tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post4704785636519899664..comments2024-03-04T16:39:30.609+13:00Comments on Lindsay Mitchell: Assisted dying pollsLindsay Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-91010557306177808122017-07-05T10:54:01.171+12:002017-07-05T10:54:01.171+12:00This piece is a perfect summary on how badly we ha...This piece is a perfect summary on how badly we have been represented on euthanasia law by our parliament (and the tactics of the against campaign to distort representation - especially by the priest MP Simon O'Connor who sabotaged the euthanasia committee he chaired in total bad faith):<br /><br />http://www.noted.co.nz/currently/social-issues/mps-opposed-to-euthanasia-will-be-uncomfortable-this-year/ Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-20598816295834032772017-07-05T08:43:43.216+12:002017-07-05T08:43:43.216+12:00Hi Mark W,
We may have marched alongside each oth...Hi Mark W,<br /><br />We may have marched alongside each other in Anti-Vietnam war protests. I registered as a conscientious objector, but my birth date was never called up in the ballot. <br /><br />You wouldn’t have been a young person with blood flowing in your veins during the late 60’s early 70’s if you weren’t a dope smoking anti-establishment rebel. Recently some friends drove us around San Francisco including the Height Asbury area – There we were, exactly 50 years too late for the summer of love!<br /><br />We are all shaped by life’s experiences, especially during those younger formative years. Consequently, there are plenty of things that can cause you to reject or to find the Christian God. Having just spent a few weeks in Europe, you cannot cycle through any small town or village without seeing a church at the centre, and in their cities, large and often very beautiful cathedrals. In one we listened to the music of Bach, who was a believing Christian, and wrote his music to the glory of God, as did Handel and many others. <br /><br />While Europe has largely abandoned Christianity, much of its beauty in art, music and architecture remains.<br /><br />So it is with our culture. It is shaped very much by those who have gone before, whose lives were significantly influenced by Christianity, even if they were not Christians themselves. Our understanding of human dignity comes from Christian theology. We don’t immediately grasp that because we are now theologically illiterate, and because we are immersed in our culture we just take our fading inheritance for granted.<br /><br />If people want to take their own lives, I think that’s a tragedy but that’s their choice. However, to legitimize the State as your executioner is entirely another matter. The primary role of the State is to protect its citizens – to do no harm. We break that contract between citizens and the State at our peril. <br />Brendan McNeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741263914308842497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-78533789417010402222017-07-04T20:15:54.686+12:002017-07-04T20:15:54.686+12:00"The truth is there is no ‘inalienable right’..."The truth is there is no ‘inalienable right’ to take one’s own life. At best you are the source of such ‘rights’..."<br />Ownership of ourselves is the starting and end-point in discussions about choosing to end our own lives. <br />My life, my right to dispose of it should I see fit.<br />I can see how assisting somebody to do that might be a moral/ethical minefield but the choice of an individual acting alone should be no part of the argument, surely?KGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01940428991630766942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-57755191128468094852017-07-04T20:04:12.480+12:002017-07-04T20:04:12.480+12:00Evening Brendan
I take your point about the Marxis...Evening Brendan<br />I take your point about the Marxist, Maoist, Islamic dictators sacrificing millions of innocent people pursuing their ideology or maniacal ambitions. <br /><br />But lets not forget down through the centuries so called western nations have been fighting just wars and in doing so, doing Gods work. As a lay person i have always interpreted this to mean killing people in a just war has the Christian Gods blessing. Dont buy into that myself.<br /><br />From memory it was 1968 and the Vietnam war was starting to escalate and i got involved with the protest movement and took part in several protests. To be honest it was more about meeting young ladies than stopping any war, but it was an early attempt to multi task on my part. <br /><br />Around this time it was announced Compulsory Military Service was to cease and the last ballot was held,believing the Gods had to be on my side, I thought no more about it. That is until I received a notice from the then Labour Department informing me my birthdate was the very last marble to be drawn in the ballot and would I please present myself for pre-induction screening. <br /><br />Because I had other things to do, I decided to report to the Labour Department to let them know "Thanks, but no thank". Well that went down like the proverbial balloon and I received a lecture from a gentleman who had been cursed with a speech defect and probably been getting shit for it most of his life. Here I was, young and according to this guy. under his authority. Got all the crap about defending Gods own from the Godless hordes of Communists who were at that very moment gearing up to sweep down to NZ and rape my mother and sisters and i would be sent to work in Siberian salt mines. I was accused of being in the pay of the Devil. It was my Duty to serve King and Country and protect our christian faith from attack. And or words to that effect. He gave me a sheet of printed paper, told me to read it and follow the instructions. told him I couldn't do that because I couldn't read. I got called a "disgrace" and was told he was ashamed "good men had died defending cowards like me"<br /><br />by this time I was on the verge of creating a riot when the office filled up with other staff who joined in the chorus of jeers directed at the commie coward.<br /><br />I left swearing revenge. <br /><br />I got sympathetic friends to fill in the official forms which allowed me challenge the governments order and waited for my day in court. <br /><br />I cant remember, it must have been a year later when i appeared before the jury of my peers and pleaded my case. I had no formal education, but spoke from the heart about my life in an alien world. I believe my case was assisted by the fact it was heard straight after the lunch break and I didnt need to be a rocket scientist to know those sitting in judgement of me had had a liquid lunch and were in a mellow frame of mind when they granted my request and I was excused from Military service with no penalty. <br />In hindsight that was my revenge.<br /><br />the entire experience helped further cement my prejudice against authority figures for the rest of my life. I have railed against everything and everybody who has ever attempted to rule my life.<br /><br />When i was younger i did it with my fists. The I learnt to do it with words. my stance has created many difficulties for me over the years. I dont join groups and dont fight on others crusades. But strangely enough, I have many fond memories of those times. <br /><br />Sorry about the rave, just bought back some ugly memories. <br /><br />getting back to your comments Brendan and meaning no disrespect to you. I have no time what so ever for this Christian God whom I'm told loves me.Mark Wahlberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959889940311304180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-3133801908200793002017-07-04T18:10:39.105+12:002017-07-04T18:10:39.105+12:00We shall live together as free men, peacefully tra...We shall live together as free men, peacefully transacting with one another voluntarily. As opposed to the trillions of humans who've been throughout history, and continue to be, slaughtered by psychopaths for Christ, Allah, etc.<br /><br />There can only be peace when we adopt a morality of man qua man.<br /><br />For Christ's sake, Brendan, grow up.Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-16580039245391288452017-07-04T17:20:48.519+12:002017-07-04T17:20:48.519+12:00Hi Mark
You state that voluntary euthanasia is an...Hi Mark<br /><br />You state that voluntary euthanasia is an ‘inalienable right’. On the basis that rights are conferred, who or what is the source of that inalienable right of which you speak?<br /><br />The truth is there is no ‘inalienable right’ to take one’s own life. At best you are the source of such ‘rights’, and are therefore self-referencing when you make such a claim.<br /><br />That’s not unusual in our present culture, but how then shall we live together if we are all gods, free to act as we please?<br />Brendan McNeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741263914308842497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-53137397343044722162017-07-04T17:08:44.864+12:002017-07-04T17:08:44.864+12:00And now Brendan is onto Nazis. (I guess at least t...And now Brendan is onto Nazis. (I guess at least they existed; the fella governing the rest of his thoughts on this doesn't).<br /><br />Let me rephrase you, again, Brendan. You say: 'One of the reasons we talk past each other, is the desire by many to view euthanasia simply as a matter of ‘individual choice’ STOP.<br /><br />That's all need be said. I have no fear at all of a Nazi state wanting to kill me off in my senility. Or if it got to that stage, I reckon euthanasia would be the least of our problems and certainly no argument for denying ourselves inalienable rights in the present. Brendan's argument is now the equivalent of we must ban guns because the Nazis used them to kill people. Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-87876895086943350052017-07-04T12:47:10.257+12:002017-07-04T12:47:10.257+12:00Oh my gosh Lindsay, 100. Do you expect a telegram ...Oh my gosh Lindsay, 100. Do you expect a telegram from the Palace?Mark Wahlberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959889940311304180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-26024690953283631862017-07-04T09:12:58.951+12:002017-07-04T09:12:58.951+12:00Can't have it both ways Red. NZ's social p...Can't have it both ways Red. NZ's social policy has been "applied Christianity" since the 30s; the codger dole dates to the 1890s. <br /><br />Pro welfare, anti abortion & anti euthanasia is a rational "Christian" position. It's the official position of the Catholics, who tend to think things through.<br /><br />Anti welfare, pro abortion & pro euthanasia is a rational "libertarian" position. Personal responsibility. <br /><br />Pro welfare, pro abortion & pro euthanasia is a rational "secular left" position. The state will help people stay alive or die as they wish. <br /><br />Anti welfare, anti abortion & anti euthanasia is nothing but applied cruelty. Slavery. Condemning people to die slowly and painfully, by starvation or disease - whether uneducated with no dole at 20, terminal cancer at 50, or savings run out at 80. <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-34971978923146979432017-07-04T08:44:43.762+12:002017-07-04T08:44:43.762+12:00Hi Mark Wahlberg
One of the reasons we talk past ...Hi Mark Wahlberg<br /><br />One of the reasons we talk past each other, is the desire by many to view euthanasia simply as a matter of ‘individual choice’ whereas others like myself have grave concerns about delegating to the state the right to take my life (or your life) for any reason.<br /><br />The 20th century is replete with leaders who thought nothing of taking the lives of their citizens for any reason. For those of you particularly concerned about the influence of Christianity on our culture, consider this; Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot et al were all godless atheists who between them engineered the death of 30 Million national citizens. <br /><br />Given that historical context I’d have thought a celebration of Christianity’s focus on the preservation of human life, including yours, might have been in order.<br /><br />Yes, Mark, the world is awash with murder and mayhem, primarily in the name of Islam. It’s a common mistake for those who are of no faith, to presume all religions are the same. They are not. It’s also a common mistake to presume that those who are people of faith have abandoned reason. We have not.<br /><br />We are all animated by what we understand to be good, true and just – at least I hope we are. Part of everyone’s challenge, particularly over the euthanasia debate is to recognize that this issue, at least in part, is greater than my individual right to choose to die. I understand the argument and it’s a logical extension of our culture’s celebration of individualism and personal choice. I like to exercise choice as well.<br /><br />However, if demanding my right (to death) may eventually put other lives at risk, (as I have previously outlined concerning those with depression) am I still morally free to peruse those rights?<br /><br />Yes, I know this bill doesn’t do that, but no one posting to this blog can guarantee we won’t end up like the Netherlands or Belgium because of its passing.<br />Brendan McNeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741263914308842497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-83095746211888210052017-07-03T20:53:33.848+12:002017-07-03T20:53:33.848+12:00Thank you Lindsay and thank you Mark. With the wor...Thank you Lindsay and thank you Mark. With the world awash with murder and mayhem, people dying because of acts of God( I use that term loosely) , human error or simply classed as collateral damage in someones else's war. its front page news today, page 3 tomorrow and from there into oblivion And they have the gall to call us not of sound mind when we choose to exercise free will. <br /><br />Irony. I have the right to engage in dangerous sport which could end in death because that's about making value judgement's and thats ok, but god forbid i should take my life into my own hands in extenuating circumstance such as has been discussed here!!!Mark Wahlberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959889940311304180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-32901375948531500862017-07-03T20:16:52.110+12:002017-07-03T20:16:52.110+12:00Mark W: all the best for your travels. You're ...Mark W: all the best for your travels. You're a wise man.<br /><br />And your point about the mess is really important. Without this law many in desperation have and will always resort to their own solution, but those solutions are often awful (Rosie Mott), and yes, messy. You have to go alone and the mess is what your loved ones have to deal with. It's barbaric. We need this civilised law and I so hope you get it in time (if needed).Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-32085007423795829142017-07-03T19:42:29.745+12:002017-07-03T19:42:29.745+12:00Well its obvious all sides to this debate are firm...Well its obvious all sides to this debate are firmly entrenched in their own beliefs and no one appears to be getting ready to surrender even a modicum of ground to the opposition anytime soon. I suppose thats as it should be. Consensus for the sake of harmony is dream time stuff.<br /><br />I suspect conservative politicians will have eyes for their majority if it comes to a vote and individual voters can make their own choice come election day. <br /><br />So if my cancer gets the better of me, I hope I can deal with it in a mature fashion and wont be needing anyone permission to make my choice what ever it may be. What is important for me is, I dont want to leave a mess behind for others to clean up. I built my own coffin years ago, its down the back of the shed. Pink and purple colour scheme. But that wasn't because I had a premonition. My daily driver was an old hearse and I needed something in the back to hold my groceries when I went shopping. It was obvious to me................. <br /> <br /><br />Mark Wahlberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959889940311304180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-86648292406572605162017-07-03T19:37:52.241+12:002017-07-03T19:37:52.241+12:00When euthanasia legislation is enacted, overseas e...When euthanasia legislation is enacted, overseas experience demonstrates that there is pressure to give individuals the choices that they want. I would be more than happy to have our own euthanasia law as a copy of Holland's, but alas ours will be extremely limited, despite your shameless scare-mongering. Let's stick to Seymour's bill.Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-75357135780821278732017-07-03T19:01:58.058+12:002017-07-03T19:01:58.058+12:00Hi Mark
Rest easy. This news item was widely rep...Hi Mark<br /><br />Rest easy. This news item was widely reported by other agencies including the NYTimes:<br /><br />https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/13/netherlands-may-allow-assisted-dying-for-those-who-feel-life-is-complete<br /><br />http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/12/dutch-may-allow-assisted-suicide-for-those-who-feel-they-have-co/<br /><br />http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/netherlands-euthanasia-assisted-suicide-life-complete-extended-dying-laws-edith-schippers-a7359226.html<br /><br />https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/14/world/europe/dutch-law-would-allow-euthanasia-for-healthy-elderly-people.html?_r=0<br /><br />When euthanasia legislation is enacted, overseas experience demonstrates that there is pressure to extend the catchment of people who may qualify, be it children as was the case in both Belgium and the Netherlands or in this case it is the healthy elderly. Some of it is led by activists, but this time it appears to be the politicians in the Netherlands who are leading the charge.<br /><br />These are the facts. Free from emotion, faith or no faith and containing less calories than your average diet coke. Ok, so I made up the bit about the coke. It's a serious subject but I felt the need to lighten up the discourse a little. <br />Brendan McNeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741263914308842497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-29462293339777695952017-07-03T17:25:51.219+12:002017-07-03T17:25:51.219+12:00Let's see, quote 'The Federalist is an Eng...Let's see, quote 'The Federalist is an English-language online magazine that covers politics, policy, culture, and religion.'<br /><br />Current articles up:<br /><br />The Vatican’s Statement On UK Baby Condemned To Die Is Frightening.<br />How Vacation Bible School Drove Millennials Away From Church.<br />After Barring Geologist From Grand Canyon Because He’s A Christian, Park Service Relents...<br /><br />...Ooookay Brendan. No bias there then.<br /><br />I would first question the accuracy of this piece.<br /><br />If I play devils advocate and accept it at face value, then this still has nothing to do with the debate in NZ which is only about sufferers of terminal illness within twelve months of death. END.OF.STORY.<br /><br />You'll note that this *possibility* is only being *discussed* - this is not law. Even if brought in as law it would apply only to people over 75 who decide their life in complete. I have absolutely no problem with that as we cannot know (or deem) another individual's happiness or unhappiness. This is an issue of individual volition.<br /><br />More dishonest scare-mongering from Brendan.<br /><br />There are many many more jurisdictions outside of Holland that allow euthanasia, in all that I can glean - including Holland - it is working towards the peoples wishes with no abuse. Point us to wrongful death court cases, Brendan.<br /><br />The problem is when you view everything through God-goggles you end up like 5.22 above who actually believes we may be in the Last Days because God has ... what? Decided to call shop for some reason after billions of years. Random, childish insanity. I want the rational choice of euthanasia, that choice for me doesn't affect those infected with the Christian psychopathy, so the religious argument against euthanasia is irrelevant.Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-45448110383538653642017-07-03T15:54:40.982+12:002017-07-03T15:54:40.982+12:00From the Federalist:
"Politicians in the Net...From the Federalist:<br /><br />"Politicians in the Netherlands are discussing the possibility of legalizing euthanasia for healthy people. The proposed “Completed Life Bill” would allow any person age 75 or over who decides their life is “complete” to receive euthanasia. It doesn’t matter if they are otherwise perfectly healthy."<br /><br />http://thefederalist.com/2017/06/30/netherlands-considers-euthanasia-healthy/<br /><br />Brendan McNeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741263914308842497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-82110016797413519452017-07-02T20:54:26.016+12:002017-07-02T20:54:26.016+12:00Anonymouse said: "It's simply another nam...Anonymouse said: "It's simply another name for suicide, and suicide is wrong."<br />Spoken like one who has never been faced with the choice, or loved somebody who has been faced with it.<br />There are worse things than death, and suicide can be a perfectly rational and honourable response to them.<br />Nobody has the right to deny a person <i>who is still capable of rational thought</i> the right to end his or her life at the time they choose.<br />Conflating this with killing granny is simply dishonest.<br />I've known Christians who have maintained that suffering "brings us closer to God" and that attitude, to me at least, is naked, arrogant barbarism.KGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01940428991630766942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-4170587140967534732017-07-02T08:23:42.375+12:002017-07-02T08:23:42.375+12:00Red. I am as against cultural Marxism as you are. ...Red. I am as against cultural Marxism as you are. It has NOTHING to do with my choice of euthanasia. Your argument against euthanasia , however, belongs to the collectivised living of cultural Marxism, not to post-Enlightened free individual lives where we have wrestled volition back from authoritarian tyrants, be they monarchs or popes.<br /><br />You have no right to deny me choice, as that choice doesn't affect you.<br /><br />Even if, apparently, we are in the last days, with the dark clouds descending from Mordor.Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-52724095794629316062017-07-01T19:24:46.641+12:002017-07-01T19:24:46.641+12:00I have just read in the paper of another in-patien...I have just read in the paper of another in-patient walking off the ward at Palmerston North Hospital, disappearing, and being discovered dead two days later. Nobody asking for permission there. <br /><br />I have a couple of associates who were senior mental health workers. Both have mental health issues and self medicated when employed. Go figure!!<br /><br />A few years ago I was travelling around Iceland and having trouble dealing with the sunlight at 3oclock in the morning. I asked how do people deal with the long dark winter days and what do they do with all that darkness? I was told in a matter of fact manner that many commit suicide. It was said in a way which suggested it was the norm.. Dont know what that means but it flows with the comments. Mark Wahlberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959889940311304180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-77003686213163749822017-07-01T19:08:41.128+12:002017-07-01T19:08:41.128+12:00Here's one of the most brilliant comments I ha...Here's one of the most brilliant comments I have ever read anywhere on the issue of Cultural Marxism. I saved it from a forum somewhere and know nothing of the author other than his name. (Dan O'Connor) It encapsulates our circumstances so accurately and succinctly the guy who wrote it (IMHO) deserves a Pulitzer.<br /><br />(He won't get one though, because the Cultural Marxists own the Pulitzer committee today, just like they own all of our cultural institutions.)<br /><br /><i>If you occupied what was considered the ideological/ moral centre ground In 1965, and went to sleep for 50 years and woke up In 2015, you'd find yourself occupying the ideological/ moral "far right". You didn't have to budge one inch ideologically to find yourself there. That whizzing sound you heard was the ideological /cultural centre ground zooming over to the Cultural Marxist hard left.<br /><br />Everything that was considered mainstream obvious, common sense, logical and moral in 1965, is now considered by our political, academic and media elite to be bigoted, ignorant, hateful, xenophobic, racist, extremist, and some form of mental abnormality.<br /><br />In other words, within the space of 50 years, morality, right, wrong, evil, good, normal, obvious, extreme, sanity, truth, beneficial, dangerous and the instinct for group self preservation, has been inverted and stood upside down on its head.<br /><br />Never before in the entire course of human history, has an entire culture, race and civilization decided to hand over its lands, social capital, heritage and identities to competing and intruding alien cultures without a fight, and even worse, to evolve an ideology that morally justifies it and glorifies it as proof of their moral supremacy. European man is in a civilizational death dance.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://truebluenz.com/2016/01/10/what-is-cultural-marxism-and-what-is-critical-theory/" rel="nofollow">What is Cultural Marxism and what is Critical Theory?</a>Redbaiterhttps://truebluenz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-5401891263063645422017-07-01T19:06:22.028+12:002017-07-01T19:06:22.028+12:00Truly, I do not think there is a great movement or...<i>Truly, I do not think there is a great movement or a great conspiracy. The world is chaotic and random. Yes, patterns of thought and behaviour can be categorized and labelled retrospectively but most humble individuals have no idea they are bit-players in your personal history (and projection) of the western world.<br /><br />Nevertheless, I cleave to the same idea that you have about govt policies shaping and influencing. The thing is, you see them all going in a negative way whereas I see them going in divergent ways. Some good, some bad.<br /><br />Life goes on. It is ever-changing. There is no utopia.</i><br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Lindsay- Remember when we all inspired by Perigo and his "Beat the bastards back"? How long ago was that? Thirty years? Longer?<br /><br />Well, we've failed miserably. We had a limp National govt under Bolger & Shipley, both traitors to the party founders. Then we had years of Clark, followed by even worse, the abject surrender party led by Key whose Textor policy style has reduced elections to where they are basically a popularity contest between far left progressive party leaders. NZ is done. The bastards have won.<br /><br />There is indeed a "great movement" and as I keep saying over and over and over, its no conspiracy. Its out in the open. The left, although they prefer us not to talk about Cultural Marxism and Critical theory, make no secret that it is their pathway to power.<br /><br />Turn your eyes from NZ politics and you can see the same political pattern being followed all over the West. Especially in respect of issues that jolt our traditional culture. Why? How? For the same thing to be happening in exactly the same way there in so many diverse countries, there has to be a central force driving it. <br /><br />(BTW, I don't want Utopia. I just want govt wound back to the size it was pre WWII. That would do me fine.)<br /><br />We didn't beat the bastards back because we were never really sure who they were. Now we know. "They" are the Cultural Marxists who originally emanated from the Frankfurt School and have now seeped their ideas into most Western universities and from there into the media and popular culture. <br /><br />The task is to take Western culture back. That means never giving the bastards one more inch of ground. <br /><br />Redbaiterhttps://truebluenz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-77050475340590655612017-07-01T17:53:09.896+12:002017-07-01T17:53:09.896+12:005.22 I despise all religions equally, but you'...5.22 I despise all religions equally, but you're welcome to practice: just don't force your beliefs on me as Brendan does.<br /><br />Perhaps despise is a strong word. Laughable is better. You say 'The last days may well be here Mark, do you ever think on that?'<br /><br />Snort. I might as well believe in the Hobbit, it would make the same amount of sense. But that's the idiot belief system that demands I don't have the rational choice of euthanasia.<br /><br />Last days ...LOLMark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-44268752210178171252017-07-01T17:22:12.482+12:002017-07-01T17:22:12.482+12:00I am a painter too, of contemporary colourful land...I am a painter too, of contemporary colourful landscapes, I paint with linseed oil<br />and Indian ink. As a Christian I am forcing no one to do anything, it's up to you, but I do get annoyed at the bashing Christianity gets nowadays whilst all over religions get a free run. That's the rub. The left want to break down Western society as it was and is based on Christian values, and the left mostly hate that. So, the world is now taking God out of the picture, and look at the result. Violence, mess, mayhem, confusion, etc. Not that God can ever be taken out, it's just mankind being arrogant.<br />The last days may well be here Mark, do you ever think on that?? Why would one want to kill themselves early? Life is a gift and taking life has to be wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-58899999345064920342017-07-01T17:14:47.165+12:002017-07-01T17:14:47.165+12:00I've now looked at Brendan's Telegraph art...I've now looked at Brendan's Telegraph article entitled 'Netherlands sees sharp increase in people choosing euthanasia due to 'mental health problems' '<br /><br />Firstly, shock, horror: the Dutch wanted euthanasia legislation and when it was legislated they now use it.<br /><br />Then, included within 'mental health problems', by far the largest subset is dementia: excellent; that is a big reason I would want the choice of euthanasia (the pity is under Seymour's bill, we still won't have this).<br /><br />Outside of that, despite the scaremongering Brendan is trying to promote, mental health, altogether, is a very small percentage of all euthanasias ... look at the graph in that piece. The biggest category by a huge margin making up about 70% of all euthanasias is cancer (no surprises there), then nervous system disorders, motor neuron disease, etc (no surprises there, I would want the option in that case also), then heart disease, lung disease, etc.<br /><br />As stated mental health is a minute subset. And even that, outside dementia, fine. I am not so arrogant as to judge someone else's happiness or unhappiness. Neither should any of us be. It is individual choice.<br /><br />The law as it is operating in Holland, even from reading this sensationalist piece is what I would hope our law could be. So move along, nothing here ...Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.com