Thanks.
I dont ascribed to the notion that these values are only Christian. Most of all American have internalized the same basic values. Just that people have been deluded by their own desires not to continue to exist when kept alive by machines. Then these personal desires are projected onto a person who can not verbalize her own desire. Those who are fervent Christians value life period. Others want a better life.
My father had a stroke, lost his mobility and later his sight. He was a very active person. However his attiude was that his was thankful for his life , even if it was diminished. He never got depressed. This made an impact that even with physical losses that life was worth living.
He died when he choked on some barbecue meat and his heart failed.My brother said that he could not get to him in time to force the food out and he had congestive heart problem so his margin was less. However he died eating food which was one of his own pleasures. So I can console myself that he had a good death. He never wanted to die hooked up to machine. We did extreme measures on previous health problems but he was able to come back to some degree of enjoyment. He hated being in rehab homes. We later figured that he got more physical therapy by my brother taking him out every day to store and restaurants.
I am sorry your father passed away.
I admire your father's attitude that life is worth living even if in a deteriorating body.
I wonder sometimes if our society is so obsessed with perfection that it makes people feel worthless if they don’t meet that standard. As a result, Americans who are still whole in body cannot fathom existing in a disabled state.
I always remember how one radio talk show host (Dennis Prager) related how he was in India and met a man with no legs. His friends would cart him around with them in a wheelbarrow, and he was never made to feel like he didn’t belong. He was just plain Mishra (or whomever) who happened to have no legs. I thought that was lovely. I wish we were more like that.