Philip Rand,
It's good you bring up the point of assisted suicide. I noticed that when I have been very sick in the past, my friends will treat me slightly different. It is only natural. I don't blame them. I notice they will invite me out to eat or to a bar, the movies, whateve, when they see I'm sick, they will cancel and move on. I suspect they call someone else, find a substitute or an alternative. What they should do is visit me anyway and bring me medicine or chicken soup. At least stay on the phone a few minutes instead of saying, "Aww, your sick. That's too bad. Alright, I'll let you rest. Bye."
My wife brought up the topic of assisted suicide. That got me thinking. It seems like the humane thing to do. But when you think about it, that means you are only a worthy individual when you are healthy. It is like saying you are only worthy if you have good looks or make lots of money. But as marriage vows go: for better or worse, richer or poor, health or sickness. Or in good times and bad times.
Being sick, having cancer, being disabled, suffering in excruciating pain, that's all of who I am too. Those are no lesser me or inferior me. No, I am worthy and an individual no matter what. If I deny suffering, I deny part of who I am. I deny my individuality, and if I deny my own individuality, I deny it in others.
