The Mentally Challenged.

[anthony051]

No, not George Bush, I just mean their rights in general.

I was watching I Am Sam with Sean Penn today and an episode of Oz where they are going to execute a mentally challenged inmate last night. They bring up interesting questions. Should people with Developmental Disabilities have the right to raise children? Should they be able to be executed for crimes they don't even neccessarily understand?

I think that mentally challenged people are our countries most underrepresented minority. They have no voice in Washington, and they are continually neglected when it comes to Legislation. Even in today's "Maturng" Society they are still swept under the rug like something we should be ashamed of.

But what happens when someone with limited intellectual capacity has a kid? Does the Government have the right to step in and say they cannot be raised?

Discuss.

[open mind]

i believe the raising kids issue has to be decided on a case by case basis.
being against capital punishment in general i think we shouldn't execute the retarded or anyone else.

[Burning Star IV]

I agree. Some people who are considered mentally disabled are perfectly capable of raising children and understanding the law. In fact, I've met people who seems just like you and me, and they cope with their disability very well.

[phil19]

mental illness or mental dissability are terms which are used to describe such a broad range of conditions that its impossible to put a blanket law over all of them. this is so for both points youve raised.
on whether they should be allowed to raise kids: i think the most important thing in raising children is love and providing a safe home life. while there may be some who are unable to provide this there are many more who are more than capable and these people should not be disadvantaged in such a way. as open mind said, it should be decided on a case by case basis.
on whether they should be executed: this is a contentious issue at the best of times. i have no problem with capital punishment in certain cases involving the worst criminals. however, if someone is unable to comprehend what they have done, how can you execute them. its the same reason why kids who commit crimes are dealt with less ahrshly thhen adults. because they are deemed to not fully understand what the are doing.

[anthony051]

mental illness or mental dissability are terms which are used to describe such a broad range of conditions that its impossible to put a blanket law over all of them. this is so for both points youve raised.
on whether they should be allowed to raise kids: i think the most important thing in raising children is love and providing a safe home life. while there may be some who are unable to provide this there are many more who are more than capable and these people should not be disadvantaged in such a way. as open mind said, it should be decided on a case by case basis.
on whether they should be executed: this is a contentious issue at the best of times. i have no problem with capital punishment in certain cases involving the worst criminals. however, if someone is unable to comprehend what they have done, how can you execute them. its the same reason why kids who commit crimes are dealt with less ahrshly thhen adults. because they are deemed to not fully understand what the are doing.

This is pretty much my line of thought as well. I have a huge problem with capital punishment in general, aside from the most heinous criminals, but executing someone with the mental capacity of a 5 or 6 year old is like executing a 5 or 6 year old. And that is just fucked up.

I understand the broad spectrum of Mental Disabilities, like I said, my friends little brother is autistic (which isn't even a form of mental retardation btw) so I read a lot about developmental handicaps and stuff. I just wanted to see everyone elses opinions.

I wonder where all the stupid ass holes are in this thread, I expected them by now...

[phil19]

This is pretty much my line of thought as well. I have a huge problem with capital punishment in general, aside from the most heinous criminals, but executing someone with the mental capacity of a 5 or 6 year old is like executing a 5 or 6 year old. And that is just fucked up.

I understand the broad spectrum of Mental Disabilities, like I said, my friends little brother is autistic (which isn't even a form of mental retardation btw) so I read a lot about developmental handicaps and stuff. I just wanted to see everyone elses opinions.

I wonder where all the stupid ass holes are in this thread, I expected them by now...

thats it exactly. i dont think it can be said any better than that.

yeah, quite often autistic people are extremely intelligent individuals. they just have difficulty interacting with thier environment.

yeah you would have thought ther'd have been at least one smart ass comment by now. but, be thankful there hasnt been, because i think this is something which needs to be addressed.

[the sky below]

my brother has a learning disability. he's turning 14, but has a mind half his age.

by the time he finishes high school, he will probably have no better than a low grade middle school education and understanding of the world.

it hurts when he asks why he's different from everybody else, because honestly, what are you supposed to tell him?

most of the time, i feel like George from Of Mice and Men, and my little brother is Lenny. I know that my life will more than likely lead me away from home town, and that i'll leave my mom to take care of my brother. in turn, i'll feel like a shitty brother. i already do, because sometimes i wish i could have a normal brother, who can hold up really deep and thoughtful conversations with me one day. it's selfish and stupid i know. i wish i could have a brother whose future i feel confident about. that he'll be able to get the same university education i do, fall in love, get married. everything just seems so much harder and different for someone like him. i very much envision him being dependent on my mom for the rest of his life. when she dies, who will he have?

i really have no idea how to combat this issue. i don't think we should kill these people, especially if they have limited understanding and comprehension of what is right and what is wrong. it's not that they're immoral, rather they're amoral, because they don't know any better.

however, that being said, i really don't think they should reproduce or have babies. it's an issue i'm kind of torn on. i think that in cases where doctors can diagnose that a baby will spend their life with Down's syndrome, or in a wheelchair with limited bodily function and control, drooling and oblivious to the world around them, then those babies should be euthanized (for lack of a better word) because for me personally and morally, i believe that is no way for anyone to live and experience the true beauty of life.

make sense? i don't know, i got way too emotional here. fuck.

[phil19]

my brother has a learning disability. he's turning 14, but has a mind half his age.

by the time he finishes high school, he will probably have no better than a low grade middle school education and understanding of the world.

it hurts when he asks why he's different from everybody else, because honestly, what are you supposed to tell him?

most of the time, i feel like George from Of Mice and Men, and my little brother is Lenny. I know that my life will more than likely lead me away from home town, and that i'll leave my mom to take care of my brother. in turn, i'll feel like a shitty brother. i already do, because sometimes i wish i could have a normal brother, who can hold up really deep and thoughtful conversations with me one day. it's selfish and stupid i know. i wish i could have a brother whose future i feel confident about. that he'll be able to get the same university education i do, fall in love, get married. everything just seems so much harder and different for someone like him. i very much envision him being dependent on my mom for the rest of his life. when she dies, who will he have?

i really have no idea how to combat this issue. i don't think we should kill these people, especially if they have limited understanding and comprehension of what is right and what is wrong. it's not that they're immoral, rather they're amoral, because they don't know any better.

however, that being said, i really don't think they should reproduce or have babies. it's an issue i'm kind of torn on. i think that in cases where doctors can diagnose that a baby will spend their life with Down's syndrome, or in a wheelchair with limited bodily function and control, drooling and oblivious to the world around them, then those babies should be euthanized (for lack of a better word) because for me personally and morally, i believe that is no way for anyone to live and experience the true beauty of life.

make sense? i don't know, i got way too emotional here. fuck.

i think your absolutely correct on this
i think a person in your postiton is extremely qualified to comment ont his issue and i think everything youve said makes sense and i agree with all of that.

i dont think your a shitty brother at all. just the fact that you got emotional talking about this shows that your not. its obvious taht you have much love for your brother. i think that your mum would probably not want your life to be 'wasted' if you will, by not experiencing all that you can and having the best life possible because you stayed and took care of your brother. and your brother will always have you, because you are his brother =)