Any society that says it’s ethical and merciful to abort a child to spare it a miserable and painful life, but that won’t allow already-born people who are living miserable, painful lives to safely and peacefully choose to die, is morally inconsistent and cruel. Anyone who supports one but not the other is a hypocrite and a torturer.
And no, this isn’t an anti-abortion post. This is a pro-suicide post. Let me fucking die.
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Not to politicize your point, but it’s not a hypocrisy of society, it’s the strong republican presence that is blocking both freedoms, abortion as well as right-to-die. So there’s no real hypocrisy, one party favors freedom of the individual over his or her body while the other blocks it. And yes, I agree both arguments are morally and ethically identical which is why the two parties are consistent in their stance. It has nothing to do with religion or anything touchy feely, it’s simply about control over the individual.
I really don’t think it’s a political thing. I’m young, so pretty much everyone I know is pro-abortion. But none of them are pro-suicide. And it’s not like the overwhelming majority of Democrats would support my right to die either. They’d only support it if I were physically ill. Which I’m not.
When I say it’s political, I’m talking about politicians and lawmakers, not individuals like us. If you look at the track records of politicians, republicans consistently block freedom of abortion and right to die. Democrats generally favor these rights (although I agree right-to-die is a bit more grey). If we lived in a progressive country like Switzerland or certain other north European nations where there is less political deadlock, their citizens are free to do either.
Well, good for Switzerland and Northern Europe. But I don’t live there. Where I live, not even the majority of liberals think I have the right to die, because I’m in perfect physical health.
I agree with your statement
Jesus, these people walking about politics when she was just making a comparison to suicide. I agree with you 1000000 percent madam Kat. It’s our lives, we have a right to end it if we do wish. But I holeheartedly hope that you do not. You’re a beautiful person and you deserve better than what this life has given you
It’s a cop out to avoid politics when we are talking about laws. If we were just talking about hanging yourself, go for it. But she brought up abortion and right to die. Anyone who takes those policies seriously is obligated to learn about the political climate that controls these issues, unless you’re just complaining with no interest in understanding why things are the way they are.
Maybe I worded this post badly. I’m less talking about laws and more talking about the opinions of everyone around me.
If I deserve better than what this life has given me, then that’s just more reason to die and leave this life behind, isn’t it?
Oh I understand. No, you didn’t word it badly, it’s just such a broad topic (laws & society vs. suicide). I totally agree with you. I was just going off on a tangent why we’re stuck with these laws.
I guess overall, people want to control what they can’t understand. Nobody seems to understand suicide, so they want to control it by making it illegal or wrong. Only a few of us really get it. Like you said, some of us got a really raw deal and we deserve at least the chance to find something better.
Kat, I agree with you. Very few societies have death with dignity laws, even for the physically suffering.
I think on the liberal end it’s generally about concern that an individual will make a choice which won’t be in their own long term interests. For young people that might be a decision based on short term pain and lack of experience of the world – something they’d change their mind about later on if they continued to live. For old people it might be feeling pressured to end their lives before they really wanted to, to avoid using up their families resources on care. Or it might just relate to someone who has a significant mood disorder or some kind of psychotic mania – is their decision based on a true reflection of their personal wishes over time, or a reflection of a temporary condition that distorts their thinking and might change from one day to the next?
I think terminally ill and dying people should be given the option to end their lives. And possibly those in severe chronic physical pain should be able to ask for the same. More generally, perhaps adults over the age of 25 could be given the option, subject to a long cooling off period (say 6 months), and extensive psychological evaluation to determine whether it was a consistent reflection of their personal wishes or something likely to pass with some other form of assistance.
For everyone else…well, I don’t think the state should restrict purchase of safe, reliable methods (except to children), or censor information on how best to use it. But I also don’t think the state is obliged to provide suicide booths, Futurama style, for anyone seeking an instant exit. I don’t think that would be a better society. It would be better if the state was more prepared to assist the desperate before they reached the point of wanting to end their lives.
I’m too exhausted from a long day to give you a proper answer, but I didn’t want to wait till tomorrow, so, I just wanted to say that what you’re saying makes sense, and I appreciate you giving me things to think about. Thank you.
You’re welcome. It’s a very difficult and emotional subject.
I deeply regret four abortions, it haunts me daily and sometimes the grief is very intense. I’m now 41 with no kids, no partner, and not much of a future. The grief and regret over abortion did not hit right away. It creeps up on u.
I’m really sorry to hear that. I wish that hadn’t happened to you. I hope you’ll be able to find some peace.
Fully agree and completely understand.
For me myself the irony of my life is that when my mother was pregnant in 1980/1981, there was concern over my neonatal development. From what I understand, it was suggested to my mother to have me aborted. Lol… And now not a day goes by that I don’t wish to die.
For persons who are against abortion and claim its a beating heart that deserves life. Okay, I get it. But…. Not everyone wants to live. Why can’t someone chose to exit? I mean seriously!
I can only see a right to die as natural. But most states do not allow people to actively die, for any reason. If right to die people keep agitating our lawmakers and the forced living bunch doesn’t drown them out we would get the right. But it would appear those who wish to frustrate something they can’t understand are are still prevailing. I hope this made sense.
I have personally been on just about every side of this issue. I now side with Arthur Schopenhauer’s belief that “it is quite obvious that there is nothing in the world to which every man has a more unassailable title than to his own life and person.” David Hume agreed.
hm, i’m a hypocrite and a torturer then.