The Kindergartener's Plastic Surgeries
I read this story and just felt so sorry for this little girl, who went through "radical and painful" plastic surgery three times by the time she was five because her parents felt it would help prevent people from judging her by her appearance.
Her appearance was that of a child with Down syndrome. That's why they had her tongue reduced in size, the area around her eyes changed, and her ears adjusted so they didn't stick out.
I've always felt like my son's facial appearance is a gift. Yes, he looks like he has Down syndrome, and that's good, because it gives people a visual cue that he might have some delays, helping them control any knee-jerk reactions they might have. How much harder it must be for children whose developmental disabilities offer no visual cues. They immediately see the reactions of strangers to any behaviors they might have that are different.
My son with Down syndrome has been fortunate not to have had any surgeries, cosmetic or otherwise. And let me tell you, he's a good-looking fella. Don't take my word for it, though. Tell him he looks handsome, and he'll say "Yep! Thanks!" :)
5 comments:
This saddens me as well. I try to teach my children that the internal is more important. Won't this little girl reject that idea based on her parent's actions?
Peace to you,
Renae
http://lifenurturingeducation.com
I am feeling better.
I think people need to see that there are others who need aren't perfect. It brings good virtues out in people.
The most important thing I have to say, Renae already said.
What's surprising to me, though, is that there is an outcry against changing the little girl's appearance from many of the same people who would've thought it just fine to kill her before she was born. They think it's not okay to have people in the world who have Down Syndrome; let's abort them. So when somebody allows the child to live, but does surgery far less radical than abortion, those same people cry out against it (which they should but which seems somewhat inconsistent).
I guess it shows that those who are offended have some sense of RIGHT down deep somewhere, even if they suppress it when it comes to abortion.
That is awful! Our whole world is so wrapped up in the appearance of people. It is terrible that we judge others based on their physical beauty, before we even get to know what is going on inside.
Renae, it does make you wonder how the little girl will feel about this as she grows up, although kids with Ds vary widely in intelligence and awareness, so it's hard to know whether she really gets what they did and why they did it.
BarbaraLee, it does bring out the good in many people. I know my kids are accepting of people with disabilities because of their brother.
Susan, it sure is hypocritical, isn't it? And we know at least some of those people would prefer an abortion because 90% of Ds babies are aborted.
Melissa, beauty has always been overrrated, but I think the entertainment industry has made it even worse, don't you?
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