I am not sure what that defect you said is, and I do not know the specifics. But I do not think that it is passed genectically, since it is a learning disablility (I think - I am not saying for sure because I do not know). My point is this - if a person is known to have a defect that will be passed onto his children, that person should not be allowed to procreate. This does not mean everyone that has any disability, because not all are passed down to children. But if the question is, - Do I promote sterilizing genitically defective people, so that their defective genes, cannot make more babies with the defective genes? - the answer is yes. This is the only way that these defects will be removed from the gene pool. I cannot even see the other side, where people claim that it is compassionate to allow them to multiply. Is it fair to the unborn child, to allow them to be given known defective genes? I mean that fact is that with certain defects we know they will be passed to the children. In these circumstances I advocate for the sterilization of the parent. Only in this way are we assured that they will have no children with the defect (who will pass it on also, and so on, and so on...).    I did not state that children should be murdered, but I do advocate sterilizing people that have defects that are known to be passed to offspring (see above). And for the animal argument, I also know that many animals will put a defective animal out of the pack, even though they know that it will die. This is how they stop the spread of the defective gene. Some animals will even kill their own offspring if they are born with any kind of defect.  I understand more about what you're saying now, but like I said... I can't agree 100%. Like I said in my previous post, I have a mental illness that is treated with meds. When I'm on them, I'm fine, but when I'm not, it's just hard to function because my moods start messing with me so badly. This severe form of bipolar was passed down to me from my dad and tends to run in that side of my family. There is a chance that my children will be bipolar. Do I see this as a serious defect? not really. My life would be easier without it. A lot of hurt in my past could have been avoided. But it's something that has made me who I am today, and I'm proud of that. There is equal chance my child will not be bipolar, but if he or she is, I know that I will be there for them to help them and love them and show them how things that seem wrong can really turn into something good (some of the most creative, intelligent White people were bipolar).    But now... if I was pregnant and I knew without doubt that my child would be born with a genetic defect such as downs or something like that, believe me, I would do the right thing and not force the poor soul to live in a world that wouldn't be kind to him/her. Perhaps this is something we may have to disagree on, but I just wanted you to know that I do understand your points, and you really have shed new light on certain things for me, so thank you for that. :)