What does it say about us as a society that would go to great lengths to humanely euthanize murderers but would sentence innocent people to life without parole?
What does it say about us as a society that we will stand in protest together to defend the rights of murderers but we silently ignore the plea of an innocent person?
What does it say about us as a society that we expect people to die for our freedom but we don’t allow people to have the freedom of choice?
What does it say about us as a society that we demand justice for murderers but we don’t demand the same for innocent people who are sentenced to a life of suffering?
What does it say about us as a society that we will stand with candles lighting up the darkness to protest the death of a murderer but silently hide in the dark when someone is struggling with their own death sentence?
What does it say about us as a society when there are more laws to protect murderers than there are to protect people whose only crime is being terminal ill?
I remember once having a debate about life support and the right to choose to die. We debated over our opinions and reasons about why we felt that way. I was amazed at this person who would argue so passionately about his belief that for no reason what so ever should anyone pull the plug on someone. We didn’t have the right to decide if someone should die or not. No one should have the right to choose to die. We should live no matter what! My heart was filled with sadness over the naiveté of such a statement. Later this person beliefs would be tested, when someone they loved was placed on life support, this same person who fought so hard to convince me they were right in their beliefs didn’t even have the courage to go into the intensive care unit to visit and witness what they believed so strongly about.
What does it say about us as a society that will fight so hard to make sure that you obey our beliefs, yet we don’t have the courage to sit quietly by your side while you suffer by society’s hand?
I watched my best friend battle cancer for years and in the last part of her life is where I learned my lesson about courage and heroism. During the months that I sat beside her, holding her hand and offering words of encouragement is where I learned the true meaning of empathy and understanding. I learned what it truly meant to suffer. I learned at the age of sixteen that death is not the worse thing that can happen to us. Suffering is.
I am not here to make you believe what I believe.
I am not here to make you understand.
I am here to ask that I have the same right to my beliefs that you do.
We should all have the right to choose how we die, if at all possible. I should be able to choose to die the same way, as I should be able to choose to live.
We have the freedom of choice in this country yet we are not free to choose. I believe everyone should have the right to make their own decision when it comes to making the decision about their own death. What does it say about us as a society who will humanely euthanize our pets or murderers but we won’t allow someone to die with dignity.
“On October 27, 1997, Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act which allows terminally ill Oregonians to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose.”
I think people should remember that death is not the worse thing that could ever happen to you. I don’t make that statement lightly I assure you watching loved ones suffer for years with illness, it is not with an innocent heart that I speak out. I know for me it isn’t about suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis and other serious health issues due to this disease, it is about freedom of choice. At one time my life was so consumed with pain that I purchased a pistol from a pawn shop and carried it with me every day for many years. To this day I don’t know if I would have had the courage to use it, but it comforted me knowing I had a choice in my suffering. I know there may come a time when I may choose to take my own life. It isn’t that I am suicidal far from it; I have a zest for life and am thankful for every moment I am allowed to be here. I want the choice if it becomes necessary to take my own life, legally and without stigma. I want my family to know that I loved them enough to fight every day through pain, fear, and illness to be here with them every moment that I could. I also want my family to love me enough to allow me to go when it becomes too much to bear.
Judge me only after you have lived in my body, that is all I ask.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
What does it say about us as a society that we will stand in protest together to defend the rights of murderers but we silently ignore the plea of an innocent person?
What does it say about us as a society that we expect people to die for our freedom but we don’t allow people to have the freedom of choice?
What does it say about us as a society that we demand justice for murderers but we don’t demand the same for innocent people who are sentenced to a life of suffering?
What does it say about us as a society that we will stand with candles lighting up the darkness to protest the death of a murderer but silently hide in the dark when someone is struggling with their own death sentence?
What does it say about us as a society when there are more laws to protect murderers than there are to protect people whose only crime is being terminal ill?
I remember once having a debate about life support and the right to choose to die. We debated over our opinions and reasons about why we felt that way. I was amazed at this person who would argue so passionately about his belief that for no reason what so ever should anyone pull the plug on someone. We didn’t have the right to decide if someone should die or not. No one should have the right to choose to die. We should live no matter what! My heart was filled with sadness over the naiveté of such a statement. Later this person beliefs would be tested, when someone they loved was placed on life support, this same person who fought so hard to convince me they were right in their beliefs didn’t even have the courage to go into the intensive care unit to visit and witness what they believed so strongly about.
What does it say about us as a society that will fight so hard to make sure that you obey our beliefs, yet we don’t have the courage to sit quietly by your side while you suffer by society’s hand?
I watched my best friend battle cancer for years and in the last part of her life is where I learned my lesson about courage and heroism. During the months that I sat beside her, holding her hand and offering words of encouragement is where I learned the true meaning of empathy and understanding. I learned what it truly meant to suffer. I learned at the age of sixteen that death is not the worse thing that can happen to us. Suffering is.
I am not here to make you believe what I believe.
I am not here to make you understand.
I am here to ask that I have the same right to my beliefs that you do.
We should all have the right to choose how we die, if at all possible. I should be able to choose to die the same way, as I should be able to choose to live.
We have the freedom of choice in this country yet we are not free to choose. I believe everyone should have the right to make their own decision when it comes to making the decision about their own death. What does it say about us as a society who will humanely euthanize our pets or murderers but we won’t allow someone to die with dignity.
“On October 27, 1997, Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act which allows terminally ill Oregonians to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose.”
I think people should remember that death is not the worse thing that could ever happen to you. I don’t make that statement lightly I assure you watching loved ones suffer for years with illness, it is not with an innocent heart that I speak out. I know for me it isn’t about suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis and other serious health issues due to this disease, it is about freedom of choice. At one time my life was so consumed with pain that I purchased a pistol from a pawn shop and carried it with me every day for many years. To this day I don’t know if I would have had the courage to use it, but it comforted me knowing I had a choice in my suffering. I know there may come a time when I may choose to take my own life. It isn’t that I am suicidal far from it; I have a zest for life and am thankful for every moment I am allowed to be here. I want the choice if it becomes necessary to take my own life, legally and without stigma. I want my family to know that I loved them enough to fight every day through pain, fear, and illness to be here with them every moment that I could. I also want my family to love me enough to allow me to go when it becomes too much to bear.
Judge me only after you have lived in my body, that is all I ask.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
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