Rosemary Kennedy dies at 86...

[Troubleshooter]

Rosemary Kennedy died yesterday. She was 86. This daughter of Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy, sister of the late President John F. Kennedy and Senator Edward M. Kennedy, was lobotomized without her consent in 1941—at the age of 23—by authorization of her father and without the knowledge of her mother. Joseph Kennedy made this decision because he feared that his mildly mentally retarded daughter might embarrass the family and jeopardize the political ambitions he had for his oldest son, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., who died later in World War II. According to a biography of the family, Rosemary's father was told by doctors that the lobotomy would eliminate her erratic behavior. It reduced her to a passive incoherent being who was unable to care for herself. She spent the rest of her life in institutions.

http://theszaszblog.blogspot.com/200...or-record.html

[Griff]

I was gonna start this thread but it just pisses me off too much.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Damn, I thought Teddy was the only retard in the family.

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by Griff

I was gonna start this thread but it just pisses me off too much.

Check out the source of the blog as well. Szasz had a good point even if he could be a bit extreme. This was just the sort of thing he was trying to avoid.

[garnet]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Damn, I thought Teddy was the only retard in the family.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I laughed pretty hard at that.

Poor Rosemary. Joe Kennedy was a real prick.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

Check out the source of the blog as well. Szasz had a good point even if he could be a bit extreme. This was just the sort of thing he was trying to avoid.

I've read a bit of his stuff. He was always pushing the envelope of individual freedom for non-typical folks. I would rather err toward freedom than against it. That is one reason I've gone into special education. I want the kids I work with to have every opportunity for self-determination. Freedom isn't always pretty but it beats the alternative.

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by Griff

I've read a bit of his stuff. He was always pushing the envelope of individual freedom for non-typical folks. I would rather err toward freedom than against it. That is one reason I've gone into special education. I want the kids I work with to have every opportunity for self-determination. Freedom isn't always pretty but it beats the alternative.

I think that freedom takes work, and some people aren't up to that work, but regardless they should have access to it.