The value of human life, and my take on the Terry Shiavo debate
I am consistent about my beliefs about the value of life, unlike many in this country. The right wingers think physician assisted suicide and abortion are the ultimate evil, but they do love their death penalty, and the left-wingers think the death penalty is bad but abortion and physician assisted suicide is fine.
I believe we should not pass legislation against abortion. If you believe it is wrong, don't do it. In some cultures, it is even accepted as a form of birth control, so I also view legislation as an attempt to force one set of morals/religious beliefs on everyone. There's a lot more I could say about the issue; I will save that for another day.
In principle, I am pro-death penalty, but I must amend my opinion by noting that In practice, we do a poor job of handing out justice. I am very disturbed by innocent people being on death row. However, I would probably put people to death who others wouldn't, like serial child molesters. Maybe they were abused as children, but once you become an adult you must not inflict your pain on innocent children. Child molesters ruin lives as much as murderers do.
Go Doctor Death. Yes, I am for physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill. If your religion prohibits it, don't do it. But, there is no reason to keep a terminally ill person alive who really wants to die. Some of the terminally ill want release. Why do we deny them? There are some cases where the pain meds do NOT work, and the person is in excruciating pain. We treat animals more humanely.
And then there is Terri Schiavo. Poor woman. Her cardiac arrest that got her into this place was caused by her eating disorder. She doesn't sound like she lived a very happy life, and the end of her life has been such a debacle. Thankfully, she has no knowledge of the actions of the people around her. Doctors say she can't even feel pain, feel the starvation that her body suffered. Her parents claim to see more than is there because they can not face reality. I almost understand. I can't imagine watching your child, seeing movements, and not getting excited by it. I understand wanting to believe so desperately... and yet, they are deceiving themselves. Much of the important brain matter is gone. Gone.
I've also heard some people say that this case is important for the disabled, but I vehemently disagree. Many disabled people have reduced function, but function is there. Terri had *no* brain function. It is not a nice term, but they call it a vegetative state for a reason.
It was not Terri who was suffering, but her family, her husband, and this country.
It highlights the hypocrisy of the politicians. Unfortunately, I doubt the politicians will pay a price even though their pandering supposedly is looked upon with disapproval by pollsters. I believe their posturing was calculated - an important base will remember that they tried, and the rest of the people will forget. They will be rewarded for pandering.
Keeping her alive only prolonged the suffering for the living. Poor Terri.
If something happens to me, here's what I want. If there is no brain function left, there is no point. What might be worse torture, though, might be to have some brain function, but absolutely no way at all to express it. If I can't move, blink my eyes or do something to communicate, I would go insane. Please, no artificial life support of any type in these circumstances. Yes, keep me alive long enough to be sure that there really is no hope, but once you have exhausted the possibilities, move on. Let the living, live. Let the dying, die.
I believe we should not pass legislation against abortion. If you believe it is wrong, don't do it. In some cultures, it is even accepted as a form of birth control, so I also view legislation as an attempt to force one set of morals/religious beliefs on everyone. There's a lot more I could say about the issue; I will save that for another day.
In principle, I am pro-death penalty, but I must amend my opinion by noting that In practice, we do a poor job of handing out justice. I am very disturbed by innocent people being on death row. However, I would probably put people to death who others wouldn't, like serial child molesters. Maybe they were abused as children, but once you become an adult you must not inflict your pain on innocent children. Child molesters ruin lives as much as murderers do.
Go Doctor Death. Yes, I am for physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill. If your religion prohibits it, don't do it. But, there is no reason to keep a terminally ill person alive who really wants to die. Some of the terminally ill want release. Why do we deny them? There are some cases where the pain meds do NOT work, and the person is in excruciating pain. We treat animals more humanely.
And then there is Terri Schiavo. Poor woman. Her cardiac arrest that got her into this place was caused by her eating disorder. She doesn't sound like she lived a very happy life, and the end of her life has been such a debacle. Thankfully, she has no knowledge of the actions of the people around her. Doctors say she can't even feel pain, feel the starvation that her body suffered. Her parents claim to see more than is there because they can not face reality. I almost understand. I can't imagine watching your child, seeing movements, and not getting excited by it. I understand wanting to believe so desperately... and yet, they are deceiving themselves. Much of the important brain matter is gone. Gone.
I've also heard some people say that this case is important for the disabled, but I vehemently disagree. Many disabled people have reduced function, but function is there. Terri had *no* brain function. It is not a nice term, but they call it a vegetative state for a reason.
It was not Terri who was suffering, but her family, her husband, and this country.
It highlights the hypocrisy of the politicians. Unfortunately, I doubt the politicians will pay a price even though their pandering supposedly is looked upon with disapproval by pollsters. I believe their posturing was calculated - an important base will remember that they tried, and the rest of the people will forget. They will be rewarded for pandering.
Keeping her alive only prolonged the suffering for the living. Poor Terri.
If something happens to me, here's what I want. If there is no brain function left, there is no point. What might be worse torture, though, might be to have some brain function, but absolutely no way at all to express it. If I can't move, blink my eyes or do something to communicate, I would go insane. Please, no artificial life support of any type in these circumstances. Yes, keep me alive long enough to be sure that there really is no hope, but once you have exhausted the possibilities, move on. Let the living, live. Let the dying, die.
posted by tieme-n-spankme at 3:53 PM
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