tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post7307899101405278300..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: Life is Not Fair: Moving Past a Trite Old Linewilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-3862883919863120062014-05-04T11:42:33.674-07:002014-05-04T11:42:33.674-07:00Michael, I bow down to polio hard asses. I thought...Michael, I bow down to polio hard asses. I thought i had it bad in the late 1970s but you guys were tougher than tough. Lack to trust is not a polio thing. It is healthy reaction when accessing health care today. I trust no one. You mention control. I get this too. So much is needlessly out of control for paralyzed people. Bioethicists would call this autonomy. Clinicians would invoke the phrase patient centered care. I would suggest you ease up on your desire for control. The fact is we do not enter the word autonomous and the odds are good we will not die autonomous. Autonomy and its lose is nothing to be afraid of. Autonomy ebbs and flows during our lifetime. Hence we are under the impression we are autonomous agents. This is what those that push for assisted suicide rely on. Our fear and fear sells. Autonomy is situational and we need a far more nuanced understanding of what autonomy entails. We do not need assisted suicide legislation we need a caring and compassionate approach to end of life care.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-28546009352504487912014-05-04T04:36:33.490-07:002014-05-04T04:36:33.490-07:00Bill,Thank you for this deeply thoughtful post. My...Bill,Thank you for this deeply thoughtful post. My response to the experience of intense childhood illness is to want control. I do not want to have to depend on others to care for me; mostly I don't trust people. I guess its "a Polio thing".I also don't want to be a burden. Of course my family would fight with me on this, would want me around, wound wish to care for me. The problem lies in my need for control. I find myself still, after all these years, still terrified of being trapped and powerless. The iron lung casts a long shadow. Because of this, I am less clear about AS, although I clear that the choice should be the sufferer's and there should be absolutely no intimidation.I'm still thinking about this issue with my mind and heart. Michael Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08229008461457577003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-38407721102445141092014-05-03T07:02:53.205-07:002014-05-03T07:02:53.205-07:00Barb, Thank you for your very kind words. There we...Barb, Thank you for your very kind words. There were many good things about growing up as I did. I learned a lot about the character it takes to survive. This character was demonstrated each and every day by my parents. They gave me heaping doses of love, compassion and empathy. This is exactly what i see you do for your wonderful family. Sadly, I do not see evidence society will change for the better any time soon. But you are correct this is something worthy of striving for so all hope is not lost. I suspect it never will be. william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-83379546386707502452014-05-03T06:50:46.306-07:002014-05-03T06:50:46.306-07:00Very powerful and moving post Bill. Thank you. I f...Very powerful and moving post Bill. Thank you. I find your reflections about the years you transitioned from a normal boy with a typical life to a great man with a disability to be profound and important. <br /><br />After thinking about these bioethical issues for years after my infant daughter was deemed "not worthy", I see clearly that once we start to judge, there is no end to judging. Ultimately, we will all be judged. <br /><br />I predict that one day, society will come to its senses and realize that what is most important to maintaining a humanity are attributes like love, compassion and empathy. In the absence of these, it would be a dog eat dog world and society would be merely intelligent animals, or worse. Hopefully, one day all of those who presently are or who feel threatened will finally be understood to be the greatest contributors. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07636858773609509357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-50524173034370654642014-05-03T06:44:59.394-07:002014-05-03T06:44:59.394-07:00Of course not. Perhaps this summer we could meet i...Of course not. Perhaps this summer we could meet in Toronto if our schedules permit.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-43009889030547092742014-05-03T06:37:25.582-07:002014-05-03T06:37:25.582-07:00Hi, thank you for taking my post and using it here...Hi, thank you for taking my post and using it here in yours. You've created something quite profound. I am going to link to it over at mine, I hope you don't mind.Dave Hingsburgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918601687946534172noreply@blogger.com