<p>“The lack of compassion by some is simply astonishing. You’d think the man was Hitler or something. Wow. Just wow.”</p>
<p>Of course he’s not Hitler. Hitler is not the be-all and end-all of evil and I wouldn’t compare Senator Kennedy to Hitler under any circumstances. Some people obviously see Senator Kennedy and think only of the destruction he wrought. I wouldn’t go that far, although I think he will answer to God someday, but feeling sorry for his family and wishing a pain-free recovery or end is as far as I’m willing to go. On a purely personal level, I’m already sick of hearing about “American Royalty” and “The Last Scion” which may be making me nastier about this than I would otherwise be. I don’t think 76 is old and if nothing else, he was clearly productive and able.</p>
<p>By the way, p3t, I cannot believe that the Slepian murder trial is still slowly chugging its way through the court system. I can only imagine the political behind the scenes wrangling that has gone on the stall, stall, stall that case. There are wealthy poltical families, and there are wealthy political activist fringe groups. Both probably wield their power in ways that would be considered grossly unacceptable by those with opposing points of view. Someone who purposely lays in wait to kill an innocent person in front of their family is sick. I hope they don’t try to use the “guilty but mentally ill” defense for that creep.</p>
<p>Age- depends on the person. Quality of life matters, as does cost (economic and otherwise) to society, as well as to families. Some newborns should be allowed to die with dignity, prolonging life just for the sake of a beating heart without any other life is cruel to their parents (most people never see the extremes of what can go wrong and have no comprehension)- just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should do it. We should not be spending our tax dollars to support the elderly at the expense of the young- let them spend their own dollars as they wish, not mine. I would rather treat a 4 year old with a future whose family has no insurance than any elderly family member (and my elderly father agrees, one of the few things we do agree on). Many people do not realize the inequalities of medical care in our society- would you feel the same if keeping your mother alive for your personal enjoyment meant another family lost their child? There is an economic impact with all medical care. Some are lucky to have longevity genes, but why should those without them need to subsidize other people’s parents who do nothing to enrich their lives? Does the word selfish apply?</p>
<p>I find it disgusting when people come out with insincere comments. People step on people all the time, hurting so many by their exclusion and then think its cruel to be honest, telling a lie is considered good? But that fits the modus operendi of most religions- do what is convenient, makes you feel good, not what is true. It is especially strange for people who talk about a next life/heaven to deny the natural progression. Why do so many people inflict pain and other suffering on their terminally ill relatives to prevent death/prolong life when they believe that person gets to go to a better place after death? The financial realities also exist- would these people insist on prolonging care if they knew the impact on their own life? Harsh, but real. I have known of a surgeon who presented the low probability of saving an elderly man with an emergency operation whose family insisted on it (patient was unable to voice an opinion) and the family then did not want to pay the bill because the patient, as expected, died. It is easy to say things, much harder to consider the consequences of actions.</p>
<p>This thread has found me expounding on many sensitive subjects. I could continue but will bow out shortly. The thread exposes some of the worst about people who think they are good- the inconsistencies of religions, how people value and treat others (toe the line, go to your church, belong, don’t make you question your values, ignore hypocrisy- then people are acceptable). Challenge conventions, people, think outside your box. “It just isn’t done” is not an answer- prove your points with solid logic. </p>
<p>zoos-
Your post is confusing. Are you saying that you think Kennedy IS the be all and end all of evil, or did you make a type and you meant to say you think Hitler is? What destruction did Kennedy cause, besides the car accident?</p>
<p>This is the least classy thread I’ve ever read on CC, and I’ve been here and on the old board for 5 or 6 years. I’m not a John McCain supporter, but he at least has the graciousness to react with decency and class in a public forum:</p>
<p>My heart goes out to the family, and particularly to Caroline Kennedy, who lost her father and one uncle, then her mother and brother, and now may lose the man who has been her surrogate father for all these years.</p>
<p>Teri, I got a crash course in brain tumors when my aunt was diagnosed with one a few months ago. She ended up in the best case scenario box: A mass was found covering over 80% of her brain, and doctors said that she had a couple of months to live. After surgery to biopsy the tumor, which she almost didn’t have done because doctors made the situation sound so hopeless, they found out that it’s one of the slowest-growing types of tumors, and she should be able to live with it for years. It can take time to find out what exactly the situation is. I’m with LTS: it’s sad and inappropriate for people to start mourning him already.</p>
<p>^^polarization. Division. Meanness. That’s where we sit in 2008. </p>
<p>The posters who are surprising you are often compassionate people, as I’ve read them on other forums. They maybe have lost their grounding because we’re talking a “liberal” this time. I know plenty of liberals and don’t recall this kind of expression when Ronald Reagan grew ill and battled with Alzheimers.
Sometimes a man is just a man, so leave it be. </p>
<p>Why speak out to point out how you could talk meaner, but aren’t. Think again.</p>
<p>“This is the least classy thread I’ve ever read on CC, and I’ve been here and on the old board for 5 or 6 years.” I second that. I haven’t read anything as heartless as the posters who think 76 year olds should give up and keel over and leave room for the younger folks.</p>
<p>Medical ethics is a very delicate area. Decisions to treat or not to treat, whether the patient is 2 or 92, are handled on an individual basis. I suspect we’ll have Maria Schaivo and Kervorkian supporters going at it here soon. For crying out loud, dance on his grave after he’s gone if you wish, but have the decency to support an ill person and his/her family at such a difficult time.</p>
<p>“Your post is confusing. Are you saying that you think Kennedy IS the be all and end all of evil, or did you make a type and you meant to say you think Hitler is? What destruction did Kennedy cause, besides the car accident?”</p>
<p>I absolutely do NOT think Kennedy is evil. The destruction he caused was choosing to drive drunk, choosing to leave the scene of a crash, failing to own up to his actions – nothing accidental there. I also don’t think he acquitted himself well as a person, either, for many years. The drinking and carousing with his nephew was disgusting.</p>
<p>@ jym :(answering a side-point…): Dr. Slepian’s murderer was to be held accountable only under NY state law for the capital crime of First Degree murder. But recently some strong-minded young DA in Washington, D.C. pressed against much pressure to ALSO hold him accountable under federal law as a crime relevant to denying others their constitutional right to medical care. I’m not sure if it’s a federal hate crime, also. </p>
<p>That young U.S. attorney won her jurisdictional motion a month ago, in a local court hearing in Buffalo. She wants this additional layer of federal accountability so the sniper can’t possibly have the chance to walking free again on parole as an old man. Also, to keep his concept from spreading as a viable way to protest abortion. To this day, and in recent court, the sniper said he was preventing future murders so was acting to defend others not yet born.</p>
<p>Dr. Slepian’s widow, who attended and observed these recent hearings, was quoted in the local news as being relieved that this was put into place, justice being served more fully, and so forth. </p>
<p>So the man is behind bars, but now the bars have cross-bars (or will after the federal prosecution is layered over the old state conviction).</p>
<p>“The posters who are surprising you are often compassionate people, as I’ve read them on other forums. They maybe have lost their grounding because we’re talking a “liberal” this time.”</p>
<p>Why is it so hard for some people to understand that not everyone will have the same reaction to the same event? Wishing someone ill is inappropriate in any context, but who is anyone else to judge a person’s reaction to a newsworthy event. Which is what this is to those of us not personally acquainted with SEnator Kennedy. Some of you are moved, touched, saddened. Ok. I respect that completely. Some of us are not for various reasons. That doesn’t make us less human than you, less compassionate than you. Just different from you.</p>
<p>p3t-
Confused by the frowny face. I am not sure I follow the federal charges, but if it keeps that guy behind bars, that’s fine by me.</p>
<p>As for those who seem to want to find every opportunity to stomp on Kennedy and mash him flat here… please use someone elses words to do so. I wholeheartedly agree with vossron and momof2inca. Even if it is purely political spin to get votes, I admire McCain and his comments.</p>
<p>Zoos, I’m not saying you can’t, I guess I mean, what would be your purpose? It’s a thread about sadness over a person’s very bad health news; you don’t share that feeling and no one’s asking you to; what is the purpose of announcing that? “Because I want to” doesn’t seem to quite align with your usual thoughtfulness.</p>