Unspeakable Conversations

Unspeakable Conversations by Harriet Johnson brought much debate not only amongst Johnson and Peter Singer but in my mind as well. The debate concerned infanticide. Singer believed that infanticide is a great solution to children born with a disability while on the other hand; Johnson felt that infanticide was completely cruel and immoral. To say the least, I am torn between these two points of views.

For one, Singer’s reasons to why infanticide should be legalized were quite comprehensible. It is evident that a disabled child will have much more difficulty throughout his life than a child who is born without a disability. It will be much more challenging for the disabled to receive an education and have the ability to work. Even simple tasks such as using the bathroom, eating, and walking becomes a challenge and sometimes, impossible to the disabled. They become very dependent on others to be able to function throughout their daily lives. For instance, Johnson relied on her assistant, Carmen, to help her do the morning stretch, comb and braid her hair, and switch on the motor to her wheelchair. There were even instances when Johnson needed Singer’s assistance. During the meal in Princeton, Johnson’s right elbow slipped away from its comfortable position and Johnson required Singer to return the elbow back to its original location. This enabled Johnson to reach her fork and continue with her meal. Because of such instances, Singer felt that the best way to save these disabled children from a lifetime of agony is to have them legally killed during infancy.

Jonson’s counterargument was that killing an infant just because he or she has a disability is an utterly prejudice act. I can definitely see Johnson’s perspective. Who are we to decide who and who cannot live? Why should we have the right to take a person’s life just because he or she is not up to par with society’s idea of what a regular human being should be? It is not up to us to decide. Above all else, a disabled person can still live a regular, happy life. Of course, it will be more challenging, but it can be done. For example, Johnson was born with a disability, but yet, was able to live a normal life, receive an education, and become a lawyer. She even tried to make a difference by becoming a disability rights activist and educating the public about the disabled. Her disability served her as an inconvenience but it certainly did not obstruct her will to succeed.

This delicate issue of infanticide can be understood from both Singer and Johnson’s point of view. Consequently, it will forever be a continuous battle between human rights and factual reasoning.