Back on the Radar

Personally, if I was this woman, I'd want the track to move faster!

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/03/bc-judge-fast-tracks-right-to-die-trial

     I’m really glad this topic is back on the Canadian political and legal system radar again. Assisted termination of life care is an issue that’s near and dear to my heart (I’m sure it will come up here again and again over time), since the 2003 death of my father, during which I was forced to either watch him endure every one of his Orwellian Room 101 nightmares, or face jail time for acquiescing to his requests. I’m so very sorry you lost, Dad, I had a 2-year-old to take care of. Because if I hadn’t had her to consider, I’d be writing this from prison. In spite of the fact that I know I made the only choice possible at the time, part of me has never been able to forgive myself for failing to provide him with the death of his choice, and I’ve chosen to do everything I can to change that for all Canadians as my penance. But it’s also my reward, since it’s an option I want available should I ever be faced with a similar situation. I don’t want the decision to pull the plug after all hope is lost to be a burden placed on my children’s shoulders, and I don’t think I could bring myself to ask them to assist me, though who’s to say where desperation may lead.

     I have no desire to commit suicide, in my mind that is an act of the destitute, who deem they have nothing worth living for, and often an act of selfishness, designed to punish those left behind. I, thankfully, have much to live for, and I want to enjoy it for as long as I possibly can. But death is a perfectly natural part of life, and of course, it comes to us all. In fact, I think death is what makes life such a treasure, gives it meaning, depth, and uniqueness. I, myself, don’t really fear death. Personally, I am hopeful of many new experiences beyond this existence, but I do greatly fear the suffering and loss of dignity that so often are its companions.

     Many victims of long-term degenerative conditions and terminal diseases find themselves stripped of their independence and autonomy, with few care options and services available to them. They endure prolonged and dehumanizing conditions, straining both the emotional and the financial resources of their loved ones. Quality end of life health care, such as more hospices and improved home care, can change this picture, providing comfort, dignity, support and warmth, creating as positive an experience as possible for all those involved. But the concept of death with dignity must also encompass an individual’s right to choose death, not await it.

     There is simply no acceptable excuse to deny an adult person the end of life option of medically assisted termination of life. No government, government official, or special interest group, no matter their (unsubstantiated) personal beliefs, has the right to decide what care options a lucid, autonomous individual may or may not choose. Our end of life wants and desires are as diverse, and as intensely personal, as our beliefs of what lies beyond this life, it’s a disgrace on us as a society that we often do not honour them.

     Most of us don’t dwell too much on estate planning, funeral arrangements, organ and tissue donation and end of life care issues, nor should we. The time is so much better spent enjoying the experience of life. Your own circumstances will determine the value of those first three to you, but the assurance of quality end of life medical care and the legal right to choose one’s own care options would allow us all the ultimate freedom of mind to enjoy all of life’s precious time. And it would allow us to ponder with hope and wonder, rather than worry and fear, what may await us.

Protesting Muslim Prayers in Public Schools

This past week a group of concerned parents and community church groups got together to protest Muslim prayer services being held in a Toronto public school.  Allow me to add my voice to their discontent.

An open letter to Dalton McGuinty: 

Dear Sir,

     I’m writing to object to your encouragement of school board trustees and individual communities to create policy regarding the participation of religious groups in the public school system of Ontario. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, the faith based belief system of one individual or group may not supersede those of another, and it is the civic and moral responsibility of our elected government officials to ensure that the right of all citizens to their own belief system is respected and upheld. It would be a very dangerous precedent for you to abdicate this public trust.

     Allowing the participation of Christian interest groups, such as the Gideon’s and Key Bible Club, in public schools, either to distribute their written material or to conduct “instructional” meetings, marginalizes non-Christian children and is an implicit endorsement of Christianity that lends legitimacy to its rhetoric. This would be true of any religious group of any denomination allowed to function in such a fashion, and is a violation of the spirit of public education, and a disservice to our youth, by not providing them with a balanced, secular education.

     I understand that participation is these programs is considered “voluntary”, although the scope of that word as regards the indoctrination of children is open to a wide variety of interpretations, however it must be stressed that faith based “education” is the commission of individual parents and their chosen sects, not the public school system. Historical reasons for the existence of publicly funded religious schools, such as the Catholic school system, are no longer relevant, the time has come for Ontario to stop segregating her children based on religious beliefs. It doesn’t serve them well, either as citizens of our increasingly global community, or as progenitors of humanity, and using public dollars to fund this inherently contentious division boarders on the obscene. Public school education on the topic of religion is very important, and should be strictly limited to a non-judgemental, non-indoctrinational, presentation of all world religions, conveying their history and the general nature of their beliefs and traditions. It is vital to instil our children with deep respect for another individual’s beliefs, but it would be a serious error for us as a society to hold out any particular religion as a model of truth, morality and righteousness.

     Complete separation of church and state is imperative for true freedom, and I implore you to do your duty, to protect our public school system and the freedom of the children of this province.