FWIW I believe it should be a choice for people. 
 

We sadly had to have our 16 year old cat put to sleep last week. As I stroked her as she quietly slipped away, I wondered why on earth we humans are not allowed to choose such a peaceful, dignified end for ourselves.

Yours sounds like a fine plan to me. Although, like FallenAngel, I hope it's a way off for you yet.

 

Hi Jim
 

I'm completely with you in the no God area. If he did exist, he'd be the most bipolar, egotistical unjust mofo around. One of the many reasons religions exist is to frighten people into not doing things that are just plain common sense, like knowing when enough is enough.
Personally I hope that party is a long way off. But it's not for me to say, I'm not in your situation. It should be in your hands, as it should be for everyone. xo
 

Great blog Jim, why are you always right?

It's a subject that people tend to avoid, when it's actually something everyone needs to consider. Life (and death) isn't just black and white - there are wonderfully confusing shades of grey in the mix that need to be taken into account.

I'd hate for me or a loved one to feel utterly, hopelessly trapped by a disease - why let the bastard win? It's common sense for any human being to want a bit of control, dignity and the chance to choose when it's the right time. Personally, I think your party idea is an absolute winner. A good uniting knees-up, on your terms and in your time.

Hope lots of people read this and have a bit of a think about things.

Jo x

 

 

Bugger ! I just wrote you a long note and erased it by mistake. Bottom line is you and I share
our major beliefs.  I lost my youngest son, David, when he was 26 years old. He was diagnosed
with MS but in fact he had a terminal disease called Metocromatic Lucodystrophy. Big name for
another vicious disease. His life was full, he was an actor, singer, artistic and inventive. David
gave and received a lot of love and I am ever grateful that I was lucky to have such a beautiful
human being for my son.

I believe we should all be able to choose the moment when we slip away , I just hope some
event does not take the choice out of my hands.

However being a selfish person, I hope you hang out for as long as you feel it's worth it.
I enjoy your tweets and you humor. 

After 3 surgeries in 5 weeks, to improve my life, I'm feeling pretty good.

'night 'night Jim.

Val

 

It is a wonderful plan Jim, but I hope that you don't need to carry it out for a long time. I also hope that when the time comes I shall have the resolve to do likewise.  Christina x
 

Well said.  Marvellous marvellous post.

I'd say there are three types of people (with considerable overlap) who would deny us that right of which you speak: the religious, the fearful ignorant well-wishers, and the sadists - those who prefer to see others suffer.  They should be called out for what they are.

Even the current laws on "DNR" and "let nature take its course" are disgraceful, almost seem deliberately written to prolong agony as long as possible.

Just keep living, keep hoping, keep writing, for a long time to come.  Please.

 

 

Terrific post. I'm a militant atheist too, but the (Anglican) nuns did a good job on me. If god is all knowing and powerful etc, then if you have your farewell party it follows he is cool with it. For Calvinists, read 'cool with it' as pre-destined. So the religious control freaks are trying to oppose the will of god and it's the naughty altar step for them. On a historical note, I've always thought the reason the Church opposed suicide was that the priests bigged up heaven so much, they were scared the credulous serfs would draw the logical conclusion, leaving them with no-one to tax.
Much admiration and love and hope the party is a long way off x

 

It's a shame that we have to put up with bronze age answers to 21st century problems. For anyone to say an individual does not have the right to chose their own end in this day and age is an example of the sad state we are in as a society.

Modern science and technology has pushed back the needs for dark-age interpretations but thanks to the bloody history of oppression on the grounds of belief, religious groups have managed to slip under the political radar. Still they demand to have rights to opinions that do not need to be emperically justified on the basis of an age old persecution complex.

If we are to allow religions to exist we have to accept they are different from each other and therefore no one has the right to choose a religious dogma on behalf of another. Even if it were to become against the law to question that we are the property of a skydaddy, surely we have the right to choose our own afterlife under the rules of religious freedom (i.e. I'd like to go to hell for suicide thanks very much)

The world is full of suffering, religious leaders of all types draw our attention to the suffering as a reminder of how we should live like they tell us but it's a red herring for the fact that we could wipe out much of human suffering by giving up these childish supersticions, not just the prolnged suffering of artificially extended life but the ability to find cures through research, the ability to control AIDS through education and contraception, the ability to reduce wars by forcing groups to accept and address the political issues they have with each other rather than acting on imagined commands, the ability for people to understand equality regardless of race, sex or preferred sexual partner

The abilty we have to prolong life did not exist at the time of writing the bible. the ability to make an artificially prolonged life bearable does not exist today other than to dull the senses. To make the passing of loved ones as painless and dignified as technically possible is something that all humans regardless of belief or the age they live in should aspire to.

It's your life. if some deity wants to lay claim on it they can come and prove their existance

As for me, when asked what if I'm proved wrong when I die and have to face my deity, I always answer I would want to get as close to God as possible so I could spit in his nasty hateful face

much love

Daniel
 

Superb plan Jim. How come you're always right? Surely one day the country will come to its' senses and change this ridiculous law?
I work with people every day who are crying out for exactly the same things as yourself. The damn do-gooders that preach to the rest of us know nothing about it.
I'm a big believer in the no god thing too - totally convinced that when we die there's nothing.
Don't go yet though, we'd all miss you too much.
Liz, MS nurse. 

 

In reply to your Twitter, never for one moment have I
seen you as a victim or suffering  from MS. Sorry I don't
seem to have the knack of posting on a blog without it
looking like the words went through a chop-shop. Whats
the secret...anyone ??

Val

 

Val - Method one: Write in Word etc or (your email programme). Print out. Read aloud. Do corrections. Copy and paste into comments box. Method two: Write in Word etc or (your email programme). Print out. Read aloud. Do corrections. Have sleep/cup of tea. Read and correct again. Copy and paste into comments box.
 

Thanks Jay, I think my second attempt was an improvement on the first.
All that pasting thingy confuses the hell me .
A nice cup of tea while watching an Izzard DVD will calm things down a tad
Thanks
Val

 

I am from the religious camp, but I must be in the minority because I agree with euthanasia. A human being can only take so much suffering, then it is just time.  Science has evolved to the point, in my opinion, where we keep people alive too long...to an in-humanitarian degree.  When quality of life is beyond minimal, then it is time, overdue even.