Freethinker's corner

Each individual is a world. Each has their own concept of the ways things should be. Some base them on fantasies, others on reality, others on a mixture of both fantasy and reality.

One individual’s world does not necessarily interact or depend upon another’s world. Realities are separate and neither affects or is dependent on the other. Degrees of interaction may require compartments of one to be dependent on the other, but only to the degree of content, not existence. The whole is not damaged by the altering or loss of a compartment. The world of one, continues, regardless, whole, complete, repairable.

The oppressive nature of some, that insist their realities are the only realities, are irrelevant, as they are irrelevant. No one can know true reality as no one is unfettered by some distortion created by personal notions of the way things should be. Such an unfettered person, who most likely can never be encountered, would  seem strange  indeed. Would the person, who cannot know reality, even perceive someone who is totally reality based, and recognize them as such? Could such a person be observed? Recognized? An individual, fettered by distortions created by personal notions, would no doubt impose such distortions upon the unfettered, without realization of having done so. This is where assumptions, and misunderstandings originate. Seeing something of yourself, thinking they are similar, is a cause of much turmoil within human society.

Once a reality comes into existence, altering it is impossible. Small incremental changes can be made, but as said before, the whole, continues. Realizations can be achieved, as my realization that each individual is a collection of notions, and a separate reality. Behavior can be modified to accommodate this observation, to alleviate personal disappointment and stress, but care must be taken to never assume anything.

In the end, each individual is a world of one, each reality a creation of the individual, whereas interaction between realities is possible in a limited way, from separate perspectives, each reality is independent of all others, existing by itself. No one’s reality matters to anyone else’s, therefore no one else matters, except, in a compartment of one’s own reality.

The only way peace will ever materialize for humanity is for everyone realizing the reality of separation of realities. No one sees the same thing, in anything, no assumptions can be made.  No one sees the same issue in the same way, ever. There is always some nuance which is different, and unless such differences are accommodated, there will always be conflict.

Compassion… humans have a great capacity for compassion for their fellow human beings. Sympathy for another’s suffering and a desire to alleviate that suffering helped to make socializing and the forming of groups possible for the human animal. An ability to put oneself in “another’s shoes” and understand the viewpoints, desires, etc, of another is one of the great human qualities. With this ability we can perceive the suffering another is enduring, and sympathize, even when there is little we can do to alleviate that suffering. Although our own bodies may be perfectly healthy, our minds make us endure emotional pain, a sick-feeling in our stomachs, when experiencing sympathy for another’s pain.  A wrenching anxiety, to take action, to end the suffering, to make things better.

The issue in discussion is that of the condition of fully competent, but terminally ill, and suffering human beings. Animals when suffering are unable to actually voice or even decide for themselves, but are given the option of being “put-down”, to end the suffering, by sympathetic human beings.  Human beings, however,  are required to endure unimaginable agonies to their very last labored breath, on purely illogical moral grounds. If anyone so much as flips a switch, or allows a competent terminally ill patient, flip that switch, murder charges are drawn up. It is labeled “assisted suicide”.

Assisted suicide laws differ from country to country. Oregon has a right to die law. This law has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme court.

It’s time to call it “assisted death” instead of “assisted suicide”. It is a show of compassion, sympathy, for a fellow human being. A person should be able to make the decision of when and how to die, while still competent to do so. These terminally ill people, sometimes suffering in great pain, at other times losing who they are to the ravages of Alzheimer’s, or other mentally debilitating diseases, should be able to have the option of ending their lives at a time of their choosing, rather than let the disease leave them an empty shell of a body, with no sense of self, and totally dependent on others for existence.

Presently, humans treat animals with a better level of compassion than their fellow human beings. This must change. There will be howls from the far right, who will say that death should be at the time of the creator’s choice and man should not interfere. At the same time, these people are strong supporters of the death penalty. A stark contradiction. These same people are usually also hawks where the military is concerned. No abortions, but war is okay, the death penalty is okay. No assisted death, but war is okay, the death penalty is okay. A purely inconsistent stance.

Humanity must begin to respect itself; have compassion for itself. Making assisted death legal will not bring down the quality or value of life. It will enhance life. An individual selects the time and place where they prefer to die, and people they have known will remember them strong and capable, rather than the wasted shell, the empty mind addled by Alzheimer’s. A life well-lived, a departure, well-planned.