Atomictumor

The New York Times has an ominous report about children born with Down Syndrome and prenatal genetic testing.

Until this year, only pregnant women 35 and older were routinely tested to see if their fetuses had the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome. As a result many couples were given the diagnosis only at birth. But under a new recommendation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, doctors have begun to offer a new, safer screening procedure to all pregnant women, regardless of age.

What happens with this information? The Times reports that,

About 90 percent of pregnant women who are given a Down syndrome diagnosis have chosen to have an abortion.

Freakish and so is this,

as prenatal tests become available for a range of other perceived genetic imperfections, they may also be heralding a broader cultural skirmish over where to draw the line between preventing disability and accepting human diversity.

1.
The old man with hairy white legs–
legs with hair like a thinned out Einstein–
sits reading a newspaper
in the library,
in the morning.

2.
This guy wears a black tie
with a light plaid shirt
and black pants.
His closet must be
a la carte.

3.
The water from the faucet here
tastes like a swallow
from the swimming pool.

On the way to pick MastaG up, we had a quiet ride for the first minute or so, when Pigpen piped up:

“I want the one with the shark!”

“What?”

“I WAAaant the one with the shark.”  He had emphasized his desire for maximum effect.

“Pigpen,” I said “You just had a birthday.  You just got all sorts of toys.  Are you telling me you want something else?”

“Yes.”

“Well darn it, Pigpen, I’ve about had it with you constantly wanting a toy just to get it, and then not doing anything with it.  Can’t you be happy with what you have? (ha) How come you never ask what somebody else wants?”

“… What do you want, Daddy?”

“I want my Pigpen, little buddy.”

“Oh.  I want the one with the shark.”

—

Later in the drive, I had him asking for it in various voices.  He was able to ask for “the one with the shark” in a monster voice, a robot voice, an alien voice, a squeaky mouse voice, my voice, G’s voice, BJ’s voice (it was quiet and high pitched), a silly voice, a happy voice, a goofy voice, a shark voice (?), and a whiny voice.

He’s talented.