<http://notdeadyetnewscommentary.blogspot.com/2008/11/uk-paralyzed-teacher-says-shes-not.html>UK: Paralyzed Teacher Says She's Not Selfish for Wanting to Live
In the U.K., assisted suicide advocates are pushing their case again. Two publicized cases have brought this issue to the fore. The article linked and discussed here is mostly concerned with press coverage of the death of Daniel James, a young rugby player who had tetraplegia after an accident. James' parents took him to Switzerland, where he committed suicide with the help of the group Dignitas. For further information and discussion on Daniel James, I recommend the pieces written by William Peace at <http://badcripple.blogspot.com/>Bad Cripple. His article on Daniel James can be found <http://badcripple.blogspot.com/2008/11/daniel-james-death-and-dangerous-public.html>here and <http://badcripple.blogspot.com/2008/10/daniel-james-and-fear-of-disability.html>here. The press coverage of Daniel James has alarmed one woman, at least. From the <http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/11/13/paralysed-teacher-i-m-not-selfish-for-wanting-to-live-64375-22246954/>Liverpool Daily Post: A PARALYSED Merseyside teacher has spoken of her anger that the growing public sympathy for assisted suicide means she is now seen as ‘selfish’ for wanting to carry on living. Sue Garner-Jones last night criticised the way seriously disabled people who choose to end their lives are commonly described as ‘courageous’ and ‘selfless’. Dr Garner-Jones has urged her MP, Southport’s John Pugh – himself a vocal opponent of euthanasia – to lead a campaign in support of people with spinal cord injuries who want to battle on with their lives. What is she complaining about, you might ask? She has an answer for you: Yesterday, Dr Garner-Jones told the Daily Post: “People make their own decisions about how to live their life. But there’s a lot of talk about bravery and courage for people who were opting out of living their lives. I didn’t like the inverse of that. “To call this action ‘brave’, ‘courageous’ and ‘selfless’ implies that those of us who battle on are ‘cowardly’ and ‘selfish’, which is unfair and untrue.” Dr Garner-Jones, 53, was paralysed from the chest down and has limited use of only her left hand after a lorry ploughed into her car 34-years-ago. As mentioned at the top of this post, Dr. Garner-Jones asked her MP to take up her cause in Parliament. He did. Echoing Dr Garner-Jones, Dr Pugh warned: “The proposals involve an individual regarding their life as intolerable, worthless, unbearable or lacking in human dignity – and the state endorsing that choice.” (emphasis added) Thank you, Dr. Garner-Jones. --Stephen Drake <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the Kingdom!<*}}}>< Prayer for Unborn Life: O GOD OF LIFE AND LOVE, You have given us the gift to participate with You to bring new life into the world. But, all too often, the mother's womb, which should be a nursery of life, becomes instead a place of it's destruction. Help us to remove this evil and ensure respect for all life made in Your image and likeness, called to fulfill its promise on this earth, and destined to find a home with you for all eternity. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Our God, Our Savior, and Our ALL. Amen. <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the Kingdom!<*}}}>< Prayer for Unborn Life: O GOD OF LIFE AND LOVE, You have given us the gift to participate with You to bring new life into the world. But, all too often, the mother's womb, which should be a nursery of life, becomes instead a place of it's destruction. Help us to remove this evil and ensure respect for all life made in Your image and likeness, called to fulfill its promise on this earth, and destined to find a home with you for all eternity. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Our God, Our Savior, and Our ALL. Amen. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
