jump to navigation

A person owns his/her body July 7, 2009

Posted by A in Morality, Politics, Religion, Society.
Tags: , ,
add a comment

I think most people would agree with that statement.

However, let’s dig deeper into what that means.

*People should be able to commit suicide.*  By that, I don’t mean that there shouldn’t be suicide prevention or intervetions, especially since most people who commit suicide are depressed.  However, if a person is mentally healthy and has a terminal illness, it should be up to that person to determine if, when, where, and how to end his or her life.  Doctors should not be prohibited from offering the last relief to terminal patients.  Of course, there are those who will always cheat, regardless of regulations, try to find a way to cheat so fears about elderly being killed for their money by family members.  And, as if that’s not happening now.  I don’t believe that those instances will increase.  Or that doctors will refuse to treat older patients because they’ll advocate assisted suicide.

*People should be able to sell their body parts.*  If a person can donate a kidney, why should that person not be able to sell it, and benefit from it as well?  Regulating this to some degree will be more beneficial than forcing people, who can afford to,  to go to 3d world countries and buy parts from poor people there?  Don’t pretend it’s not happening.  It is, and it’s dangerous because we have better medical care here.  Why not allow people here to do that legally?   People rent wombs, which is a surrogate pregnancy and those women are compensated.  Why not be compensated for selling a kidney or part of your liver?  And if a person wants to sell both kidneys, knowing that it’s fatal, it’s still his/her choice.  Why not be able to provide for his/her family in the mean time?

*People should be able to earn an income legally through sex.*  This is certainly not a “moral” statement, but if you really think about it, if you really own your body, you should be able to earn a living by any means (without hurting anyone).  If  you feel that your calling in life is to be a prostitute (male or female), you should be able to do that legally.  If you truly own your body, you should be able to decide how you use it.

*Abortion should be legal, in all cases.*  Again, not a “morality” statement, just a logical next step from agreeing that people own their bodies.  A woman is a living, breathing, existing human being and should be in charge of her life and her body.  If she decides that having a child is not something she wants to do, it should be completely legal for her to have an abortion.  The life of a potential human being (an embryo until it’s born at which point it becomes a baby) should never be superior to the life of an existing human being, the woman.  Of course I’m not talking about a stable family where the father is in the picture.  He should definitely have input in that case, but ultimately, it’s the woman’s choice.

I understand that these opinions are not necessarily popular.  These are also not necessarily socially approved.  However, these are the logical conclusions, at least as I see them.  I belive that a person should own his/her body and that neither government nor “society” should have claim on it.

The Holidays and Christmas December 23, 2008

Posted by A in Holiday, Life, Morality, Politics, Religion, Western Civilization.
Tags: , , , ,
1 comment so far

Ok, this has been bothering me for some time now.  I’ve seen so many stories and read so many articles about Christmas celebrations being canceled, school pageants being canceled, carols are forbidden, and decorations are labeled as “offensive”.  They’re canceled because someone feels threatened.  Why?  I don’t understand this.  Why does someone feel threatened by another’s beliefs?  Especially when it’s a holiday.  I’m talking specifically about Christmas.  Granted, if the celebration involved shooting guns/rifles in the air, I’d feel quite threatened, especially by stray bullets.  But the face of Christmas includes a decorated fir, Santa Clause, and stockings on the fireplace.

I’m not Christian, so I don’t celebrate Christmas, but when people wish me “Merry Christmas”, I wish them happy holidays or say “thanks, you too”.  It doesn’t bother me to have a 10-story tall Christmas tree in the shopping center or one at work.  I think they’re beautiful.  Certainly not threatening.

If people believe in Christ and want to celebrate Christmas, what’s wrong with that?  Pesonally, I think the people who are threatened are the ones who want total and complete control over YOUR life, and YOUR beliefs.  WHY?! Are the beliefs of the threatened that weak that they can be swayed by seeing a decorated tree?  Are their beliefs so weak to be swayed by good cheer and warm wishes, by lights on the outside of the house and an inflatable Santa?

As long as celebrations are peaceful, let people celebrate.  Let them believe what they believe even if those beliefs don’t match your own.

So, to those who celebrate Chrstimas: Merry Christmas.  To those who don’t: Happy New Year (or any other holiday you do celebrate).

Memorial Service for the Massacred December 3, 2008

Posted by A in Jews, Life, Politics, Religion, Society.
Tags: , , ,
add a comment
img_3512-1

Memorial Candles

The horrific murders in Mumbai last week were … horrific.  Not stunning or shocking.  I am no longer shocked when Jewish people are killed simply for being Jewish.  When I first heard about it, I cried.  My first reaction was “no way, this is not happening.”  Which quickly turned into “why?” and “will it ever end?”

The reality is that I know the answers to those questions.  I’m not shocked at these atrocities because Jewish people have been killed simply for being Jewish for thousands of years.  It will never end.

This evening the local JCC had a memorial service for the massacred people in Mumbai. It was gut-wrenching.  You could hear lots of people crying but nobody was uncontrollable.  I ended up sobbing at home.  Someohow, I think others cried for real privately too.

During the service, the rabbi asked that we each do something meaningful to honor the memories of those who died.  These are such simple things, like lighting candles on Shabbat, donating your collected pocket change, being a better person, doing something nice for someone.  There are a thousand ways to honor those who have died simply because they’re Jewish.  There are thousands ways to honor those who died protecting our lives.

Do something nice for someone.

Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas December 9, 2007

Posted by A in Holiday, Life, Politics, Religion.
Tags: ,
2 comments

Annually during this time of the year, the debate of “Happy Holidays” vs “Merry Christmas” gets intense.  I don’t see what the problem is.

Christmas isn’t the only holiday being celebrated this time of year, especially since stores start their Christmas season before Thanksgiving.  It’s only natural to wish someone “Happy Holidays” then.

If we’re talking about after Thanksgiving, then I still don’t see what all the ruckus is about.  New Year’s is after Christmas.  Though it’s not a major American holiday, lots of people celebrate it. 

Additionally, there are other religions that have holidays during this time of the year.  It’s only polite to wish someone Happy Holidays.  To assume that everyone you talk to is a Christian or celebrates Christmas is arrogant and presumptuous.

If someone tells me Merry Christmas, to me, it means nothing, so I take it as “have a nice evening”.

Though, it’s absolute stupidity to call a Christmas Tree anything other that.  It’s not a Holiday Tree.  Nobody else uses it as part of a ritual or celebration.  See my previous post for my views on that.

“Holiday Tree” August 7, 2007

Posted by A in Holiday, Random, Religion, Society.
add a comment

I know it’s August, but I was thinking about the holiday season.  There are things that offend me and things that I really don’t care about during that time. (more…)

Religion August 4, 2007

Posted by A in Random, Religion, Society, Western Civilization.
add a comment

Ok, don’t stone me for saying this…..

(more…)