Euthanasia: It Is Not Murder, It Is Mercy Thesis Statement: Thousands of people in the United States alone die every year from terminal illness such as cancer, ALS and AIDS. Advanced Medical technology is responsible for keeping many of them alive – many against their wishes. In the United States, euthanasia (assisted suicide) is illegal in all but one state. Many patients are forced to suffer needlessly when there is another alternative. According to a new Time/CNN poll 7 out of 10 American’s say that they want to die at home; instead three-fourths die in medical institutions” (Cloud 59). In our society people are, as a whole, living longer. With all the choices we are allowed, why is a good death not one of them? In our society we are awarded one life and one death, no more, no less. Granted, living life to its fullest is an American way of life NO ONE wants to die in pain, alone and afraid. We would all like to drift to sleep on the wings of a dove never to suffer again. It is a nice thought but for 52.5% of Americans who are terminally ill, this does not happen. More and more people, young and old, are being diagnosed with Cancer, AIDS, and other diseases such as Muscular Dystrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and Alzheimer’s disease. Euthanasia is becoming more and more popular as a way to end one’s suffering when there is no further medical treatment available to CURE the disease. Darkling I listen, and for many a time I have been half in love with easeful death, Call’d him soft names in many a mused rhyme, To take the air my quiet breath; Now more than ever it seems rich to die To cease upon the midnight with no pain… -John Keats- Dying is a personal thing … … middle of paper … …hink that the Death with Dignity Act should be incorporated into all the States laws. It is the last time one has the ability to assert oneself and make a conscious decision to die a good death. Give Strong Drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those of heavy heart – Proverbs 31:6 SOURCES CITED Cloud, Joseph, “Seeking a Humane Way to Die.” Time Magazine. September 2000. Euthanasia: Some General Information, http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/2195/info.html Humphry, Derek. Final Exit. New York. 1991 Dell Publishing Tada, Joni Eareckson. When Is It Right To Die? Michigan, 1992. Zondervan Publishing Van Biema, David, “Is There a Right to Die?” Time Magazine. January 1997 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/1997/dom/970113/society.is_there_a.html Thomas Nelson Publishers Word in Life Bible. Nashville. 1993
Abortion and the Destruction of America
Abortion and the Destruction of America
Israel was God’s chosen people. He picked them out and distinguished them from the pagan Gentile nations in order to be a special witness to His own holiness. Israel received the Law, the promises, and the covenant. They received great blessings from God. But what happened? They grew comfortable and complacent. Rather than reforming the pagans, they conformed to the pagans. The prophets were chosen by God to call Israel back to covenant faithfulness. Isaiah was one of the first prophets. He recites a song for the Israelites. “My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; He spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a winepress. Then he looked for a crop of grapes, but it yielded wild grapes…” What was Isaiah talking about? He was prophesying the destruction of the Northern Kingdom, which would fall in a few short years to the brutal Assyrians in 722 BC. The Israelites of the ten northern tribes were in effect obliterated. They did not heed God’s call for repentance.
A little over 200 years ago, God planted another vineyard. In this vineyard there was fertile, abundant land; there was political liberty; there was a the bright promise of a democratic republic in which life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were constitutionally promised to each person. This “vineyard” was founded on high ideals, indeed. The vineyard is, of course, the U.S.A. And so, 200 years ago, what has been called the “American Experiment” was launched. God planted this vineyard. He gave us the wonderful nation in which we live, and made ample provision for much fruit to be borne. Today, God looks to the U.S.A. to see the fruit it has yielded–to see the “grapes.” What will He find?
He’ll find abortion on demand–about 1,600,000 babies aborted a year (that’s over 4,000 a day). He’ll find euthanasia–one state has legalized it already, more are itching to follow. Then there is the decline of the family — about one in two marriages end in divorce. There’s a degenerate pop-culture that glorifies illicit sex and violence. There is the billion-dollar porn industry, which has exploded since the Internet. There is last year’s presidential scandal, at which time the highest-ranking government official lied under oath and was impeached by the House, using lies to cover up other lies in a sordid media escapade.
