A Life Worth Living

I once attended a debate on abortion between pro life Phyllis Schaefly and Sarah Weddington, the attorney who argued the pro choice side before the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. When the debate was over, audience members were allowed to ask questions. One young woman stood up and claimed that she worked with people with disabilities. She stated that most disabled people are so miserable that they wish they had never been born. They also wish that they could end their lives. Her message: abortion prevents untold human suffering before birth, and assisted suicide ends suffering for those who believe their lives are no longer worth living. I didn't believe her then, or now. But I do not suffer any disability or chronic pain. So you might say my opinion is uninformed. O.K. You don't have to take my opinion seriously. But you should listen to those who do suffer pain and disability who believe life is worth living. I would hope that their voices are not drowned out by the voices of those who would end the lives of those they judge to be no longer of worth.

Here is the powerful testimony of a young woman who survived an attempt to abort her. I think this is the best thing I have ever seen on the internet.

George Will writes about the full life lived by his son who has Down Syndrome. Jon turned 40 this year. When he was born, the average life expectancy for those with Down Syndrome was 20. This rise is due to the positive change in the way the average person with Down Syndrome is raised. HT: Jesus Creed. Here is an article by Jennifer LaRue Huget: An Upbeat Look at Life With Down Syndrome.

Here is a story about a 31 year old paralyzed woman who decided she was a burden to others, so she starved herself to death. The link features the comments of one in worse shape than she was, but who believes she took the wrong path. There is a link to a Huffington Post story which contains similar comments from those who are disabled. From the Not Dead Yet blog.