Have you ever taken the time to actually read "The Declaration of
Independence"?? If you are reading my blog you already know my history and I
think....like me....as you read this excerpt you may be able to think about
it in a different context. I know I did!
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united
States of America. When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary
for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them
with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and
equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them,
a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure
these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People
to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence,
indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed
for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn
that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to
right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But
when a long train of abuses andusurpations, pursuing invariably the same
Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their
right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new
Guards for their future security.
Hhhmmmm, why when I was reading this did I keep thinking of my son Sam???
In many ways I wondered how Sam would feel reading this?
Would he feel it pertained to him?
Would he feel his rights are protected?
Would he feel that he was created equal and his right to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness is valued?
If we start with the simple concept of his right to life...we already run
into a problem. Children with Down syndrome have an astonishing abortion
rate of over 90% upon prenatal diagnosis. Our pharmaceutical companies and
many medical professionals would like to raise that rate to 100%,
eliminating all people with Down syndrome. Doesn't that impede on their
rights or does the declaration only refer to certain individuals, do our
children fall under the category of light and transient causes? I think not!
It isn't just the abortion rate, what about the fight parents took up to
bring their children with Down syndrome home instead of institutionalizing
them, how about the parents that had to fight to have their child receive
heart surgery which would allow them life. Let's not forget about the
countless parents that have had to fight for other medical interventions
always fighting the idea that our children are deserving of these
interventions. The idea that it's okay if our children die or it they don't
receive a treatment because their quality of life is questionable would be
unthinkable/unfathomable if the same was presented to a parent of a typical
child. Did they not read...that all are created equal and that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights??? I teach Sam each
day that his Creator created him exactly the way he wanted him to be. Today
our children receive heart surgeries, they receive treatment for cancer,
they receive interventions and yet at the same time the medical community
that prides themselves on changing and meeting our children's needs are
still working on better prenatal tests to help eliminate our kids. Where do
we draw the line?? If a family has a genetic factor such as cancer or
diabetes, do we eliminate their children? They may require additional
healthcare, why take the chance??? Many children born with Down syndrome do
not have significant health issues but that doesn't seem to matter because
there are other issues.
Our children learn differently. This one just sets me right over the edge.
As a parent of 3 children, all 3 of my children learn differently. I won't
even get started on the disservice we are doing to our children that are
Dyslexic or labeled LD. In my mind, my experience, my journey with my own
child these are some of the most innovative children you will meet. It would
benefit and change our world to teach these children in the way they learn
best and help them pursue their passions and interests. Sam amazes me each
day with what he learns and how he teaches me how to best work with him. My
challenge is figuring out how to teach him not what he can or can't learn.
So...getting off my soap box, for a little while. There is another part of
the declaration I want to draw your attention to. That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People
to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
I want to change one word above when thinking about our children. Right of
the People, in my mind should be changed to Right of the Parents. In all of
the examples above and really in all areas of our children's lives, parent's
have and will make the difference, parent's have and will cause change to
happen, parent's have and will raise the expectations. Parent's have the
power to make change happen. Is it a "walk in the park"...not even close.
Parenting any child is work, parenting a child with special needs is a
career.
But please know how important you are!!! Take time this 4th of July to think
about your child's current situation, what is working and what isn't and as
you watch the fireworks may they spark your imagination...your feeling of
empowerment...your pursuit to make the changes that need to happen. Each of
our challenges are different, some may be medical challenges, others
educational and still others social/family, home and life. In some cases,
especially for our children with special needs we need not look any further
than the mirror to see who is holding back our child from reaching their
full potential. I have had to reference my own mirror at times!
I didn't write this post to demonstrate the injustice done to our children,
I wrote this post to empower even one parent to understand the power which
is within them. Let go of the stress and anxiety that surrounds our
parenting situations, let go of the negative thoughts and feelings that do
nothing to help your child. Try new things, dream new dreams...fight with
purpose, raise your expectations of your child and those that work with
them. This year make your own declaration, to change, to grow, to work on,
to achieve, to love more, to laugh more, to live fully. As each firework
goes up into the sky, label it with whatever is holding you back, whatever
is giving you stress and watch it dissolve into thin air. Let it go and
tomorrow post on your mirror, two things that you can do to start making a
positive change in your life and the life of your child. Each morning as you
get up and start a new day, review those goals and make them happen!!! Happy
4th of July to all of you!
Sue Mayer
Mom to Sam (12) who is genuine, unique and perfectly "Sam"
