Jack Kevorkian Dies

[filkertom]

At the age of 83. Condolences to his friends and family.

As to his cause, let's just say that I agree with the idea, but not his particular methods.

Comments

[alverant.livejournal.com]

He did advance the cause of "death with dignity" and letting people control their own lives. He deserves respect for that. By having a standing order not to be kept alive by artificial means, he did stay true to his beliefs IMHO.

[tarsa.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[shadowcat48li.livejournal.com]

Rest In Peace Jack, I agree with Tom on this one. and with the Death with Dignity

[jovan-scorn.livejournal.com]

As it becomes possible to keep people alive longer and longer, often with no thought of "quality of life" by individuals or the medical establishment, we're going to have to come to grips with end of life rights.

[alverant.livejournal.com]

And, not so surprisingly, the people against death with dignity are also against abortion. Given the fact they believe in an afterlife, I'm a little confused. If the next life is better, then shouldn't they support the idea that once life has stopped being a gift, than it should be OK to pass on.

Instead they act like they own each life and it's their right to demand every potential life to exist for as long as possible without regard to quality.

I've found no evidence for an afterlife. When you die, that's it - you sink into oblivion. If anyone should be arguing against assisted suicide and abortion, it's Atheists. And some do. But most recognize that it's each person's choice and quality of life should be a factor.

For example think of the lives that could be saved in Africa if there were fewer people who needed help.

[james-the-evil1.livejournal.com]

Actually it's because of their afterlife beliefs that they're so firmly against suicide. It's a big part of Christian dogma to be in the world but not of the world, and to live in preparation for the next world (heaven). Since their philosophy teaches that heaven is so great & this world is so evil (plus empirically it just sucks for a lot of people) the Catholics ran in to a problem back in the Dark Ages where huge groups of people would get together, get the last rights, then off themselves. So they made suicide the only unforgivable sin.

Modern Christians of various stripes have had to carry that on because of their ideas about the "sanctity of life" (death row inmates aside, for most of them) and because it's so easy to convince them to kill themselves for their beliefs otherwise (Waco, for instance).

Radical Islam uses these same ideas to create suicide bombers.

[smparadox.livejournal.com]

"Instead they act like they own each life and it's their right to demand every potential life to exist for as long as possible without regard to quality."

You are very close. They actually believe that their god does own every life, and that to end any life early, for any human (or humane) reason, is tantamount to stealing from their god, or freeing one of their god's slaves.

(That's the belief part. The hypocrisy part comes in when they support the death penalty, but they usually cognitive dissonance that away by calling executions the will of their god and the executioner merely the instrument of their god.)

[capt-video.livejournal.com]

A few other obituaries of note:

Joel Rosenberg died yesterday of a heart attack

James Arness died today of natural causes at 88

Fantasy author Mark Shepherd died on May 25th of a self-inflicted gunshot

[invader-tak-1.livejournal.com]

Joel Rosenburg was a great guy. I used to talk to him now and then when he dropped by "The Book Trader" He did a LOT for us permit holders. Though trying to carry in city hall was asking for it.......

[james-the-evil1.livejournal.com]

Luckily Paul Ryan has vowed to celebrate Kevorkian's legacy by carrying on his work:
http://www.borowitzreport.com/2011/06/03/paul-ryan-vows-to-continue-kevorkians-work/

[violinsontv.livejournal.com]

I found the movie "You Don't Know Jack" a pretty interesting take on the man.

And, IIRC, the man who married Tom and me was a Kevorkian supporter. (Disciples of Christ and UCC pastor with SDA convictions. Interesting guy. Also a leukemia survivor in his late seventies.)