ddb@mrvax.DEC (DAVID DYER-BENNET MRO1-2/L14 DTN 231-4076) (02/02/85)
>If you really advocate the theory which you stated equating humanness with >independence, you are not only advocating abortion but the needless deaths of >all those who require long-term care and as such are not selfreliant. Would >you put a gun to the head of your senile grandparent,your mentally or >physically-impaired relative, or your own pre-adolescent child and pull the >trigger if they did something to inconvenience you? A little sacrifice is >good for everyone once in a while. If you can answer yes to ant of the >previously stated rhetorical questions, you possess that which I lack; >a complete ignorance of morality. > > A. J. Rowley > "see, no problem!" If I am ever really senile, to the extent that I don't recognize my friends, can't engage in meaningful conversations, etc., I hope somebody pulls the plug on me. I don't, acutually, think that "putting a gun to head ... and pull the trigger" is the appropriate way to carry out the operation; your polemic is showing. Really. Physically impaired is another story -- in particular, the person in question would be in a position to make the decision himself, which to my mind simplifies the question considerably. Every person has the right to end his own existence (this is not legally true in the US, mind you); in taking this decision he has the duty to consider any obligations he may leave unfilled by doing so. How can you possibly expect to have a reasonable discussion with anybody when your message says things equivalent to "anybody who disagrees with me knows nothing about morality"? If you don't intend a reasonable discussion, why did you post to anywhere other than net.flame? If your opinions are important, they deserve careful explication; if they are correct, they can stand to be challenged. -- David Dyer-Bennet -- ...decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-mrvax!ddb p.s. I posted this to the groups the original was in; but I don' see most of them (I see net.religion), so if you want to reach me post there or use mail.