I was thinking of Obamacare when I read it, and the latest article from UK saying that drugs should not be given to cancer patients to extend life.
I was in a graduate level ethics class with about 13 other people. We were told that (and apparently this is true) there was a volcano in Japan that people would flock to visit. Unfortunately, suicidal people would flock to visit it as well and these were often distraught young people.Some people visiting hoped to be present when a suicidal person threw themselves into the volcano. The volcano was on an island and had to be accessed by boat. The government placed people on the docks to look for troubled individuals and screen them in order to try to prevent suicides. Up at the edge of the crater - a few of the tourists would playfully urge ‘come on up! there’s plenty of room for you!’ to those whom they believed wished to throw themselves into the volcano. After the prof had discussed the place that suicide held in the Japanese culture (more often seen as an act of preserving honor) we were asked if we would interfere with someone or try to stop someone in this situation from trying to kill themselves.
I recall the out and out hatred directed at me because I said I would try to stop them and was among those who felt that the boat tours should be halted to the volcano as long as suicides continued. I was told this honor suicide system works for the Japanese society - it has a role and plays a function that supports their heritage in a healthy, stable manner etc. I was told by a white woman that I was a racist if I thought I should impose my own white western values on others etc.
I have been told many times in the past, when referencing my christian faith to make such decisions that I am pathetic and soft and unthinking. It’s odd that those who hold the utilitarian view are passionless in the defense of human life but rage filled in the attack of those who would wish to preserve it. There’s a disproportionate response going on there.
Back then, I would have loved to ask such dingbats if they thought it was OK to impose American values of anti-racism on South Africa, and if so, why?
The Left is a big advocate for imposing values, as long as they are the Left's values.
Bizarre. But I am not a Christian, and I would try to stop them too... simply because I know that what young people consider an unbearable situation is usually something much less dramatic than they think. They’ll look back on it wryly later in life... if they survive.
God bless you for the persecution you suffered in this class (even though we both know it pales in comparision to some under persecution for standing up for their faith like the pastor in Iran).
You are right, because WE both know that if these people were to die, they’d end up in hell-it would be irresponsible (and sick and twisted) ~not~ to try to stop! them. J.S.