Eugenics And Heredity: Shaping The Future

Influencing Heredity Society will face a great amount of trouble in the age to come. Their decisions will shape the future for many generations, including my own progeny. What simple ideas might arise from genetic modification may lead to a society free from the flaws of their ancestors. People, including myself, must suffer through whatever they are dealt, or at least for now. The flaws of my parents run rampant within me. Every part I take from them making up my entirety, but with so many undesirables. Certainly, I am happy with myself, but no one is perfect. Constant reminders emerge of what I must avoid. Issues of the heart exist on both sides of my family, but one side also includes problems with addiction and mental instability. …show more content…
The 1900's was a time of social development, within which eugenics was associated with racism and segregation upon feeble-minded individuals. Eugenics was apart of the foundation that led the Nazi party of WWII, leading to the deaths of not only the Jewish people, but to also homosexuals, elders, and the mentally disabled. Eugenics held strong popularity in the 20th century mainly due to the belief that people are becoming less educated, rather than increasingly so (Levine). A great many minds of the past believed, at least in part, in eugenics. Such minds include those of Helen MacMurchy, Margaret Sanger, and H.G. Wells. Of the three, MacMurchy and Sanger were more closely associated with eugenics itself, as MacMurchy said, “It is the age of true democracy. That will not only give every one justice, but will redeem the waste products of humanity and give the mental defective all the chance he needs to develop his gifts and all the protection he needs to keep away from evils and temptations that he never will be grown-up enough to resist, and that society cannot afford to let him fall a victim to.” Sanger said, "Every single case of inherited defect, every malformed child, every congenitally tainted human being brought into this world is of infinite importance to that poor individual; but it is of scarcely less importance to the rest of us and to all of our children who must pay in one way or another for …show more content…
Eugenics had existed for a great deal of time before the 1900's, as far back as the time of the Greek Spartans. Techniques included separation by class, race, intellect, and, overall, weakness (Boukhari and Otchet). Whether through the separation of noble blood or the removal of genetic illness, eugenics is used by all people to some degree. Eugenics is defined as a great belief in controlling or manipulating genes so that future offspring won't have any unfavorable traits. The idea surrounding eugenics is sound, and will have much greater purpose in years to come. Scientists maintain that the newly found methods of eugenics is based solely on the individual choice of a parent, rather than that of a coercive government body or similar group (Darnovsky). As for the words of Sanger and MacMurchy, their brashness may yet sting, but their words still remain true. Wells himself did not believe in the idea specifically, merely that it was quite possible for it to develop. Eugenics will continue to grow, slowly yet, but eventually it will encompass the thinking of all, as it will replace modern reproductive habits. While the message is stained by its association, those that look past their words may yet believe in eugenics. Regardless of the truth, people remain