All around the blogosphere, stories are appearing which reaffirm the value and sanctity of human life. Terri Shiavo's life, and the terrible ordeal surrounding her death has turned the spotlight on this important issue.
And so, as a follow up to my "Where I Stand: Choose LIFE!!!" post, I'm going to look around and see what poeple are saying about life and living in the midst of illness or death.
FIrst off, Kenders' Musings: Bioethics and My Life. Kender is a friend of mine from the Wide Awakes, and his post is all about how he has met and conquered the "culture of death" in his own life. I know him as a bright, brash, witty man who laughs, loves, and enjoys life. I'm so glad he's here.
Next, we have Raven, of And Rightly So! who talks about Nazi Nurses and Nursing Home Staff. Raven is in the health care business as a lisenced and highly qualified nurse's aide. She's another friend I know from TWA, and goes at life with no holds barred. She talks about the simple acts of caring which can make someone feel wanted and important that she does on her job. Raven reminds me of the importance of looking around to see what you can do - and then doing it.
Michael (Flightpundit, another valued TWA member) reminds us, here and here, of just how critically important family is. That family may not be your "blood" family, but true family transcends mere biological relationships. He points out that the love and encouragement a family can give is sometimes the difference between life and death. He urges me to remember how much I love my family, and how I must be willing to unselfishly serve them in their times of need.
Then we have Superhawk, of Rightwing Nuthouse (also of TWA, and yes, I am going down the blogroll), who discusses America's Dirty Little Secret - bringing up the question of the creeping acceptance of the "mercy" of euthanasia among our medical professionals. He discusses the callousness towards life which is beginning to invade this country, as it has already infested much of Europe. His post made me realize how much I need to beg God to have mercy on this country for our sins of abortion and assisted suicide.
Cao (Cao's Blog, and also TWA) posts today about Christians and Euthanasia, reminding us that God alone is sovreign over life. He dishonor Him when we have a casual attitude towards life, and He will hold all of us, whatever our faith, accountable in the end. Cao also provides simple, helpful things to do to combat this indifference to life, both on the "political" level and in our personal lives. "As ye have done unto the least of these, so ye have done unto Me."
That's my initial round-up. I'm going to go pick up my Darling Munchkin from school, spend some time hugging her and talking about her day, and then I will be back to see what other great posts are out there - and I know they are! (2:35pm, ET, 13Apr05)
(4:17pm, ET, back again)
Over at Jackson's Junction, Daniel Borchers (of Brother Watch) has a guest post about the "inalienable right" that is in the Constitution: the right to life. He touches on some of the pagan background of euthanasia, but the quote for me is this paragraph:
Even now we have laws proscribing suicide and assisted suicide. But euthanasia – a very un-American idea – is on our doorstep. And it raises questions about the nature and the very definition of being human What is a human being? Is it only life “outside the womb” (as abortionists contend) or is it only a life “worth living” (as euthanasia enthusiasts insist)? Or, heaven only knows, is it perhaps any life which the Creator has crafted and placed in the womb of a woman?
Good questions. Troubling and frightening, certainly, but excellent questions.
Jeanette, who writes at Oh, How I Love Jesus noticed a post about the reasons in favor of euthanasia at another blog. Her trackback attracted a lot of that blog's readers, and the discussion on her post has been.... informative. She follows up on another post, but she argues for life persuasively, and with more grace and patience for the "other side" than I can manage.
The Anchoress has settled into her new digs - which are lovely - and continues to bless us with her insight. She talks about when a woman chooses not to abort, even when her doctors, her minister, and even her husband are urging - even pressuring - her to do so. The Anchoress brings up that it's might be more merciful to complete the pregnancy and cherish the child, even if it is only for a very small time. Life is so precious, that to share love for even an hour, is worthwhile.
