More hugs, affection, and caring for others.
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TVTranscript
00:00 "Yeah!"
00:02 It's a new world order.
00:07 More orderly,
00:09 more honesty,
00:11 more creativity,
00:14 and a lot more hugs.
00:16 "75,419 hugs!"
00:20 "Woo!"
00:22 This is 'What If,'
00:24 and here's what would happen
00:26 if people with Down syndrome
00:28 ruled the world.
00:30 Today, people with Down syndrome
00:32 are generally treated with love and respect
00:35 by those around them.
00:36 And despite having an intellectual disability,
00:39 people with Down syndrome
00:41 have many successes to be proud of.
00:43 Here's a Spanish city councillor,
00:46 a fashion designer,
00:48 a pro swimmer,
00:49 an actor,
00:51 and an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
00:54 Historically, however,
00:56 we haven't been very supportive
00:58 of people with Down syndrome.
01:00 But would it be a different story
01:02 if they were in charge?
01:04 On average, one in every 1,000 babies
01:07 around the world is born with Down syndrome.
01:10 Down syndrome is considered to be
01:12 a genetic disorder
01:14 that occurs when abnormal cell division
01:16 creates an additional full or partial copy
01:20 of chromosome 21.
01:22 People with Down syndrome
01:23 might look different,
01:24 and they generally have lower IQs
01:26 than people who don't have Down syndrome.
01:29 But that doesn't stop them
01:30 from being valuable members of society.
01:33 Unfortunately,
01:34 it took us a while to realize that.
01:37 Until sometime in the late 1950s,
01:40 people with Down syndrome in the U.S.
01:42 used to be kept in prison-like state institutions.
01:46 Sometimes seen as less than human,
01:49 people with Down syndrome
01:50 were often separated from the rest of society.
01:53 But how would our behavior change
01:55 if people with Down syndrome ruled the world?
01:59 Would they treat us poorly
02:00 for being different from them?
02:02 Would government and infrastructure
02:04 be as efficient as it is today?
02:07 How drastically would our society change?
02:10 And would it be for the better?
02:12 The first thing you could look forward to
02:14 is a much more organized and scheduled world.
02:18 People with Down syndrome
02:19 are said to be punctual and headstrong.
02:22 They tend to like routines
02:24 and have a keen attention to detail.
02:26 In a Down syndrome society,
02:28 these traits would show in a number of ways.
02:31 For example,
02:32 your 9-to-5 would actually be a 9-to-5.
02:36 No more meetings gone long,
02:40 no more sudden, last-minute deadlines,
02:43 and if you have plans to meet friends
02:45 for drinks after work,
02:47 they'll actually be on time.
02:49 With some extra effort,
02:51 we might even curb the number of delayed planes,
02:53 trains, and other modes of shipping and transport.
02:57 But a more efficient world
02:58 doesn't have to mean a busier one,
03:00 or a more stressful one.
03:02 While people with Down syndrome
03:04 take their work and responsibilities seriously,
03:07 they're also very self-aware,
03:09 affectionate, and caring.
03:11 Anyone, from your boss to your head of state,
03:14 would encourage you to take care of yourself,
03:17 relax, and live in the moment.
03:20 You might also expect a rise in arts funding
03:22 and cultural activities,
03:24 since a common way for people with Down syndrome
03:27 to get comfortable is by being creative,
03:30 whether that's writing,
03:31 drawing,
03:32 solving puzzles,
03:33 or making crafts.
03:35 And if that's not exciting enough for you,
03:37 people with Down syndrome love to party.
03:42 Being surrounded by fun, social people
03:44 who don't mind a good dose of hugs
03:47 is just the kind of environment that makes them happy.
03:50 So if dressing up and dancing are your cup of tea,
03:53 this could be the world for you.
03:56 Just so you know,
03:57 hugging wouldn't be limited to the dance floor.
04:00 In fact, a hug might even replace the handshake
04:03 in this friendlier and more open society.
04:06 "Brothers don't shake hands,
04:08 brothers gotta hug."
04:10 (laughter)
04:13 People with Down syndrome
04:14 know they're different from a lot of other people,
04:16 which is why they tend to be less judgmental
04:19 and more empathetic.
04:21 They also tend to be more honest and direct,
04:24 which can rub some people the wrong way.
04:26 But showing a bit more transparency
04:29 and compassion towards one another
04:31 would probably be a refreshing change
04:33 from today's norms.
04:35 Another benefit would be cleaner living.
04:38 Streets, buildings, city parks,
04:41 and hopefully the planet as a whole
04:43 would be a lot cleaner.
04:45 People with Down syndrome are known to exhibit
04:46 some obsessive-compulsive tendencies,
04:49 which can be challenging at times.
04:51 But on the plus side,
04:53 their emphasis on tidiness
04:54 might make us rethink how we treat our environment.
04:58 But are all these changes beginning to overwhelm you?
05:02 Changing the world isn't easy for anybody.
05:04 But interestingly,
05:06 research shows that children and young adults
05:08 with Down syndrome
05:09 have significantly higher adaptive skills
05:12 than you might exact from their lower IQ test scores.
05:16 So if you're struggling with change,
05:18 don't be afraid to ask for help,
05:20 from anybody.
05:21 Sound advice can go a long way,
05:24 and so can a really good hug.
05:26 Medical scientists continue to study Down syndrome
05:29 in hopes of helping those who have it.
05:31 If they can,
05:32 who knows what could happen.
05:34 But that's a story for another WHAT IF.
05:38 (upbeat music)
05:40 (upbeat music)