But saying those who are doing this are Nazis and that America is the same as Nazi Germany is where you have gone over the line of rational thought.
Historically you need to go back in America to the Eugenics movement which PRECEDED Nazi Germany, and see the line coming from Margaret Sanger, et al in this country who sanctioned killing the disabled, and the poor, and those of lesser races.
As it stands, those who toss the Nazi accusation around without (historical and factual) qualification, are not taken seriously, and as I said, diminish the argument, and the cause of life.
Well then since I provide both I hope you will take my argument seriously.
If you read my posts you will clearly see that I am not claiming the US is now Nazi Germany or that the American people are sheep the Germany were. But I do claim that we better think this thru very carefully before we begin defining disabled people like Terry of living a "life that is not worth living".
It only takes about 15 seconds to think this one thru. Don't go there, fire, brimstone and hell awaits there.
Unfortunately, they are linking this with Nazism, and the reasoning is not similar in the slightest.
The reasoning is exactly the same. There is not one slightest difference. Both are occasions where the killing was considered a mercy killing.
Useless Eaters, an award-winning presentation in which the comparisons are shown.
I have worked as a medical professional for over 25 years and watched as the culture changed from one of support for the disabled to one of victimization.
The German euthanasia of the disabled came about through a collusion between the medical establishment and the courts, which is exactly what we are seeing today.
The Germans used film to change the cultural viewpoint into one that accepted that some lives were not worth living. Today we have two films winning numerous awards and both are about disabled people seeking death - The Sea Inside and Million Dollar Baby. In both of these films, life as a disabled person is sold as agonizing and miserable. Death is a release from misery. Studies have shown repeatedly that most people in the circumstances of those in the film do not rate their quality of life as lower than the the rest of us, however.
Finally, a utilitarian society is already here, for the most part. Just as in Germany, the costs of caring for those who were/are disabled is being discussed in the medical journals. The disabled are being viewed as potential organ suppliers - some are putting forth the idea that chronically ill and brain damaged children should be used for harvesting of organs - before they die, to boot.
The definition of death itself is being changed, for the first time since 1967. Suggestions have been made that the brain damaged should be used for medical experiments.
To read the medical journals today is a chilling experience. Wesley Smith explained in one of his books how the cultural debate on change would move from the professional journals to the public. Years ago I used to post about what was taking place in expensive publications, and there was only a small response here. What you are seeing now on FR is the occasion of the public realizing where we are headed.
If you want more evidence, please ask.
97 posted on 03/27/2005 12:10:57 PM CST by MarMema