Editor's note. Part Two today examines Baroness Warnock's counsel that patients suffering from dementia have a "duty to die." Part Three looks at Washington state's upcoming "assisted suicide" initiative. Comments are most welcome at daveandrusko@hotmail.com.

My oldest daughter is a special ed teacher who has devoted her life to working with high school age students. My wife helps out at our local elementary school when the teachers of special needs kids need a helping hand.

Their charges run the complete gamut. Many have been diagnosed with autism, others have multiple physical disabilities, still other have Cerebral Palsy.

What you see fewer and fewer of, however, are children with Down syndrome.

Although I have read the statistics countless times, they still send a chill up and down my spine. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 90% of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted.

"This is the ugly eugenic underbelly of American life, even as we congratulate ourselves on our tolerance and diversity," writes Rich Lowry of National Review. But then there is the counter-example of pro-life Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Many writers and commentators have wondered aloud what in the world can possibly explain the ferocity, the vituperative viciousness of the attacks against pro-life Sen. John McCain's running mate? More than a few suspect it is Trig, Sarah and Todd Palin's youngest child.

You know the story: at 13 weeks, Sarah Palin was told her unborn son Trig had Down syndrome. They loved their unborn child more than they feared whatever difficulties might ensue.

Trig was the beautiful little child who we saw at the Republican National Convention, his hair being meticulously groomed by his seven-year-old sister, Piper.

So why would this so upset the Palin haters?

She is a standing rebuke to their off-the-wall stereotypes of pro-lifers. She lives her pro-life convictions, something pro-abortionists are adamant pro-lifers would never do if we really had to put our convictions to the test.

Gov. Palin and her husband choose the difficult over the "easy," the loyal over the disloyal, the path less traveled.

Columnist Mona Charen offers this insight which I have shared with many friends. She writes,

"The example of people living their principles by embarking on the undeniably difficult path of raising a handicapped child is a hard one to dismiss. In fact, it's hard not to admire. Don't most of us, deep down, really think that the most humane and honorable thing is to treat all life as sacred?  Even if you are not religious or have no belief in God -- doesn't it appeal to an enlightened humanism to give support and love to the handicapped? In fact, most pro-choice people probably treat the handicapped with terrific compassion and care. They doubtless support civil rights legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act, additional school spending, and generous Social Security benefits. They'd be the first to hold the door for someone in a wheelchair, and they'd be friendly toward anyone with obvious mental retardation.

"But for themselves, they would abort. And there stands Sarah, Trig Palin in her arms, a beautiful ambassador for the path of humility, duty, honor, and grace. It's no wonder she was in their crosshairs from the get go."

Who can forget what Sarah said in her acceptance speech? "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message. For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

A friend and a champion for those too often shunted aside. Sounds like a pro-lifer to me.

Please send any thoughts you have to daveandrusko@hotmail.com.

Part Two -- "Licensing People to Put Others Down"
Part Three -- Oregonian Newspaper Editorializes Against WA Assisted Suicide Initiative