Very interesting indeed. The goat idea I mean. If dad's up for it, it might be cool, but I just don't know if you are, dad. I have heard good things about goats from friends who own them. They haul stuff for you, provide milk, you can sell them and eat them...win win situation (except for the goats who get killed that is.hehe.
Now on to euthanasia...
I didn't really like that Hugh Hewitt article.There is such a huge fear that there will be some kind of shift in peoples' thinking, that suddenly they will want to a. kill their own babies if they are less than perfect (that idea can only be hinted at for a small small percentage of parents) b. kill anyone who is not perfect, or has become too old to be of use.
I mean really. We are a far cry from the Final Solution. It would be quite a step indeed if we went from ending lives that would wrought with terrible medical conditions, suffering great pain, including suffering of parents, to killing a baby based on the fact that he/she had trisomy 21 (down's). These euthanasia decisions in babies have come about because medical science has advanced so far that we really need to start looking at quality of life, not just life at all costs (physically, emotionally, financially). To extrapolate to adults, what is the use in having somone in a permanent vegetative state for 10 years, sucking away resources, when there is maybe 100ths of a percent chance that the person will awaken, and be functional in any way. We shouldn't let principle get in the way of reality.
I do not like the idea of the independent committee, now even more so because I know that the parents' decision will not be first and foremost law for their child. The ONLY time I could see some outside intervention is if the parents were psychologically disturbed, or otherwise incapable of making a decision based on what is best for their child and them. LIke I said before, there is only a tiny percentage of parents who want only a perfect child, and would be willing to kill a baby based on mild/moderate physical problems.
Now euthanasia with children who are not babies, but younger than 12. I think that the same principles apply. By then the parents have bonded with the child even more so (in most cases), so letting go would be even harder. It is a fact that on average parents visit their babies in the Neonatal Int. Care Unit less than their children in the Pediatric Int. Care Unit. Why? THey have not had the chance to bond with their baby as much as they have with their child. Especially children who haven't even hit puberty yet. If these parents think that it would be best to just let the child go, how can you fault them?
That's all from me.
A chick pea is neither a chick nor a pea, discuss.
Love,
H

- posted by H @ 12/02/2004 08:01:00 PM