Among others, a writer for the Center for the Advancement of Capitalism justifies eugenic practice (i.e., selective abortion) through a consistent application of utilitarian principles which correlate human dignity and productivity. The end result: Sarah Palin Condemned for Not Killing Her Baby (see Lifenews for the full report).
For the Center, Nicholas Provenzo writes:
Like many, I am troubled by the implications of Alaska governor and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's decision to knowingly give birth to a child disabled with Down syndrome. Given that Palin's decision is being celebrated in some quarters, it is crucial to reaffirm the morality of aborting a fetus diagnosed with Down syndrome (or by extension, any unborn fetus)--a freedom that anti-abortion advocates seek to deny.While denying he and other supporters of selective abortion advocate of eugenics, Provenzo equates the desire to raise a healthy child to "squelching unhealthy fetuses". This is quite a contradiction.
The fundamental rationale behind his point is the marginal productivity and burden of disabled individuals on others. It is commentary like this which reveals the hideous nature of rejecting the intrinsic God-given dignity of human life in preference to a standard which is man-centered.
The valuation of human life on the basis of a characteristic, quality or contribution inevitably leads to the oppression of the undesirable; those whom others find "inconvenient" or of little worth. This view of human value requires a defining accidental characteristic to provide worth and another person to recognize it. Because value depends on a characteristic or quality, if either is absent or lost, the person loses his or her worth.
Yes, by the utilitarian standard described above, any person who is or becomes a burden ought to be "squelched".
The true value of humans is intrinsic - human life is precious and worth protecting and sustaining because of the value placed upon it by a transcendent source (God) apart from each person's health status, maturity, intelligence, race, abilities, etc.
Thus, a practical consequence of the rejection of God is a change in the way humans perceive the value of others. As society is secularized, it becomes man-centered and value is assigned based upon attributes it finds useful. Over time, this society will become more consistent in its belief system and aggressive in its oppression of the weak and helpless.
This is why Sarah Palin's example is so notable and so powerful - and why opponents seem so cruel. Amid the assault by the culture of death on the dignity of man, she said "no" and chose with integrity to recognize her son's intrinsic dignity.
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