Religion: Life, or something like it

If you believe Terri Schiavo should have been kept alive with a feeding tube, what do you want when Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, already in nursing homes (perhaps 10 million, and most on of them on Medicaid), have tubes inserted when their brains forget how to swallow or breath?

That could keep them alive for decades longer. Let’s keep everyone alive by some method, for God’s sake!

Are Christians afraid to die? As for me, I wish for a Right-to-Die law in Washington state, that permits anyone to have a lethal prescription when they see their quality of life and dignity eroded by any disease or disability.

Prediction: Science will soon be able to extend human life to 150 years, by simple things like disease prevention and new medical devices. By golly, by adjusting one gene in one protein of roundworms, scientists have extended their lives six times the normal span. They don’t just get older and die, but stretch out the time they have in vigorous health (longer childhoods, etc.). We share that protein and gene with the worm. We all believe our kids grow up too soon, and humans could have more time to get smarter.

So right now you should choose religion, prayer and life support, or science and extended life. Put in writing what you want, and no changing your mind. It’s all black and white — or maybe red and blue. Oh yes, humans live years longer if castrated, so that should solve a few problems. (Information from the November 2003 and March 2004 issues of Discover Magazine.)

Ruth Pyren

Oak Harbor

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