Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!260!207!Ann.Parsons From: Ann.Parsons@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Parsons) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: Missouri Court of Appeals Hears Euthanasia Case Message-ID: <18833@bunker.isc-br.com> Date: 16 Apr 91 15:41:09 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com Reply-To: Ann.Parsons@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org Organization: FidoNet node 1:260/207 - The Recovery Room B, Rochester NY Lines: 84 Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org Index Number: 14990 Hi Russel, RH> The whole issue of ethics in relation to this quickly changing RH> world is about the most perplexing of all issues. Yes, I agree with that in part. RH> I believe changes in medical technology and areas such as RH> genetic engineering, fertility technology etc etc are vitally RH> important to those interested in disability issues. RH> RH> I feel that there has to be a careful look at these issues and RH> a wide debate about them because the reality of our world today RH> is so dramatically different than it was. RH> RH> I feel it would be a mistake to automatically rely on past value RH> structures in the light of such changes. There are RH> circumstances where I would strongly support euthanasia. Well, this debate has been heard on here before, and many of you know how I feel. I guess I will start the ball rolling by saying this. There is *NO* *EXCUSE* *FOR* *EuTHANASIA*. God brings us here, he takes us home. Now, I can't say this any stronger than that. There are certain values that do not change. One of those is the sanctity of life. In our society where we have so many medical miracles at our finger tips, to allow someone to be killed (yes I will not couch the word in any other term), is a crive against God. If we were a hunter/gatherer society having no recourse, then there might be reason for killing of the useless. No, I will not be polite or gentle in my speech because I want you to think carefully about what you are saying, Russel, and what you are allowing the society to do in your ignorant rantings about ethics. Question? Are people in wheelchairs useless? Are the blind useless? Are the deaf useless? Well then, if we aren't, then you'd better start thinking about survival because everyone who touts out the cry in favor of euthanasia is bringing his or her death that much closer. No, no, no, I will not be still, I will not be silent. Look at Germany in the 1930's. You probablly don't remember but there was a time when they used to measure the distance between a child's eyes to determine if he could live or not. What makes you think that unscrupulous men wouldn't get it into their heads that persons with disabilities didn't fit in and could be disposed of according to some new law or other? I do not trust my fellow men, Russel, especially people like you who are willing to jump on a band wagon to change things because it's just too hard to keep them the same. It's the complacent people that will allow this to happen. It's the people who are willing to allow their holy books to be changed to satisfy some women who insist that "he" isn't good enough for God, or that "mankind" excludes them. Yes, you say the issues should be discussed. I wonder, if the idea wasn't put in their heeds would they do anything about it? "Why did the kids pour jam on the cat? raspberry jam all over the cat, Why did the kids pour jam on the cat, Because we said no." The Fantastics Please, remember this when you so glibly talk about sometimes there is a need for "euthanasia". Don't give the Devil any more leaway. If you want to write a living will, then write one, but don't try to impose your views on somebody else. Your kind of thinking frightens me greatly. I can not tell you how much. I see children on a weekly basis that would be prime candidates for the Devil's work if it were not that our laws keep them alive. They are nonverbal, they are nonambulatory. They can not feed themselves. Yet, they live and they love and they love music. Each time I enter one of the rooms in that school for profoundly handicapped children I am greeted by the squealing and the pounding on trays and the clapping. No, no, no, no, there *IS* *NO* *EXCUSE* *FOR* *KILLING*. Sorry, but you've really hit a nerve here. I'll listen to the discussion, but I've said my piece. No, there are certain values that do not change ever. If you want to discuss genetic engineering, that's a whole other bag and I think there is much to be said for careful use of genetic engineering. But you have heard my views on killing the old and the useless. Ann P. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!260!207!Ann.Parsons Internet: Ann.Parsons@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org