I'm trying to wrap my head around the complete ignorance* and heartlessness that would compel someone to write a letter like this.

The anonymous letter, which was later posted to Twitter by a close family friend, went on to say: “Who the hell is going to care for him?????? No employer will hire him, no normal girl is going to marry/love him and you are not going to live forever!! Personally, they should take whatever non retarded body parts he possesses and donate it to science.” The anonymous author added, “…you had a retarded kid, deal with it…properly!!!!!”

As if the shocking letter wasn’t enough to make you question humanity, the anonymous writer closed with, “Do the right thing and move or euthanize him!!! Either way, we are ALL better off!!!”

This letter was delivered to Brenda Milson of Newcastle, Ontario, Canada after her 13 year old grandson Max, who is autistic, visited her with his family this summer. Unfortunately, the police told the family that the letter did not rise to the threshold of hate crime, although other charges are being considered.

Still, it is horrifying at this day and age that we could have someone so ugly, so devoid of basic humanity that they feel entitled by their own discomfort at being exposed to a person with disability to suggest that he be put to death. The rest of Brenda Milson's neighborhood was equally horrified and rallied around, expressing their support for Max and his family.

I hope whomever it was that wrote this letter never has cause to experience one of their children deal with a debilitating illness. My cousin suffered permanent brain damage from an early childhood bout of scarlet fever. While she's highly functional, she will always have a much harder row to hoe. Thank the FSM that she wasn't born into this monster's family.

*corrected for clarity