Comments on: Assisted Suicide

By: reneeschaferhorton

reneeschaferhorton — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:37:39 +0000

Leftfield:
There are some who think God is a delusion – and there’s no use convincing them otherwise. But I think it’s a little off-point/negative/rude? to say all believers suffer from a psychosis. That’s a pretty serious illness, psychosis…. As for behaving historically in some very negative manners – I think most of what fanatics claim is religiously motivated is actually politically, tribally and culturally motivated. Some crazy person says, “that’s my land” and then, in order to justify taking it, adds “God wants me to have it.” Alot of negative is done in the NAME of religion, but it isn’t because of religion – IMHO – it is because of greed, pride, very human things … couched in the guise of religion.

Meanwhile, you cannot ignore the enormous amount of good done in the name of religion as well. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, Red Crescent, all the thousands of youth groups that helped out after Hurricane Katrina, the Catholic Church setting up schools for poor immigrants in this country at the turn of the century, etc., etc., etc.

By: leftfield

leftfield — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:58:33 +0000

renee – I will confess to a radical (“crazy”, if you prefer) POV when it comes to religion. While I consider myself a very spritiual person, IMO, any reference to a “god” is just plain “crazy”, or, at very least, highly irrational. So, whatever the particulars of a certain debate are, realize that I believe that “when one person suffers from a delusion, they call it a mental illness. When a group of people suffer from a delusion, they call it a religion”. You may have different delusions, but you all share a similar psychosis in my mind, a psychosis that leads you to behave historically in some very negative manners.

By: reneeschaferhorton

reneeschaferhorton — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:08:01 +0000

Carrie: I really appreciate you sharing your story. It gives – it should give – a lot of people plenty to think about. Thanks for coming over and posting.

By: reneeschaferhorton

reneeschaferhorton — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:06:38 +0000

Leftfield: This is kind of crazy talk —- you’re conflating all religious people into one group of believers, and that just doesn’t hold up. Most religious leaders, for instance, were – and still are – against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just as many religious people voted of Obama as voted for McCain. You will certainly hear radicals of all stripes talk about God being on “our side” but that’s not the average believer. And, the whole on our side is another blog post!

By: reneeschaferhorton

reneeschaferhorton — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:47:32 +0000

Hi Margie:
I think you might be mixing things up too. While assisted suicide is definitely just about the right to whatever with your own body, abortion involves not only the pregnant woman’s body, but also the body of the unborn child. So I don’t think you can compare the two equally.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:39:35 +0000

I’m not sure why you think I would elect such a person. I don’t agree with killing anyone… unborn, elderly, soldiers of any country, inocent civilians, anyone. This is not a political debate. FYI, I’m an independent.

By: margiew

margiew — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:17:55 +0000

I think there are a couple of commentors here, and maybe even the writer who are confusing euthanasia with assisted suicide. There is a big difference and in fact what Kevorkian did was euthanasia aka murder. This issue is just like the abortion issue: right to choose what to do with your own body!

By: margiew

margiew — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:14:47 +0000

Here Here! Well said leftfield!

By: christine berge

christine berge — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:50:54 +0000

I, too, am concerned that eventually older people could be coerced into “choosing” to let go of life.

By: leftfield

leftfield — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:33:43 +0000

Well then, if you believe so, stop killing one another because “god is on your side” and stop electing people who send young people to die because “god is on our side”.