TAW122
Emissary of the right to die.
- Aug 30, 2018
- 6,872
Here is an example of the irony of the pro-life society when it comes to people who wish to go on their own terms (be it a peaceful, reliable CTB, or just CTB in general), versus the people who don't even deserve a peaceful exit (heinous criminals and people who have done horrible things to others in their life). So here is a story that I recalled over a decade ago that led me to the realization and connection between the right to die and the death penalty (not CTB related but still regarding death).
Mini-story from over a decade ago:
Many years ago, like 2011 or so, when I was sitting in a car dealership waiting for my car to be fixed, there are two other customers, which I'll refer to as Man A and Man B. They had a conversation with each other and of course, I stayed quiet as at best, I would get ignored and looked down upon, but at worst, it could only invite unwanted attention and conflict. I only wanted to get my car fixed while at the dealership and not get involved into unnecessary drama with anyone. Anyways, so here is their conversation while I was sitting across the lobby (or waiting) room. The TV in the room was talking about the justice system and how criminals are treated in prison and yadda yadda. Then the two men, A and B started to have a conversation with each other about the justice system and paying taxes.
Man A: Hey, you know what's unfair?
Man B: What?
Man A: We pay our taxes and we bust our asses everyday at work to be able to live well. Meanwhile the criminals in jail have it easy, they get 3 meals a day, a cot to sleep in, and of course free healthcare at the expense of the taxpayer. Not to mention good healthcare!
Man B: Yeah! Our gov't treat our criminals (in the US) better than it treats us hard working citizens! That is so messed up!
Man A: That's messed up for sure! We work harder to get less but they do almost nothing and get it handed to them, so unfair!
Man B: Oh and some of them still live well on death row.
(There is more to the conversation but that is just a snippet of what sparked my mind. Of course, the exact wording of the conversation isn't word-for-word, and it's been a long time ago so I wouldn't remember either, but my point still stands. Also, I don't know if A and B are prolifers, but I'd reckon they are, which would imply that perhaps they both see the 'death penalty' as a net negative (aka the deprivation of 'life', existence itself) instead of being free from suffering.)
Nevertheless, while this story isn't directly related to CTB, at the time, it sparked a similar thought in my mind as I was thinking about similar topics, such as how people on death row get a graceful, peaceful exit (lethal injection in most executions in the US, and while there has been debate on whether it is peaceful or how peaceful it is, the point still stands) despite the heinous and most repulsive crimes that landed them on death row. They don't even deserve to get off of suffering easily (especially those who believe that they committed irremediable acts towards society and others.) Yet when someone who wishes to CTB and/or escape suffering in this world are not only denied the option, but mocked and ridiculed for it. Sometimes, worse yet, being locked up against their own will. No matter how much one pleads or deliberates and explain one's case (an non-criminal, innocent person just wanting to exit suffering), they are just flat out denied and even labelled as irrational, unsound of mind (which leads to further ostracization).
How did I make this indirect, vague connection? I made this connection through the fact that I found it ironic that the government (the State) and society itself does just about everything to prevent the death of one by one's own hands. But then, if one does something heinous enough to land oneself into prison, especially death row, they are then put to death. Not barbaric death, but an actual dignified and guaranteed way to die (lethal injection - though whether it is peaceful or not is another topic for another thread). It was just ironic and quite unusual because to me, (at that time) it was "if one did something heinous enough to humanity, society, and the State, then the State would erase, kill, unalive said person". But then, "if one wishes to go on one's own terms, one is not only denied that option, but also gaslit, shamed, dismissed, and (worst of all) locked up against one's own will." This is the real irony in our sadistic, cruel, pro-life world.
Mini-story from over a decade ago:
Many years ago, like 2011 or so, when I was sitting in a car dealership waiting for my car to be fixed, there are two other customers, which I'll refer to as Man A and Man B. They had a conversation with each other and of course, I stayed quiet as at best, I would get ignored and looked down upon, but at worst, it could only invite unwanted attention and conflict. I only wanted to get my car fixed while at the dealership and not get involved into unnecessary drama with anyone. Anyways, so here is their conversation while I was sitting across the lobby (or waiting) room. The TV in the room was talking about the justice system and how criminals are treated in prison and yadda yadda. Then the two men, A and B started to have a conversation with each other about the justice system and paying taxes.
Man A: Hey, you know what's unfair?
Man B: What?
Man A: We pay our taxes and we bust our asses everyday at work to be able to live well. Meanwhile the criminals in jail have it easy, they get 3 meals a day, a cot to sleep in, and of course free healthcare at the expense of the taxpayer. Not to mention good healthcare!
Man B: Yeah! Our gov't treat our criminals (in the US) better than it treats us hard working citizens! That is so messed up!
Man A: That's messed up for sure! We work harder to get less but they do almost nothing and get it handed to them, so unfair!
Man B: Oh and some of them still live well on death row.
(There is more to the conversation but that is just a snippet of what sparked my mind. Of course, the exact wording of the conversation isn't word-for-word, and it's been a long time ago so I wouldn't remember either, but my point still stands. Also, I don't know if A and B are prolifers, but I'd reckon they are, which would imply that perhaps they both see the 'death penalty' as a net negative (aka the deprivation of 'life', existence itself) instead of being free from suffering.)
Nevertheless, while this story isn't directly related to CTB, at the time, it sparked a similar thought in my mind as I was thinking about similar topics, such as how people on death row get a graceful, peaceful exit (lethal injection in most executions in the US, and while there has been debate on whether it is peaceful or how peaceful it is, the point still stands) despite the heinous and most repulsive crimes that landed them on death row. They don't even deserve to get off of suffering easily (especially those who believe that they committed irremediable acts towards society and others.) Yet when someone who wishes to CTB and/or escape suffering in this world are not only denied the option, but mocked and ridiculed for it. Sometimes, worse yet, being locked up against their own will. No matter how much one pleads or deliberates and explain one's case (an non-criminal, innocent person just wanting to exit suffering), they are just flat out denied and even labelled as irrational, unsound of mind (which leads to further ostracization).
How did I make this indirect, vague connection? I made this connection through the fact that I found it ironic that the government (the State) and society itself does just about everything to prevent the death of one by one's own hands. But then, if one does something heinous enough to land oneself into prison, especially death row, they are then put to death. Not barbaric death, but an actual dignified and guaranteed way to die (lethal injection - though whether it is peaceful or not is another topic for another thread). It was just ironic and quite unusual because to me, (at that time) it was "if one did something heinous enough to humanity, society, and the State, then the State would erase, kill, unalive said person". But then, "if one wishes to go on one's own terms, one is not only denied that option, but also gaslit, shamed, dismissed, and (worst of all) locked up against one's own will." This is the real irony in our sadistic, cruel, pro-life world.
