The evidence is in: the deliberations are over; our subject is found guilty; and the sentence is passed. Not one word is spoken in his defense, and there is no appeal. What if the crime? The crime is most serious. He has been determined to be mentally handicapped. The penalty is clear, death by saline poisoning. The Human Rights Commission will not act in his defense because he is “not a person in the whole sense.” The S.P.C.A. cannot help him, because he is not an animal. So he dies alone, because he is mentally handicapped.
It’s hard to believe that this is happening just at a time when society has become able to help the mentally handicapped to do much more for themselves and for others than had previously been thought possible. It has happened just at a time when it looked as though society was going to succeed in removing the disgrace and stigma from those afflicted with such handicaps.
Why have we begun to initiate against these little ones an assault of abortion, and infanticide, and non-treatment? We must admit that this has come about because those who influence our society have never really developed any respect for those who are handicapped. They perceive them to be a burden and an expense. Seeing themselves as being superior, they stand back in judgment and declare that the retarded do not really qualify to live, so they should be rooted out and terminated as early in life as possible.
What now does this have to say for those who somehow escape our nets of prenatal detection? Will we begin to see these as ones who should never have been born? Will they be seen as second-class citizens, not worthy of first class treatment?
Experiments on residents
Consider the case that was first publicized last March. As part of the second year course in medicine at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, ten students traveled to Ongwanada, an institution for the mentally retarded located nearby. There a faculty member demonstrated a rather dehumanizing internal physical examination on one of the residents. The medical students in turn practiced the technique on at least four others, and observed while their classmates participated. Two of the ten students refused to participate and subsequently raised the issue publicly. An investigation revealed that the examinations were not for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, they were in no way carried out for the benefit of the individuals, and that consent to the procedure was neither given nor sought. The same segment of society which would scheme treachery against the handicapped unborn child has in this case revealed a shameful lack of respect for these children later in life.
The measure of the humanity of any society is revealed in how they look after their own helpless and less fortunate ones. Those who would mistreat and even kill their own weaker brothers have nothing left but to turn on each other.
Humble disposition
Talk to someone who spends time with the handicapped. You might just find out that it is these handicapped ones who teach us how to love, and to care, and to help, and to encourage. This is why parents of special children can say they never really knew how to love, until they had their own special child. When accepted by a caring community these little ones can be such a blessing. They come bearing gifts that are not measured in dollars and cents. They will begin by instilling in you a humble disposition. They will proceed to develop in you compassion and sensitivity for the needs of others. You will be shown that it is truly the little things in life that are the most important. Small accomplishments can bring such happiness when they are shared among friends. How many college graduates will ever make such a worthwhile contribution to society?
