Just a note, I don't think bashing on the family is going to do much good, referring to them as 'pieces of shit' isn't helpful nor is it respectful to the deceased.
I can guarantee most of my family would not be supportive of suicide and when I'm gone if they found out about this place, I can almost promise you they'd have nothing nice to say, but they're ignorant, that's the issue. Despite this and all of their shortcomings, I don't think I'd like people calling them 'pieces of shit'.
It's the same thing with that Shawn Shatto's family, they're just ignorant and you know what they say, ignorance is bliss.
The way I like to think of it is like this, when I was younger I was so fiercely opposed to euthanasia, I remember watching a documentary on 'Dr Death' aka Jack Kevorkian for R.E. class and I remember thinking at the time, this guy is one of the most evil guys in the world, at the time I was deeply religious and I honestly believed that there was a place in hell saved for people like Jack Kevorkian.
Years on so many of my views have changed, I honestly feel this has come about from being a more understanding, empathetic and enlightened person as a whole. I'm by no means perfect and still have my flaws but back then I was ignorant of so many facts, how crippling mental health can truly be, how devastating chronic pain, illness and addiction can be.
Now I see people like Jack Kevorkian as pioneers, he was the true original pioneer who paved the way for the likes of Philip Nitschke.
I now see this topic for what it truly is a mercy and a kindness in ways.
The thing is, would I ever refer to myself as a 'piece of shit' back when I was like that, well no, I wouldn't because, honestly, I didn't know any better. It's the very definition of being ignorant and that's the reason I always give people the benefit of the doubt.
These people don't know any better, for some part it's not entirely their fault, we're surrounded by so much negative propaganda, look at how the press demonise this place, look at the Shawn Shatto case and the lies and nastiness spread about this site and the topic of pro-choice in general. Sadly, a lot of people are products of society and right now society is not about or for pro-choice, most countries still haven't passed euthanasia laws for the terminally ill yet. The UK which paved the way in liberal laws recently voted to reject euthanasia despite overwhelming public support so I doubt we'll get support across the board any time soon.
Just cut people some slack and remember it's easy to be critical but we should lead by example and pave the way that love, peace, understanding and compassion is the way forward.
I can guarantee most of my family would not be supportive of suicide and when I'm gone if they found out about this place, I can almost promise you they'd have nothing nice to say, but they're ignorant, that's the issue. Despite this and all of their shortcomings, I don't think I'd like people calling them 'pieces of shit'.
It's the same thing with that Shawn Shatto's family, they're just ignorant and you know what they say, ignorance is bliss.
The way I like to think of it is like this, when I was younger I was so fiercely opposed to euthanasia, I remember watching a documentary on 'Dr Death' aka Jack Kevorkian for R.E. class and I remember thinking at the time, this guy is one of the most evil guys in the world, at the time I was deeply religious and I honestly believed that there was a place in hell saved for people like Jack Kevorkian.
Years on so many of my views have changed, I honestly feel this has come about from being a more understanding, empathetic and enlightened person as a whole. I'm by no means perfect and still have my flaws but back then I was ignorant of so many facts, how crippling mental health can truly be, how devastating chronic pain, illness and addiction can be.
Now I see people like Jack Kevorkian as pioneers, he was the true original pioneer who paved the way for the likes of Philip Nitschke.
I now see this topic for what it truly is a mercy and a kindness in ways.
The thing is, would I ever refer to myself as a 'piece of shit' back when I was like that, well no, I wouldn't because, honestly, I didn't know any better. It's the very definition of being ignorant and that's the reason I always give people the benefit of the doubt.
These people don't know any better, for some part it's not entirely their fault, we're surrounded by so much negative propaganda, look at how the press demonise this place, look at the Shawn Shatto case and the lies and nastiness spread about this site and the topic of pro-choice in general. Sadly, a lot of people are products of society and right now society is not about or for pro-choice, most countries still haven't passed euthanasia laws for the terminally ill yet. The UK which paved the way in liberal laws recently voted to reject euthanasia despite overwhelming public support so I doubt we'll get support across the board any time soon.
Just cut people some slack and remember it's easy to be critical but we should lead by example and pave the way that love, peace, understanding and compassion is the way forward.
