differences

Racism is a big thing out here because of the large black population. There are many community and city wide organizations that want to eradicate it completely. I, in a weird way, believe that they are actually promoting it rather than eliminating it. They are so much into black rights, education, jobs, etc... that it seems to be causing a bigger line between the races rather then erasing it. From what I have witnessed those who want to succeed do it and those who don't want to put forth the effort don't. It doesn't matter what color they are. I think the real problem is the home life that the kids are coming from. Young single parenting is all the rage here in Muncie, for both white and black. These kids of kids are being raised with low expectations and rotten examples. There are so many programs in place right now to help people in the lower socio-economic class, 21st Century scholars pays for 4 years of college! All the kids have to do is basically graduate high school with no felonies! There is free tutoring everywhere. Now I know that some people are born into better circumstances. I was very blessed to have been born into a home that was semi-normal:-) And some of these kids have much to bear because of the sins of their parents. I just feel like there's a better way.
I bring this up because I'm delivering a talk in a couple of weeks about being parents to a child that is 'different' from the norm. When Enoch was first born I was almost ashamed to have given birth to a not perfect child. What had I done to have a baby that had special needs? Enoch didn't have strong Down Syndrome features, so most couldn't tell he was different. Now I want his differences known! I tell anybody who will listen about how lucky I was in the baby lottery (1 in 800 chance) to have won this little angel. I want people to seek him out and find out what makes him different, not treat him the same as everyone else, he's better than that.
These are the thoughts whirling around and around in my head as I try to settle them into a 20 minute talk to young men and young women between the ages of 12 and 18. I'm sure there are insights and opinions out there that would help me greatly! I have already pestered some, so I do expect replies by email or on my comments!
Thanks!