This is a controversial topic in political circles, but could also be considered controversial in spiritual and/or religious circles too -- as I recall, suicide is considered a sin in some organised religions.

A man by the name of Philip Nitschke wrote a book on such a subject, providing information for people who want to die without pain and suffering. His name was dragged through the mud in Australia; additionally, his book was banned. (Though if you have the means and the inclination, it wouldn't be hard to obtain this book if you wanted it.)

The issue I have with this, is the fact that he approached it with a humanitarian stance; his only wish was for people to have the freedom of choice, and to be able to die peacefully, with no more suffering.

Looking at it from this perspective, by proxy the law that dictates that euthanasia/suicide is illegal, is harmful to a human being. For some people, life isn't at all enjoyable and about beer and skittles. Many people come to a point in their life where they find it is miserable, depressing and would prefer death. To force them to stay here could be considered harmful and psychologically abusive.

When it comes to people who suffer pain via physical/medical disabilities, is it really fair that they should have to endure the suffering, especially when in most cases, they will die soon anyway? Why do they not have the right to die by their own choice? Why must they wait around for natural cause, or for somebody else to decide that for them?

The law is, in a way, kind of ridiculous. The funny thing is, people can kill themselves without worry or concern that they will be punished and taken to court. The only worry would be of a spiritual consequence, if they believe they will be sent to hell for committing the sin. Wouldn't they consider their earthly suffering as "hell" too?

What part of suicide/euthanasia is evil/immoral, exactly? The person is harming nobody else. He/she is making a decision, based on a lack of quality of life here. If he/she prefers death, let them be?

Of course, this is hard when it comes to people who have family members/friends/loved ones battling depression, who have suicidal thoughts. I can only stress that I hope that the situation for them can improve -- but you must consider it from their perspective and gage out the level of suffering. Many people in this situation can be saved and change their mental states to something a bit more optimistic -- I've been there myself. But if the situation is unbearable, it isn't fair on the person who is enduring the suffering.

Death is a taboo subject, and many people fear it because they don't know what happens. You lose consciousness, and that's that -- you cannot imagine pitch black emptiness. On the bright side, people who have died for a few short minutes and have come back say that they float out of their bodies/or see a bright light.

I've never died, let alone had that experience, but I remember my first shred of consciousness -- inside my mother's womb. I could not see, all was pitch black in there. I could hear though -- I was familiar with my mother's voice before I entered the world on two legs. It was very comforting. Other than that I couldn't really describe it, other than the fact that I was "aware". This is on a totally different end of the spectrum, mind you.

Basically, we fear the unknown. We cling onto life and in turn, the those in power want us to cling onto life and fear death as well -- as this breeds more money, thus more power. For instance, medical corporate bigwigs don't actually CARE about the morality in regard to euthanasia. They simply want you to suffer more, because the more you suffer, the more money you'll put toward their marketing. This is certainly not "good" at all. It is greedy, greed = sin.

Part of this Neo Nazi anti-obesity campaign, for instance, is a means to generate more money, from various fields. One place is the gym, organic foods (note that the healthier foods are more expensive than the junk) for those who are lazy, cosmetic surgery and liposuction is quite pricey.
Then we have the fashion industry -- girls with insecurities will be inclined to lose a lot of weight, by starving themselves, using diet pills (also a market) to fit into fashionable, brand name dresses that they see models prancing around in.

The truth is, whether we like it or not, we are all going to die. It could be by our own hand, or somebody else's. Every step we take further in life is a step toward death. Coming to terms and making peace with this concept would be beneficial.

Lionel Edriess wrote on Oct 13^th, 2014 at 10:28pm:


Exactly. I mean, what is the point if the remainder of your life consists of peeing in a bag, having your rectal region wiped, and being spoon-fed? If you want to go, you should be able to go and in reality the law and the "do-gooders" cannot stop you.

If such an event happens to me, I'll find some illegal drug and overdose on it.

People will cry and scream that it isn't the humanitarian thing to do. Bollocks. They just want your money.

Annie Anthrax wrote on Oct 14^th, 2014 at 4:31pm:


No, it shouldn't be.

I mean, it's quite sad and it really annoys me that some of the circumstances of this society can make people feel that way.

I appreciate the efforts that the "mental health" industry is going to, but I think they completely miss the root of the cause. Without recognition of this, nothing will change.

They Shoot Horses don't they, if you have seen the movie, shows true friendship with a man shooting a friend who had reached her limit of endurance and wanted an end to it.

If we are free people then it is our life to do with as we choose to, assuming a healthy mind.

If not a healthy mind is the only way I would interfere with one's exercise of freedom.

Regards
DL

Then, in this discussion of suicide, we come to state and church sanctioned wars

wars for profit for the few

wars which kill millions

wars which leave women widowed and children fatherless

wars which spit in the face of parents who've invested almost their entire earnings and lives raising healthy people who are then squandered without thought by church and state

Wars send people off to kill and be killed

What's that called?

A soldier is instructed to charge down an alley, gun raised

He meets his death and is left as a chunk of bleeding, fly-blown meat which is then shoved into a zip-up bag and eventually delivered at a cemetery in a neat box with a Made In China Aussie flag (in this case) flying or folded nearby

It could well be argued that the soldier KNEW as he stood at the entrance to that alley, that he would die

He could refuse to obey.  In doing so, he would save his life -- for the time being at least

In obeying, he runs down an alley to his death.  That's a form of suicide

yet governments and their cronies (the war industry, arms suppliers, etc.) CHOOSE to change the title of the soldier's death

they deem him a 'hero'.  They do so cynically as most should be aware

But the soldier was free to make the choice between dying in an alley or living in a government jail for disobeying the order that he run towards his death

There are those who want to believe, who've been programmed to believe, who try to convince others into believing, that 'all life is sacred'

except when church-state decide those lives aren't sacred at all

There are those who still cling to the belief that suicide -- the choice to exit one's own life -- is a 'sin'

And there are others, who're more intelligent and observant, more independent of mind

If you don't like a meal, it's your right, your choice, to leave the table

If you don't like a movie or performance -- you leave the venue

If you aren't happy in a relationship -- you get yourself out of it

and Life's the same