L'acteur trisomique

[lollardfish]

Simyo - Le Theatre 42''
by simyofrance

This is a French cell-phone ad starting an actor with Down syndrome. He is, as a French advocacy group has commented, just a "citizen like any other." Apparently it's the 50th anniversary of the French discovery of the cause of Down Syndrome (by a Father LeJeune, hence not using Down syndrome as the phase). Also, I love the adjective "trisomique" (trisomic). I intend to start using it.

Article here.

h/t to neogrammarian.

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I don't have your reaction to "Down syndrome child", and if I happen to ever use some phrase like that, it will be because I don't parse it as negative and have forgotten to be mindful about it, and not because I am willfully uncaring about your reaction. If I could change one thing about myself, it might be to stay always mindful of other people's desires in these regards, but honestly, I screw it up sometimes. I wish I didn't, but I do. And then there is unexpected sadness, and I am sorry.

How about "LeJeune-esque"?

K.

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

As phrases go that bother me, it's among the least upsetting, so not to worry. I think it's interesting that the French have settled on "trisomique." Apparently, though, LeJeune was a priest, so perhaps would not have wanted the syndrome named after him.