Gardener I love your ability to blow things WAY out of proportion. not really its very annoying because every time you say something its so astronomically out of proportion its just dumb. Death Homes instead of Rest Homes? Right there you make it seem as though you honestly believe that if euthanasia were to be legalized there would be a cut off for living. Where do you get your ideas from? I don't care that you've seen people commit suicide or watched people die or whatever. If you're going to contribute REAL ideas to any form of discussion please keep it to the discussed matters, no one here suggested that everyone should be euthanased. I think its dumb that people regard their selves so much higher than animals. Only real difference between us and animals is the fact that we can manipulate our environments on a grand scale. I don't even know where I'm going with this. All I can really say is that Gardener has yet to make a realistic point here, everything he has said so far was just way to far out there to even take seriously... I mean come on... Death Homes?
Yes man manipulates his environment. That's the point I've been trying to make. And who/which man are you willing to allow to manipulate your environment/life. Because there will always be someone that will try to use your frailities to their benefit. I've been there in the hospitals. I've heard the arguments to withhold all treatment. If you wish to put your life in the hands of another, that's your choice, but don't ask me to put mine or my family's lives into the safekeeping of your interests.
I've had suicides in the family and extended family, let's let that be clear for the sake of argument; although it is unnecessary information, and quite personal at that! I agree with you for the most part, and I wasn't intending to cover all bases with my comment; it was purely out of boredom. The way I feel love, I could never end the life of a loved one myself. Especially if humane means of doing so are illegal! I have no busy schedule and my life is not of the utmost importance. When interpersonal help is exausted, why let them suffer if they choose to succumb? It is not our choice to make. You feel that the value of life will drop. It already has, look around. Take a look at how we take care of the homeless families (mostly mothers with children) in the US and tell me the value of life is so extraordinarily high. Some people hold this vague, romanticized view of human life and I just don't understand it. Killing isn't right--but neither is suffering.
Not such a simple yes or no. I would assume that euthanasia would refer to someone who actually WISHES to die rather than suffer endlessly. That infers they have a mind to make that decision with. Perhaps something they write down in better times, like you would a will. A written request which must be honored. Witholding nourishment and fluids is cruel in all cases, and should not even be an option. But if someone has decided they can not do it any more, wouldn't it be better to go happily under the influence of say, a massive dose of morphine, rather than in a closed up garage with a running car.... I know a couple people who have been in so much pain and/or turmoil for so long (years) that if they finally decided they wish to end it all, I would respect that desire. And that is after having sat with one of them more than once on a bad day and talking them out of killing themselves... Yes, people should have the right to decide to die with diginity if they wish.
Amazing. A subject finally comes around upon which Gardener, Maximus, Earthmother and I all agree. It was bound to happen sooner or later. You know, monkeys, typewriters, et al...
