A Mother’s Response
by Katheryn J. Ware, RN
BSN
I am here tonight [at
the U of M’s Peter Singer
talk] with my son Kylen. Kylen is 11 years old. He has mental retardation
and Cerebral Palsy. According to Peter Singer my son is a “non-person” because
of his “severe intellectual disabilities.” He would define my son
Kylen as a NON PERSON!
He says a “non-person” has no right NOT to be killed.
He says that my son’s life is less worth living than a person
without disabilities. Peter Singer believes that parents should be
able to kill their babies with disabilities one month or more after
they are born.
Singer’s views turn my son into a non-person with no protections
and no rights. He would say that Kylen is, “life unworthy of
life.” Singer says that my son is morally insignificant to
society! He degrades, devalues, and dehumanizes people with disabilities
to promote the rights of animals.
This is unnecessary,
discriminatory, and oppressive to people living with disabilities.
Peter Singer’s hate filled speech is sanctioned
by universities across this country. The University of Minnesota
is paying him $7,500 per hour to speak here tonight on our campus.
He is given an academic STAMP of approval to spew intolerance and
prejudice against people with disabilities. He is highly respected,
admired, and popular in academia. And this is why it is SO important
that we are all here tonight!
The University of Minnesota
Board of Regents Mission Statement is: “In
all of its activities, the University strives to sustain an open
exchange of ideas in an environment that embodies the values of academic
freedom, responsibility, integrity, and cooperation; provides an
atmosphere of mutual respect, free from racism, sexism, and other
forms of prejudice and intolerance.”
I am here to tell the
Board of Regents, The University of Minnesota, Peter Singer, and
all of tonight’s attendees that Peter Singer
violates the U of MN Board of Regent’s mission statement. Peter
Singer’s invitation is irresponsible, without integrity, provides
people with disabilities with absolutely NO RESPECT, and is fraught
with prejudice and intolerance toward my son Kylen, and all people
in the State of Minnesota living with disabilities and the people
who love and care for them.
