Here’s the text of a post that ran in the Daily Kos on July 5, then was taken down. In it, the author takes issue with Sarah Palin’s assertion that the world needs “more Trigs, not less.”

A selection of comments follows the text. Most challenge the writer’s assumptions and the wording of the post’s headline.

Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:18:43 PM PDT

By Kwaidan

Show of hands– how many here thought the best fireworks display over this Fourth of July weekend was Sarah Palin’s resignation “speech?”  Me too.  I’ve enjoyed all the commentary, thoughtful and otherwise, and threats of litigation are always a hoot.

Over the long weekend, I’ve watched this miraculous bit of political theater several times in varying states of sobriety, at one point putting my nose to the screen to see if I could catch a glimpse Andy Kaufman under the makeup.  But there’s one tiny slice of this fruity pie that I haven’t seen any commentary on that I’d like to address.  I know it’s a ticklish subject, but it warrants some actual analysis because it presents a fundamental difference in the ways progressives and a certain subset of conservatives view the world.

The part of Palin’s incoherent, rambling resignation I’d like to talk about is this:

“Um, by the way, sure wish folks could ever, ever understand that we all could learn so much from someone like Trig — I know he needs me, but I need him even more… what a child can offer to set priorities right -– that time is precious… the world needs more “Trigs”, not fewer.”

Grammatologists will undoubtedly spend the next several eons dissecting and diagramming the speech, and I can easily see them dedicating a decade to this passage alone.  But if we can look past the syntax here and move to the substance, I’d just like to start this ball rolling down the hill by saying definitively that, no, the word does not need more “Trigs.”

Now, I know there’s going to be a certain group out there who will think “how dare you attack an infant or those with Down Syndrome.”  But I’m not attacking.  I am in no way saying that people who suffer any number of cognitive or developmental disorders don’t deserve the same rights and happiness as everyone else.  Nor am I saying that their lives cannot teach valuable lessons to the parents who have them and the people whose lives they touch.

What I am saying is that, ideally, we use the tools of science and medicine to eradicate Down Syndrome and other disorders.  As a progressive, I believe that we can look forward to a day when there is no Down Syndrome, no autism, no Alzheimer’s disease, and so on.  This is where there is a huge split in progressive vs. conservative mentalities.  Progressives believe that answers lie in areas like stem cell research and, well, science and research period.  Conservatives, especially the religious fundamentalist conservatives, believe that the world needs more “Trigs.”

My heart does go out to parents who have and teachers, councilors, etc. who work with special needs children and adults.  I’m under no illusion that it’s many times more difficult to raise a child with a developmental disorder.  People who dedicate their lives to doing so do noble work and are to be commended.  But shouldn’t we try to envision a world where Down Syndrome and other disorders are studied as history because science, medicine and technology have relegated them to spending eternity alongside bubonic plague and polio and endevor to achieve it?  Wouldn’t that actually be better than a world with more “Trigs?”

Imagine the time and resources that could be devoted to innumerable other causes.  Imagine a health care system that did not have to spend time and money on such things.  Imagine no parents ever having to hear the heartbreaking diagnosis of a child with a developmental disorder.  Imagine those things, then look me in the eye and tell me that having more “Trigs” is the better of the two scenarios.

I thought long and hard about using the word in this context, but there really is no other word for it –  This sort of thinking that would have one believe that the world needs more children with developmental disorders is, in every sense of the word, retarded.

I haven’t seen a diary on this topic yet, and if there has been, I’ll take this down.  I’m actually pretty sure I’m preaching to the choir here, what with all you hedonistic egghead types who make DK everything it is.  Palin said a lot of things that made no sense in her bizarre resignation.  But this one, for whatever reason, has stuck with me.  I believe the world needs more trigonometry.  That’s about as close as I’ll come to agreeing with anything that’s ever fallen out of Palin’s pie hole.

Comments:

Well I’m not offended.

And I’m glad Sarah has all that money but seeing as how she treats the rest of her kids I wonder where Trig will be in 20 years.

by ban nock on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:31:38 PM PDT

This is deeply unfair

Look, I don’t agree with it, but the whole “the world needs more Trigs” argument is plainly not about a disbelief in the value of research to prevent Downs Syndrome.  It is an anti-abortion and anti-eugenics statement.  There is no need to misrepresent the message.

by Jay Elias on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:21:37 PM PDT

Actually, I suspect she was talking about

the characteristic of completely non-judgemental love and joy that some ascribe in particular to those with Down’s Syndrome.

Just my take on it, Heather

by Chacounne on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:28:09 PM PDT

deeply unfair?

Really?

First, I don’t think I’m at all misrepresenting what she said.  The quote is right there.  “The world needs more ‘Trigs,’ not fewer.”

How does that in any way imply more of what you said and less of what I did?

by Kwaidan on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:28:15 PM PDT

Because it is a common trope…

…in anti-abortion rhetoric and politics.  It is supposed to be understood by her audience; that’s what “code words” are.

by Jay Elias on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:30:01 PM PDT

then I guess

I don’t speak Palinese.  Or whatever the codes or dog whistles may say to the true believers.

Don’t you think there’s a larger point to be made here besides semantics and the use of the word “retard?”

by Kwaidan on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:33:19 PM PDT

I’m sure she’s refering to

the emotional rewards and trials that we all need from interacting with and caring for someone who is less than perfect.

I have no use for Sarah Palin, but this suggestion that it is progressive to desire a world filled with flawless, birth defect and disease free people is beyond incorrect.

by middleagedhousewife on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:33:48 PM PDT

PS

The title joke wasn’t very funny in the movie, and seems less appropriate here.

by Jay Elias on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:22:58 PM PDT

I love the smell

of political correctness in the morning.

Ah, man…it’s already after noon?

Where’s my party hat?

by Kwaidan on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:24:23 PM PDT

I don’t think you can make much of a case

that I’m a believer in political correctness.

But whatever.  If you think I’m bad, I suspect you’ll be quite disappointed in the future.

by Jay Elias on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:25:59 PM PDT

don’t think you’re bad

maybe overly sensitive…but that’s not bad.

by Kwaidan on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:29:51 PM PDT

As someone who has a genetic condition

that sometimes comes with mental delays and disabilities, I ask you with everything I have to change the title of your diary. I know exactly where it comes from, and, to me and to many with mental delays and disabilities it is very offensive.

Sadly,
Heather

The title is offensive.

Please, change it

by TheMomCat on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:29:05 PM PDT

no.

sorry.

by Kwaidan on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:30:52 PM PDT

Apology not accepted

by TheMomCat on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:32:15 PM PDT

So you would be fine with someone calling someone

a “n****r” in the title of their diary?
Because that is what you have done.

Sadly,
Heather

by Chacounne on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:33:01 PM PDT

In essence

yeah.

by kestrel9000 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:37:16 PM PDT

In essence

“yeah, that’s what he did”, not in essence, “yeah, I’m fine with it.”

by kestrel9000 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:38:22 PM PDT

As a biologist who does stem cell research

you’re never going to find a cure for Down’s syndrome.  You cannot, once you’ve discovered it, eradicate the extra chromosome from every cell and eradicate the effects of the excess gene expression that the extra chromosome have caused from cells already exposed to it.
You will either live with your choice to bring into the world a child with Down’s syndrome, and all the consequences, joyful and heartbreaking, of that decision, or you will choose to abort and not bear the consequences.
As a pro-choice advocate, I am in no way going to make the decision for anyone carrying a Down’s syndrome baby.  It is wrong to say we’re all better off in a world where there are no birth defects or genetic problems.
BTW, your title is inflammatory and insulting.

by middleagedhousewife on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:31:06 PM PDT

I’m not sure what

the point of this diary is, other than to use the term retard in an offensive way.

by NoisyWithdrawal on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:32:29 PM PDT

what is offensive?  Explain it to me.  I sincerely don’t get it.

by Kwaidan on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:35:55 PM PDT

Fuck You asshole

Yes, the world needs more people like Trig, so assholes like you can learn acceptance.

My son with down syndrome teaches others tolerance and a love they were unaware of. The love of a fellow human being who can’t survive without help.

Create your perfect world with perfect people and it will be a bunch of selfish fools. Those who live with us and depend on us remind others how fragile life is. We are all just one car accident away from a possible intellectual disability.

This is not a comment to support Palin, I really dislike that woman. But your title and opinion that some group of people should be removed from society to make it a better place is sick.

Just call me Skippy the Black Lab

by debbieleft on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:32:30 PM PDT

nice.

ad homenim attacks will get you everywhere with me…

by Kwaidan on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:35:20 PM PDT

your diary sure sounds like

support for the despicable pseudoscience of eugenics to me.

i see nothing in it to convince me otherwise although you’re trying to frame it in terms to try to make us believe you’re compassionate.

i don’t buy it.

by labwitchy on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:37:55 PM PDT

You are correct in that this is a difficult topic

to discuss, and you are probably correct that this community would be a good place to have that discussion.

However, you are clearly aware that your title and parts of your diary are going to offend some folks hence your second-to-last paragraph. If you are just being ham-handed, that is one thing, but the overall impression is that your word choice is sensationalistic or chosen for “shock value” which may be your purpose, but it works against your purported goal of introducing mental disability as a subject.

And it seems a bit foolish to knowingly go to those extremes and then jump somebody for “political correctness” when you knew it was coming ahead of time.

My suggestion would be to change the title and rewrite the diary with a little more sensitivity to the issue at hand if you truly want to attempt a discussion of this topic.

by Uwaine on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:39:08 PM PDT