"It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity, and all have the same human rights." -- Pearl S. Buck
When I read those words in a new biography of Pearl S. Buck, I felt they would be appropriate to reflect on this Sunday after the recent bullying tragedies. Pearl's daughter was diagnosed with PKU and I will quote the author for an explanation: "she was suffering from phenylketonuria, or PKU, brain degeneration caused by inability in the newborn child to process a chemical called phenyl, a deficiency that can be treated only if detected in its early stages."
My sister, who had a severe form of Down's syndrome and could not speak and would not look you in the eye, taught me the same thing. I always knew that in her humanity, she was my equal. And fortunately she lived in a country and an environment where she was treated without prejudice.
