Distorted DIGG article from the Guardian (UK) 'This couple want a deaf child. Should we try to stop them?'

'It is a cornerstone of modern society and law that deaf and hearing people have equal rights. If hearing people were to have the right to throw away a deaf embryo, then we as deaf people should also have the right to throw away a hearing embryo.'

It is the comments I've read on Digg that are compelling me to write about this. I am so appalled. Those that have commented, clearly have not read the full article. It's as if they looked at the title, picked and pulled out from a few sentences to make a whole new story and ran with it!

The couple in question are merely just bringing to light a law involving IVF that oozes double standard.

Unfortunately the general public (on Digg anyway) do not view it that way.

Many comments chastising and condemning the couple, literally portraying them as horrible people for wanting to intentionally bring a deaf child into the world. This is where the misunderstandings by the readers come in.

The couple clearly states that they will now go about conceiving their next child the traditional way without the help of IVF. They have said that they will love their child, deaf or not, all the same.

It's the fact that the law governing IVF dictates that an embryo found to have the deaf gene will AUTOMATICALLY be discarded / destroyed. This is the problem. They want to keep their right to actually make the decision on whether or not to carry the 'abnormal' embryo, simply because they would like their child to be deaf, as they are. As they explain, the deaf community is one to be proud of, and they want their next child to be a part of this community. Is that so wrong?

Apparently to some it is. In fact, after reading 3 pages worth of comments, it is apparent that people do not process things correctly or read, in turn they make assumptions, and distort!

After awhile, I began feeling like I was reading comments from Hitler supporters or even Hitler himself. I wonder if any of them realize that. The general sentiment was that it is irresponsible and nothing short of child abuse for making a decision to choose to bring a deaf child into this world because they couldn't live a normal life because of their imperfection. Some went as far as to say we don't need any more disabled people in the world because they are a hindrance on society, and ultimately a waste of tax payer money.

Little Hitler's demanding a perfect race, one where no flaws exist. The beautiful people. But oh so ugly in the inside.

The other observation I had was the blatant double standard.
Some were stating that these parents have no say in this matter. Yes - No say over making a life decision for their unborn child. NO SAY in the matter, oh really?!!!
Well who does? The Government? The general public? You, Me, Who?

We can turn that argument upside down and point it to the topic of abortion.
With that mentality, then why do we allow such casual discarding of life by allowing a pimple faced teenager, who can't drive, and the only thing that matters in their world is the latest movie or clothing trend, yes this same teenager we allow to make such an important decision on whether or not their unborn should live or die. Yes we allow this, and society feels sorry for these teens and unwanted pregnancies because they made a boo boo. Oh and yes it's ok for woman to casually discard a life simply because there husbands abandoned them, or fear of all fears, they find out the child they are carrying shows signs of disability at 24 weeks. It's ok for this child to be discarded at this stage when feeling has already developed for the child in the womb.
This is ok, and not viewed for what it is, murder.

But a deaf couple can't have the same right in regards to making a decision on an embryo?

Other comments were just outright disrespectful.
If only these people making comments about how horrible it is to even consider bringing a deaf child into this world realized how terribly hurtful these statements were. Also if only people understood the law they are trying to fight. It is terribly insulting to all deaf people, or anyone with a disability.

The law is basically stating that they would've been better off not being born.
Imagine if this was in effect when they were conceived. They would have been destroyed.

I found myself enraged and saddened after reading these comments.
It's times like these that I really feel like it all is very hopeless. And I just don't understand what people are thinking or where they are coming from. Is it ignorance? I don't know.



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