What would happen if....

What would happen if people with Down Syndrome ruled the world?

Affection, hugging and caring for others would make a big comeback.

All people would be encouraged to develop and use their gifts for helping others.
In our world, too often people with Down syndrome are “DONE FOR” by others, when in fact they are great givers. If they ran the world, their ability to minister to others would not be wasted.

People would be refreshingly honest and genuine.
People with Down syndrome are nothing if not straightforward and unpretentious. As the expression goes, “what you see is what you get.” When you say to people with Down syndrome, “You did a good job,” most will answer simply and matter-of-factly, “Yes, I did.”

We believe, too, that a stuffy high society would probably not do well in the world of Down syndrome.
However, we believe that BIG dress up dances would flourish. People with Down syndrome love dressing up and dancing at big shindigs. They have a ball, and ...can they dance! (and by the way, who needs a date... “Just dance”).
Most people we have met with Down syndrome also love weddings. This should not be a big surprise. They love getting dressed up, being with family and friends, having good food, and, of course, dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

Order and Structure would rule

• Schedules and calendars would be followed.
  
• Trains and planes would run on time.
  
• Lunch would be at 12:00. Dinner at 6:00.
  
• Work time would be work time.
  
• Vacation would be vacation.
  

But there is much, much more:

• People would be expected to keep their promises.
  
• Last minute changes would be strongly discouraged (if not considered rude and offensive).
  
• Places would be neat, clean, and organized (not just bedrooms, but cities, countries, the whole world).
  
• Lost and founds would go out of business
  
• The “grunge look” would be out, way out.
  
• “Prep” (but not pretentious) would be very big.
  

The words “hurry” and “fast” would be not be uttered in polite society. “Plenty of time” would take their place.

• Our current mode of dealing with time, also known as the “Rat race” (or rushing around like our hair is on fire), would not survive.
  
• Here and now would command a great deal more respect than it currently does.
  
• Stopping to smell the roses would not be just a cliché.
  
• Work would be revered, no matter what kind, from doing dishes to rocket science.

• Speed would be far less important than doing the job right.
  
• Work would be everyone’s right, not a privilege.
  

What About Self Expression?

• Art and music appreciation would be BIG.
  
• People would have time to work on paintings and other art projects.
  
• Acting and theatrical arts would be encouraged for all.
  

Dancing

• You probably would not hear a great deal about exercise, but you may hear a phrase like, “Dancing tonight ... absolutely.”
  
• The President’s commission on physical fitness would probably recommend dancing at least 3 times per week.
  
• People would be encouraged to get married several times to have more weddings for more music and dancing.
  
• Richard Simmons and John Travolta would be national heroes.
  

Music

• Elvis, The Beatles, and the Beach Boys would still be number 1 on the hit parade (Music of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s would be BIG)
  
• Musicals would be very, very, very, big (such as “Grease,” and “The Sound of Music”)
  
• John Travolta would be the biggest star.
  

Television

• Classic TV hits would be very BIG and take up at least half the TV schedules.
  
• “I Love Lucy,” “Happy Days,” “The Three Stooges,” etc. would be very BIG.
  
• Wrestling would be very Big.
  
• “Life Goes On” would also be very Big and replayed regularly.
  

Movies

• There would be fewer movies, but they would be replayed over and over.
  
• Movie theaters would allow people to talk out loud to tell what happens next.
  

No Secret Agents

• People would not hurt the feelings of others and they would also not lie or keep secrets.
  
• Therefore there probably would be no secret service agents, spies, or terrorists.
  
  [Taken from the National Association of Down Syndrome]