“Since the barbaric murder of Terri Schiavo, the dehumanization of the disabled has only increased not only in America, but around the world. Right now in Canada and India, cases are pending and lives are hanging in the balance because of a ‘better off dead’ ethos that condemns the medically vulnerable. We stand today not just for compassion and inclusion, but to protect the basic human rights of those who need only basic care.” - Fr. Frank Pavone
As the daughter of a woman who is handicapped (my mother had polio at age 3 which was so severe that she was in an iron lung) and the niece of an uncle with a disabling fetal syndrome (he has the mental capacity of a 3-4 year old), I find the dehumanization of disabled persons by the 'better off dead' mentality Fr. Frank speaks of above as horrific. My mom was so ill when she was in the iron lung that a doctor actually recommended to my grandparents that she be left in a room to die without treatment (euthanasia by starvation and water deprivation). Thankfully, my grandparents and my rough and tough great-grandma Rose (don't let the name fool you, she was tough as nails - she was a rum-runner for the family's moonshining business back in prohibition when she was only 16) said no (Great-Grandma Rose's response was something along the lines of "you're not going to kill off my granddaughter!"), and my mom made a strong recovery with only the loss of the use of one leg (she has used a crutch or leg brace since she was 3). She has gone on to have 2 kids of her own (me and my older sister), 3 granddaughters and 3 grandsons (the count so far!) :) None of us would have been here had that doctor's suggestion of euthanasia, in the name of "treatment," been accepted.
My sweet uncle David (mentioned above), the son of my grandpa and step-grandma, is one of the happiest and liveliest people I know. He clearly enjoys his life and those around him, holds a job and is capable of much social interaction. Every time I see him he greets me with a huge hug, a beaming smile and asks to go "vrooom!" in my "Batman car" :) (he loves Batman, and since my car is black, he associates it with the Batmobile). He used to love my Ford Thunderbird, as it was my "fast, red car!" He is very animated and a great joy to be around. I feel blessed that he is my uncle.
My point here is this: the value of a life isn't measured by a person's abilities, injuries or illnesses. Life is beautiful, and I find it ironic that it's usually those blessed with good health that are often the ones who want to dehumanize and devalue the lives of those precious individuals who are weaker, less able or ill. The strong in society should be the ones to protect and nurture the ones in need, not seek to destroy them.
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." - George Washington Carver
Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. - Proverbs 31:8
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