I chose this quote:
"Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of people willing to be co workers, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation."
We all have work to do because real inequality and misconceptions exist, and we ALL suffer along with those who face injustice. I cannot sit by and let social stagnation conquer.
Last MLK day I borrowed from King to write:
"I have a dream that people who condemn the imperfect are called to the carpet. That everyone truly gets how we are all different, yet the same. That no unborn child’s life is ended for fear of a challenging path.
I have a dream that my two little children will grow up in a world where they will not be unfairly judged by their capacities or appearance.
I have a dream that they will both reach their full potential and live fully in freedom.
Let freedom ring."
http://myupside.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/i-have-a-dream/
As a History major I love this connection to our rich, and at times unfortunate past. That said, MLK Jr. is one of the rare leaders that changed not only political policy, but "hearts and minds" of people. Now, the trick will be to find the leader to do that for the disability community.
Great work GDSF!
Mac
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