tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post2070281174704605293..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: Growth Attenuation and the Lawwilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-33937833874168860962011-04-23T00:00:20.776-07:002011-04-23T00:00:20.776-07:00This might be the first time I've disagreed wi...This might be the first time I've disagreed with you. The girl is never going to be capable of making such choices herself, or I'd argue that it was wrong... but I think her parents had her best interests at heart. I dated a boy who lived with his family because as a unit they cared for his younger brother who, much like this girl, would never develop mentally beyond an infant. I watched his mother struggle to lift him while she cared for him, knew that she had ruined her back for life in all her years of loving care. I think if when he was younger, someone had said, we can do things to make his life easier, and yours, she'd have done it. It was even suggested that she take him off his ventilator, something she was outraged at. I view the surgeries to make Ashley's life easier as the equivalent of a feeding tube, or a trach. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, it wasn't my brother afterall... but I think the problem with something like this isn't what this girl has gone through, but what it sets a precedent for. Where will future parents choose to draw the line? That is what scares me. I empathize greatly with what her family must be going through, and I know all too well the scrutiny they face. Even as a foreigner to my ex's family, I often was hounded with, "Why don't they just take him off all his machines and let god take him?" or "If they're born wrong its gods way of saying they aren't meant to live." So in that, I agree. Its a media-lized story that people will seize on, see, and form a bias from... but for this one little girl, I think her parents did what they felt was right for her. I think what makes me the most sad is that this family was blessed with such a pretty little girl, and being a parent alone is hard enough, and all people can do is criticize them for their choices. Its hard to be put in the spotlight like that, I'm sure...Feisty Kittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152988311923122483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-4849709036753645632011-04-22T10:33:17.599-07:002011-04-22T10:33:17.599-07:00Bravo! You've done an excellent job of cutting...Bravo! You've done an excellent job of cutting through all the spin & BS on this issue to come to the heart of the matter, viz., can, or will, a court-appointed guardian ad litem work in the best interests of the child, as they are supposed to do? It's a sure sign of a broken system when the answer is "maybe". <br />Clearly, the U.S. government is entirely lacking in chivalry, because all too often, the poorest, neediest, and most powerless members of our society have no champions- no one to speak up for them & stand up for their rights. As an American, I feel ashamed and disgraced that the most vulnerable & powerless members of our society are mistreated so often. It is a black mark on the soul of America, which could be the world's most beautiful country. America has a beautiful soul, & the founding principles of this country are among the best & most chivalrous in the world. However, certain people *cough rich republicans cough* have distorted those principles, to the detriment of our fair country. What must happen, to remove the disgraceful stain on the reputation of our wonderful country, is that the wealthy & powerful must start thinking of people other than themselves. They must reach out a hand, not only to their fellow Americans, but to their fellow citizens of planet Earth, and work to defend the rights of the vulnerable & powerless. By so doing, America will become the strongest nation in the world, an example for all to follow. Once we embrace & protect all citizens, and give them, as our Constitution says, equal treatment under the law, then America will truly be that Shining City On A Hill. As President Roosevelt said, "Posterity will not ask us if we have added a little to the fortunes of those who have much, but if we have done much to add to the fortunes of those who have little."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com