Without knowing it, Trig Palin has made a lasting impact on our nation. The youngest child of former republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Trig has Down syndrome. That didn’t stop his mother from proudly including him in her speeches and at her campaign events. Most importantly, it didn’t stop her from giving birth to him. Trig has become the face of civil rights movement long overdue. He is showing the world how much love and hope there is for people with special needs.
In September of 2008 Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson called Trig a civil rights leader. He notes that Barack Obama (the first African-American presidential candidate) and Sarah Palin weren’t the only ones smashing stereotypes, but Trig was as well. The responses were unbelievable. Comments on the Washington Post web site actually included that Trig was better off dead than alive with Down syndrome. Thus, the debating began.
In this, “all are equal”, country of ours, parents of children with Down syndrome chose abortion over life 90% of the time. And that’s just the parents of children with Down syndrome. There are so many other conditions that children are diagnosed with prenatally, and the parents are advised to abort. A life that isn’t “perfect” is not worth living or caring for according to many doctors and professionals. Parents are told the work would be too hard and their efforts would have no payoff.
What is the value of a life that is “different”? Who gets to decide what life is worth living? Anyone remember a guy named Hitler? Why are people so appalled that a woman would want to keep, raise, and love her “different” child? Trig Palin’s existence has opened up a new door for the civil rights of people with special needs. People with special needs have gained the right to an equal education, and the ability to work and live independently. Yet, people with special needs are still the butt of jokes and still treated like a curse rather than a blessing. When will it end? Hopefully with this opportunity placed before us – to watch and witness the growth of a child with Down syndrome into an adult with Down syndrome. To see before us his transformation into an adult with a normal life who contributes to society, just as the rest of us hope to do.
It seems that people who are different have little value in our society. That’s the way it has always been, until that group of people stands up and says they’ve had enough. Now it’s time to stand up for those with special needs and say that we have all had enough…with little Trig’s face lighting up the way.