[GCFL-discuss] Fw: Willing Lives

[gcfl-discuss at gcfl.net]

Heck yeah Siarlys! So very cool! I agree with you man!! Amazing what
this woman has done. In some ways I think I'm hardened to this subject
because since the day my brother and I were able to handle the issue
our parents have made it VERY clear they do not want machines keeping
them alive. Will it be hard if it EVER goes there, YES, but it is
their wishes and I will not be arguing with them.
 
God bless,
Lance
John 8:32 "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

On 5/7/05, gcfl-discuss at gcfl.net <gcfl-discuss at gcfl.net> wrote:
>  
> Hello everybody. Things have been awfully quiet lately, and I have been
> wondering about what we could fruitfully discuss. This language is a little
> rough for my choice, but I received it from someone who has struggled with
> polio and post-polio syndrome, kept herself fully functional for 18 years
> after PPS symptoms set in, and continues to cheerfully block out a life for
> herself now that she can barely move her limbs. So I think she speaks with
> some authority about intrusive self-serving politicians, and individual
> choices. 
>   
> Siarlys 
>   
> > > Subject: New Advance Directive....
> > >
> > > I, _______________________(fill in the blank), being of
> > > sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by
> > > artificial means.
> > >
> > > Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of
> > > peckerwood ethically challenged politicians who couldn't pass the
> > > ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it.
> > >
> > > If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to sit up
> > > and ask for a cold beer, it should be presumed that I won't ever get
> > > better. When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my
> > > spouse, children and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the
> tubes
> > > and call it a day.
> > >
> > > Under no circumstances shall the hypocritical members of the
> > > Legislature (State or Federal) enact a special law to keep me on
> > > life-support machinery. It is my wish that these boneheads mind their
> > > own damn business, and pay attention instead to the health, education
> and
> > > future of the millions of Americans who aren't in a permanent coma.
> > >
> > > Under no circumstances shall any politicians butt into this
> > > case.
> > >
> > > I don't care how many fundamentalist votes they're trying to
> > > scrounge for their run for the presidency, it is my wish that they play
> > > politics with someone else's life and leave me alone to die in peace.
> > >
> > > I couldn't care less if a hundred religious zealots send
> > > e-mails to legislators in which they pretend to care about me. I don't
> > > know these people, and I certainly haven't authorized them to preach and
> > > crusade on my behalf. They should mind their own business, too.
> > >
> > > If any of my family goes against my wishes and turns my case
> > > into a political cause, I hereby promise to come back from the grave and
> > > make his or her existence a living hell.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> _______________________________________________________Dated______________
> > > __
> > > Signature
> > >
> > >
> > > ______________________________________________________
> > > Witness
> > >
> > > ______________________________________________________
> > > Witness
> > >
>  
> I find the adjective "peckerwood" offensive, although "ethically challenged
> politicians" is perfectly accurate. (I have many good friends and a few
> relatives who might be called "peckerwoods" by persons inclined to use the
> term, as well as close friends who might for historical reasons be inclined
> to use it occasionally). 
>   
> I find the adjective "fundamentalist" less than helpful. I don't find the
> above referenced politicians to reflect the Gospel of Jesus Christ in any
> way, shape or form. Nor do the fundamentals of the Gospel come down clearly
> on the side of any loud voices in this debate. So I neither give them credit
> they don't deserve, nor would I use respect for the fundamentals as an
> automatic insult. (It is by the same token less than accurate to refer to
> Osama bin Laden as a "fundamentalist" Muslim, although he IS a hypocritical
> murderous religious zealot who should play politics with his own life, not
> everybody else's.) 
>   
> The reference to "religious zealots" is more appropriate, especially when we
> remember that the original "zealots" were denounced by their own priesthood
> AND rejected Jesus. People who show zealous commitment to their own faith by
> sending emails to politicians demanding intrusions in someone else's life
> are not worthy of respect. 
>   
> Finally, while many individuals rightly fear political interference in their
> own personal, private, life choices, there remains the fact that nobody
> really knows for sure exactly what Terry Schiavo wanted -- which suggests
> that the blunt instrument of the law was simply incompetent to "do the right
> thing" in any way shape or form. 
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