A new bill in Ohio would make it illegal for doctors to perform an abortion, if the only reason is to avoid giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. The bill, strongly supported by the National Right to Life Committee, is expected to pass both Ohio’s House and Senate. Ohio governor John Kasich, currently seeking the Republican nomination for President, has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.
Allie Gross, of Mother Jones, describes the former congressman and two-term governor as a hardliner on abortion:
“As governor he’s signed and supported some of the most stringent anti-abortion legislation in the country. Kasich is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. John Kasich has previously signed a number of bills that restrict access to abortion services.”
Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full, or partial, extra copy of chromosome 21. The additional genetic chromosome alters development, often causes mental retardation, and produces the recognizable characteristics of Down syndrome. Some common physical traits are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm. It should be noted, each person with Down syndrome is unique and characteristics may vary to different degrees, or not show up at all. A few show no effects from the syndrome. With proper medication and corrective heart surgery, as many as 80% of adults with Down syndrome reach age 60.
Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, stated his group had made the bill a legislative priority because Down syndrome is so easily diagnosed in a pregnancy, and likely to lead to abortion. He added,
“We all want to be born perfect, but none of us are, and everyone has a right to live, perfect or not,” he said. “You go to any supermarket or mall and see these families who just happen to have a child with Down syndrome, and they will tell you how fortunate they are to have those children. Pretty soon, we’re going to find the gene for autism. Are we going to abort for that, too?”
Gonidakis has presented a remarkably idiotic argument. His premise, we all want to be born perfect, is a curious assumption, lacking any hard evidence. His conclusion, everyone has a right to live, perfect or not, is a separate assumption, and has nothing to do with his premise. His argument completely ignores a woman’s right to control her own body, and her own destiny.
State Rep. Sarah LaTourette (R), one of the bill’s sponsors, said,
“Choosing to end a person’s life simply because of this diagnosis is discrimination, period. I believe that life begins at conception and that abortion is wrong. But regardless of if you agree with me or not, I hope that you can see that this isn’t an issue about abortion, it’s an issue of discrimination. Discriminating against a person, not allowing them their God given right to life, simply because they might have Down syndrome.”
This argument is equally ridiculous. Latourette opens with faith-based belief to show what a nice person she is, and then moves on her premise the law “isn’t about abortion, it’s an issue of discrimination.” Personal choice can always be classified as a from of discrimination. It is a play on words and aims the charge of discrimination at the woman seeking an abortion. Latourette concludes fetuses have a “God given right to life”, which is essentially a repeat of her opening statement about her faith-based beliefs. Not everyone is a member of Latourette’s church, and not everyone has the same faith-based beliefs she supports, and most don’t want her beliefs to become law.
Extremist Republican Christians have become adept at laying out confusing, poorly thought out arguments and mixing them with emotional issues, such as prejudice and discrimination. This makes the arguments confusing and difficult to sort out. Clear, intelligent thinking is the best way to deal with people who get things done by way of emotional manipulation. Additionally, life is not the same as human life. When does the fetus become culturally human?
