PLEASE READ!!!

[EmilyElizabeth]

Hi Everyone! I don't know if anyone here is familiar with Peter Singer, but unfortunately I just discovered his work and am beyond disgusted. He is a world renowned bioethicist who is on the faculty at Princeton University and recently won the 2003 World Technology Award for Ethics. He is often considered to be the father of the modern animal rights movement and has stated that a vegan diet (no animal by products whatsoever) is the only "ethical" diet there is.
 
Interestingly enough, seeing as how he is an advocate for our forest friends, he also advocates infantcide within the first 28 days of a child's life. Death by lethal injection for children with disabilities, administered by their parents. He specifically uses Down Syndrome as a justification for infantcide. I quote "it is ethical that a child suffering from Down Syndrome...should not survive" because "the quality of life of someone with Down syndrome is below the standard at which medical treatment to sustain the life of an infant becomes obligatory." he then suggests lethal injection "in the case of a Down syndrome baby with no other defect".

I am including a link to the article that I derivied the above quotes from...so far I have only done secondary research as I am not sure I can stomach primary resources. I am also including his email address, office phone number and fax. I encourage everyone in this community to do a web search on him and to please, please contact him regarding his much publicized view that our children should not be allowed to live; that they are too much of a burden on society and themselves to have the same rights ahe would grant a pig. Apparently disability advocates have been trying to get him fired from Princeton for years (he took his position in 1999) and to no avail. I am seriously contemplating trying to obtain a Princeton alumni list and mailing every name I can find a letter urging them to donate to the National Down Syndrome Society in lieu of benefacting Princeton. I am especially offended because my brother in law just graduated for Princeton, and some of my father and mother in law's tution money has helped to pay his salary over the last 4 years!

If you are already acquainted with Peter Singer's work, I am sorry to rehash it for you, but I do encourage everyone to get involoved in voicing our disapproval. As horrid as his views are, his does have the right to publish them, but he should not be backed by one of the most prestigious universities in the US!

Peter Singer
P)609-258-2202 F)609-258-1285
[e-mail]

Instutite for Social Ecology - Peter Singer and Eugenics
www.social-ecology.org/article.php?story=2003120212282564

Emily.
Mother to Emma Jayne (4.5 months)

[Debbie]

Yes, I know about Peter Singer. He is not a man I consider worthy to listen or read he what he has to write. I am very strong on life not death and he is definately not worthy to even e-mail. You can e-mail and tell him off and give him fact's but he will always be what he is and that won't change.

I hope that one day he realizes how wrong he is and that life is precious for every baby who has a disability whether it is Down syndrome or not. I have read about adult's who have Down syndrome that are living fullfilling lives and are happy. I wonder if Peter Singer is happy? I bet he gets an awfully lot of hate mail on his computer.

[PaigesMom]

It seems to me that most people in the DS community would have heard of this Peter Singer, I however, have not.

I did go and read the article. Frankly, I almost didn't make it thru it because I was literally getting sick to my stomach.

I have very mixed feelings about this. I am with Debbie in that he probably wont ever change and he is not worth the time or effort to even begin to tackle.....but at the same time, knowing what he is advocating and knowing what we are advocating just makes me sick.

I dont think I'll be writing him, I can only imagine what his response would be to me.

Thank you for letting me know of this person, I will "keep an eye out" for him and his publications.

Debbie - PaigesMom

[christie]

WOW, I too have never heard of this guy you speak of I will go check out what he wrote but I believe I will do it at another time, when I am in a better frame of mind

From what you wrote in your post this guys sounds like one sick pup

CC

[meghans_mom]

yeah, this guy is the worst - unfortunately, i highly doubt anyone will ever be able to change his point of view. the worst part is he is allowed to spout off his poison to impressionable students - and at such an esteemed school. This guy and his ideology truly make me nauseous...really ethical, not. I don't understand how he can advocate not harming any animals or using them as food products but hell, it's OK to euthanize an infant that is not, in his idea, 'perfect'.
You might want to look into why he won the Tech Award for Ethics and write to that committee, how they can support someone with such an archaic view. If enough people complained to them they may revoke the award or renounce giving it to him, something like that.
laurie