Friday, July 18, 2008

Euthanasia petitioner beats death, hugs life

We are so sure, aren't we, that we will know what we want, that even now we know ourselves enough to make decisions for situations we cannot imagine. We seek in the end, as we have throughout our lives, to be in control, to be our own god. To make decisions of life and death. To create and destroy. We know, that we would never want to live like Christopher Reeves, that a crippled life would not be worth living, we just KNOW. But the real issue here as in most parts of our lives is one of fear and faith. Those end of life directives, those pleas for the hemlock, at first glance they seem so modern, so level headed, so open minded. But made without reference to Truth they end in tragedy which mangages at times to stretch beyond the mere prospect of death. Even believers fear being less than whole; fear the prospect of suffering, fear what we do not know. We forget that we worship a God who has suffered with us and for us, who understands our suffering and our fear and bids us do not be afraid, to trust in Him and not ourselves and our limited ability to see. This article from the India Times:
CHANDIGARH: Two years back Seema Sood longed for death and had even petitioned the President of India for euthanasia. But hope triumphed over despair and today, walking with difficulty, but walking nonetheless, after a total knee replacement surgery, the Bits Pilani gold medallist is ready to take on life once again. The turnaround has been both spectacular and miraculous for the 37-year-old who lost all movement of her limbs for 15 harrowing years after a crippling attack of rheumatoid arthritis. The disillusionment was so intense that she wanted permission for mercy killing. But that was then. "I regret the letter to the President," she said, still frail and moving in tiny steps with the help of a walker. "Everything was so dark for me earlier, but I am excited about my mobility now and I am confident I will improve." (more)
There is some good comment here:, excerpted below:
But euthanasia allows for no changes of mind. It is the philosophy of despair. What sick and disabled people who want to die really need is the sort of help and support which Mrs. Sood received both from politicians and her friends. Note well, politicians. Your actions could save a life like Mrs. Sood's rather than condemning her and others to death."

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