Rightyo, time to get myself flamed <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/stupid.gif" alt="" />
While I wont go as far as Lews to say that some people deserve cancer, let me give you a hypothetical question. We have two cases; a mid thirties man who has smoked since he was 15 has lung cancer and 12 year old girl with luekemia. They are both priority if they want to be saved. Who should get treatment first?
Ok so we dont have as much sympathy for the non smoker, same condition but a 40 year old man. Who first, ones going to die here remember. Do we save the smoker who smoked 25 years thinking "I got to die sometime" or the 40 year old luekemia sufferer who lived a faultless life style.
Just some food for thought <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
And dont worry Womble. I actually really like you. So Id hate to let you die <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kitty.gif" alt="" />
Okay, I have been going back and forth on whether to even post my opinion but Mandrake got these old fingers tapping on the keyboard and this is what came out:
[color:"orange"] Wow! We get to play God and I've been waiting for this chance my whole life. So, who is it again we are saving first? Is it a 30 year old man who has smoked 40 years and has leukemia? Or is it a 12 year old who smoked for 30 years and lived a faultless life style? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ROFL.gif" alt="" /> I think we need to get our players right before we make any life altering decisions. *My head is spinning*
I hate to tell you this, Mandrake and you're probably not going to believe this but "Life is fatal." Period. End of story. Tomorrow is promised to no one. So, let's say we choose and save the 12 year old. She is released from the hospital and is killed in a car accident on her way home. But we feel good about our choice because our "intentions" were good.
Or, let's choose to save the 30 (or is it 40??) year old smoker. He's cured, goes on to become a medical health activist, wins the Nobel prize, impacts millions of people's lives in a positive way and even gets the chance to see his children have their own children.
Hmmmm, who do we save?[/color]
Listen, what it all boils down to [for me] is I am one of those people whose lives was saved because of animal testing. By all rights, I should not be here today. And because of technological advances, I'm not only alive, but am walking again after being told I probably never would. I still have a long way to go medically, but I, for one, am thankful that there are scientists who test animals to find cures for disease. Is my life any less valid because I do not work a 9-5 job? Do I make any less of an impact on my community because I am disabled? Because my medical and personal needs are much more expensive than the average able bodied individual, does that mean *my* life isn't worth saving?
I didn't ask for this illness, nor do I deserve it. No one does and anyone who says that a person deserves cancer because of a lifestyle choice has lost their compassion. And I'll go one step further and say it is this type of attitude that has brought us to the destructive nature we see in humanity today. The "I'm better than you," attitude and I think it's foolish.
So, Mandrake - consider yourself flamed. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
Faralas <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mage.gif" alt="" />
