Better dead than disabled?

The Washington Times ^ | March 7, 2005 | Nat Hentoff

[neverdem]

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The Washington Timeswww.washingtontimes.com

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Better dead than disabled?

By Nat Hentoff
Published March 7, 2005

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    An admirer of many of ClintEastwood's films, I found, when interviewinghim some years ago, that he has no resemblance to "Dirty Harry." Moreover, as a working jazz pianist in his youth, he felt the life force of that music. But in his current success, "Million Dollar Baby," he is tone deaf to the life force of the disabled as he encourages euthanizing some of them.

    For many years, I have reported on disability rights, and have come to know people diagnosed as "vegetables" in their early years or later as "hopelessly" disabled who have become psychologists, corporate lawyers and even writers.

    I have also learned from them that those of us who are not quadriplegic, or otherwise physically limited, may only be "temporarily able." Any of us can suddenly be disabled.

    While gathering prestigious prizes, including Oscars for best picture and directing, Mr. Eastwood's "Baby" (with its no-longer-a-surprise ending) has attracted considerable criticism. For example, Lennard Davis, professor of disability studies and human development in the College of Health and Human Development Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, writes in the Feb. 2 Chicago Tribune about the ultimate message of the film.

    By admirable determination, Maggie (Hilary Swank) is successfully trained to be a boxer by Frank (Eastwood). But then, paralyzed by a spinal-cord injury, she becomes a quadriplegic. Distraught after losing her leg to bed sores, she beseeches her trainer to euthanize her (also known as killing her). After some hesitation, he agrees. Pertinently,Mr. Davis adds: "Since 1990 there are laws that...

[PhilDragoo]

terrisfight.org

[FreeKeys]

In an interview Eastwood said he didn't make the movie as any message piece; he simply liked the intensity of the drama. In fact, he said his personal views on euthanasia were most closely echoed by the priest in the movie who spoke so eloquently AGAINST mercy killing.

[Lauren BaRecall]

That's a GOOD one! (But then, all of yours are good!)

[Lauren BaRecall]

It's good to see Hentoff continue in his fight for the disabled.

BTW, my sister and I did not go to see this movie, once we found out about the "mercy" death ending.

[Deo volente]

The fiendish Kevorkian bears an uncanny resemblance to this guy, don't you think?

http://www.marveldirectory.com/pics/picsg/greengoblin.jpg

[mellyK]

I myself would rather be dead than disabled.

Hope I'm never in that situation......

[mellyK]

I never thought of Kevorkian as "fiendish".

Maybe if he had been charging for his services I would have.

[neverdem]

In an interview Eastwood said he didn't make the movie as any message piece; he simply liked the intensity of the drama. In fact, he said his personal views on euthanasia were most closely echoed by the priest in the movie who spoke so eloquently AGAINST mercy killing.

Thanks for the update, but if it's true, then I have to wonder about his judgement with all of the political efforts to cheapen and belittle human life.

[w6ai5q37b]

Better dead than disabled?

Better dead than liberal. (Although liberalism is a form of disability I suppose.)

[Deo volente]

He's a serial murderer.

He is obsessed with death, and was known from his medical school days as "Dr. Death".

He deliberately killed scores of people, taking advantage of them in their weakest moments.

And he's totally unapologetic for what he's done.
In fact, he celebrates it, and considers himself a wronged man.

That makes him a "fiend" in my book.

[Lauren BaRecall]

If this is the case, Eastwood's position against euthanasia wasn't portrayed strongly enough. He let his character get away with it, didn't he? If this film had an anti-euthanasia message, groups for the disabled would be applauding it.

I'm not faulting you, the messenger, but I am faulting Eastwood. If Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" had ended with George Bailey's suicide, rather than the opportunity the angel gave George to see the impact of his life upon others, and then Capra went on to say in an interview that he disagreed with his own movie, it would have been intellectually and morally dishonest of him to have made the movie end with the suicide.

Eastwood is being dishonest, AND making a very big contribution to the "right to die" position (whether he intends to or not).

[longtermmemmory]

Duty to die is a very scary and very real factor.

Which is also why anyone going through a divorce should IMMEDIATLY designate a health care surrogate who is other than their soon to be ex. If the judges as not signed the final papers the soon-to-be-ex gets to make health care decisions in the event of incapacity.

BTW: health care surrogates are more than just living wills they also are able to deal with temporary incpacities like a coma, or simple unconscioiusness.

[willyd]

It is amazing that the Jewish Producer types in Hollywood would embrace the kind of propaganda that was flying around Germany in the thirties and forties to justify the extermination of the Jews. What was that about people who fail to learn from history?

[willyd]

It is amazing that the Jewish Producer types in Hollywood would embrace the kind of propaganda that was flying around Germany in the thirties and forties to justify the extermination of the Jews. What was that about people who fail to learn from history?

[Lauren BaRecall]

"Condemned to repeat it." Yes yes yes. That's what's happening here.

And I can't figure out how they don't see it.

[John Lenin]

Maybe Christopher Reeves had to die for this movie to be released. Things that make ya go, hmmmmm

[trubluolyguy]

I happen to be 100%(gov ratings, go figure) disabled.


I would rather continue to suck air and cigarette smoke whilst spewing my venom at liberals and other various kooks for another 30 or so years.