ira Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 My son was in D.C. watching the Supreme Court hearings on Lethal injections...and he was quoted in this widely distributed A.P. release.You can disagree with him if you wish...But I won't post my daily column about the latest news about ? Mark and The Mysterians...if anyone refutes his fine thought-out opinion.-Ira. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22538112/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnniekNY Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Hi Ira! I respect your son's opinion and there is certainly a lot of room of debate on this issue. The two inmates on death row are not arguing to have their sentences changed; they are asking for an overdose of barbituates instead of the triple cocktail. I think they should get what they ask for.A life sentence means we have to pay to keep these prisoners in jail with services for the rest of their lives, including cable TV. They have medical services that a lot of Americans don't have the access to in their law abiding lives. Lifers certainly not all but a few) have also been known to taunt the families of their victims while incarcerated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Just because a single drug has never been used doesn't mean it wouldn't be better. I think they should get what they ask for also. Lifetime incarceration is expensive and few executions are actually carried out. NJ's had so few the governor abolished the death penalty. I can imagine what that will do to the crime rate.But I don't think anyone deserves to be tortured and I would like to think we're a civil society.Ira, your son sounds intelligent like his Dad. Now, go out and buy tons of copies of that article! --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesberry Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 The trouble is we often think of, or value, human life as an abstraction, as a concept.In fact, I would say that to do so is a societal cornerstone in Western culture. But how often do we apply these beliefs in day to day situations? For example, how consistent is it with the notion of the sanctity of human life that we keep bed ridden vegetables alive, at all costs, even when they do not know who they even are, or they have no chance of recovery? Is this respectful of human life or even consistent with a notion of its sacredness? There are so many examples of this,but the point being is that we often treat human life as sancrosanct as an abstraction, but we often drop the ball in attempting to put it into practice. If we believed this truly, I believe the manner in which we treated each other, even on a daily basis, would be greatly affected. Existentialists, and others, would argue that only on an individual basis can we raise a human life to the level of sanctity through our own spiritual actions and selflessness. Few can accomplish this. But the life of a scoundrel is not sacred just from the fact of its' being human. No indeed, and perhaps in reality the life of the innocent cat, dog, or horse, is in reality far superior to the life of the human scoundrel. It is something to consider in the scheme of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 We seem to leave life & death decisions re: vegatables, terminal type patients etc to the patient (in the case where they have a will directing action in these circumstances), or to the family members. Every situation is different. And those who choose to keep a vegatable/terminal patient alive, do so because they LOVE their sick relation. They do so because they RESPECT that person's life. Some may not agree with their decision, but I don't think their motivation should come into question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 "Bed ridden vegtables"? Are you talking about human beings? Those "Vegtables" are someones mom or dad or wife or husband. Maybe a son or daughter. Who decides if they are a vegtable? They are not always kept alive...if there is no brain activity,[say as a result of a car accident] most time life support is stopped on these "vegtables". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesberry Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Disagree with your definition of love in these contexts. Love can sometimes be exemplified by the toughest decisions. Motivations are always important to question in these situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Love motivates the decision to terminate, and love motivates the decision to keep the person alive...at least in most all situations. I don't think the person that decides to keep their terminal relation alive should be questioned re: his/her respect of the sanctity of life, even if their decision is considered unwise by most of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Hmmmm. In your last message I would take your own word "sometimes" as the operative word. I mean,you certainly would not be the arbiter of who "loves" who in these situations unless it was your family member involved. If you or anyone else has not figured it out,I find the term vegtable pretty distastful. Hopefully you'll never have a loved one with brain damage.BTW since I am a slow typer,these are in response to Julesberries posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I think thats just the point here though is that we should question our notions of the sacredness of human life in terms of the decisions related to life that we are involved in. That our conceptual beliefs are not consistent with our actions. Its important to realize this if we are to improve as people or as a society. Because we do thigs blindly and without reflecting upon what may be right. No biggie I suppose on these issues, just whether or not we ARE compassionate and loving, or just want to think of ourslves as compassionate and loving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popdude Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 But I don't think anyone deserves to be tortured...Exactly why I'm all for the abolishment of all of Michael Bolton's music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 There are forms of torture; waterborading and Michael Bolton tunes as examples, that really push the boundaries of our own self understanding. How could a fair and just God allow Micael Bolton tunes? This can only mean that we are truly separated from God and that God, while inspiring our hearts and souls, cannot actively participate in this world, doomed to human free will and Michael Bolton, twinkies,George Bush, the stock market and other foms of incomprehensible insanity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Anyway, Ira.. good for your son in taking an interest in an important issue like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 P.S. Hollies, you should have paid attention in typing class!! (James got an A+ sophomore year).. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 for sure Ira, issues that are really important to society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Never took a typing class...I was one finger until about a year ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnniekNY Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 you guys are so so funny, even when you make great points. People have taken the "vegetative state of consciousness" medical description and shortened it to an upsetting term. Ira, I think it is wonderful that your son was able to witness a historic process, no matter what the subject matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 I'd like to think I've become a better and more open-minded father since being exposed to all you folks and all the benefits of being involved here.My children often tell me how proud they are proud that I have youthful passions compared to what they see their friends dealing with with their parents.Thank you all for making me a happier guy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 "This can only mean that we are truly separated from God and that God, while inspiring our hearts and souls, cannot actively participate in this world, doomed to human free will and Michael Bolton, twinkies,George Bush, the stock market and other foms of incomprehensible insanity."Hey, twinkies are pretty good, especially when you deep-fry them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 This is Ira's son, Jeremy. The truth about my statement and that of my friend is that there was a lot more to our opinions. Of course as the media works, only part of that was included. I'm honestly very torn on the death penalty issue. I feel that we as a society need to find more efficient methods to help prisoners in becoming constructive members of society and that the death penalty is just the primordial eye for an eye: I'd like to believe we are better than that. It's idealistic, but hey, why let cynicism take me over at this age? Great to see everyone's responses, you keep my Dad young and full of repetitious stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 That's my boy who said that ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Ya' done good, Ira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted January 11, 2008 Author Share Posted January 11, 2008 Thanks Kirk.-Ira. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy-Ann Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Whether I agree or disagree with your son isn't why I am posting...it's the fact that, he stands up for what he believes, and he looks into what he questions. That rocks. We need more young people like that! Don't ya love "go getter" kids?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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