damn the muse

A few years ago I saw a movie called Gattaca. It was haunting and prolific. It posed one simple question; what would society be like if parents could genetically modify their children? This wasn't just about changing a child's gender. The modifications were so intrusive that the new child would be free from disease. Except this in turn lead to a society where the "modified" were superior to the "unmodified," and a new class emerged.

It was a great movie that makes you think. Science has opened the door to many things, and fortunately it is eradicating some diseases. But should it be used to give them?

Three percent, or four clinics surveyed, said they have provided the costly, complicated procedure to help families create children with a disability.

Some doctors have denounced the practice; others question whether it’s true. Blogs are abuzz with the news, with armchair critics saying the phenomenon, if real, is taking the concept of designer babies way too far.

“Old fear: designer babies. New fear: deformer babies,” the online magazine Slate wrote, calling it “the deliberate crippling of children.”

But the survey also has led to a debate about the definition of “normal” and inspires a glimpse into deaf and dwarf cultures where many people do not consider themselves disabled.

If families want to have disabled children, then I'm sure that there are plenty of orphanages and adoption agencies who would be willing to help. But why oh why would you want to cause a child such grief. You can't shelter them from the teasing, from the discrimination. And as much as they come to accept that they're normal, it will never stop the stares. Can you prepare them for that? It's downright selfish and cruel.

Genetics shouldn't be messed with, period.

Edit: The link has been fixed.