Jack Kevorkian died. (http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20110603/NEWS-US-KEVORKIAN/?cid=hero_media)
It doesn't say whether or not he offed himself.
:lulz:
Doesn't seem to be any indication that he did.
Damn.
Not too long after those HBO movies about his life, either.
Say what you will about him, he took what he believed in to the line, and beyond.
As an Oregonian, in a state which was an early adopter of compassionate assisted suicide laws, forgive me for grieving instead of celebrating this kind and compassionate man's death. For his work, my uncle Jerry might not have chosen to drown himself alone in a pool in Vegas when faced with his terminal carcinoma.
I am so glad he lived a long life and made so many changes in the world. He was barely a year older than my father.
Those of you, my friends, who haven't lost many loved ones to terminal disease, might not understand the depth of the kindness that he fought for. But, if you trust me, I can only assure you that he was an angel of mercy in the truest sense of the word. He made it possible for my friends in the most uninterpretable of pain to say goodbye and leave life with honor, and spared them weeks or months of horrific suffering. I bless the man, and his work.
I'm with Nigel on this one.
No argument here. Guy did good work.
Yeah, I have to say even though I was a kid when his controversy was going on and his work was described to me (by a Catholic mother who demonized it) I can recall thinking "Well what's wrong with that?"
Truth, Nigel.
If, may all that's holy or unholy forbid, I have reason to decide to check out early, having someone ensure that I don't fuck it up would be, IMHO, a good thing.
I never once thought assisted suicide was a bad thing. If we put our beloved pets down when they're suffering, I mean, why NOT a human? I know that's a terrible comparison, but I would have much rather my grandfather had the option to go on his own terms than suffer in extreme pain under so many drugs he didn't know who he was to the very end and make my mother's life a wreck.
I think you're amongst friends here, Nigel. The man was a pioneer for the right to die. Thank you for pointing out his great work and the impact he made on our freedoms here in the US. I mean, the guy went to jail as a senior citizen because of what he believed in.
Dunno. I've always been on the side of the right to die, but I've seen Dr Kervorkian in interviews, and there was a quality to him that really creeped me out. He got a little glaze over his eyes when he discussed his work, like he was getting an inappropriate charge out of it.
Yeah, that's subjective as hell, but that's the impression I got.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 04:18:09 PM
Dunno. I've always been on the side of the right to die, but I've seen Dr Kervorkian in interviews, and there was a quality to him that really creeped me out. He got a little glaze over his eyes when he discussed his work, like he was getting an inappropriate charge out of it.
Yeah, that's subjective as hell, but that's the impression I got.
Honestly, I don't know if it's possible to do that kind of work and stay completely sane. I do not doubt for a second that he had to move into a transcendent space in order to be able to move through it, creepy as it may be to those of us who don't work with death. Everyone I know who works with death has that quality. It's disquieting, and I don't think I am able to do that work.
He was, after watching the making of the Pacino film and the HBO documentary, a "character." Irascible, dry wit, and yeah, a bit of a fanatic. But anyone who sacrifices his life for his beliefs is a fanatic as it is. So it's to be expected.
Quote from: Your Mom on June 03, 2011, 04:23:21 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 03, 2011, 04:18:09 PM
Dunno. I've always been on the side of the right to die, but I've seen Dr Kervorkian in interviews, and there was a quality to him that really creeped me out. He got a little glaze over his eyes when he discussed his work, like he was getting an inappropriate charge out of it.
Yeah, that's subjective as hell, but that's the impression I got.
Honestly, I don't know if it's possible to do that kind of work and stay completely sane. I do not doubt for a second that he had to move into a transcendent space in order to be able to move through it, creepy as it may be to those of us who don't work with death. Everyone I know who works with death has that quality. It's disquieting, and I don't think I am able to do that work.
Especially after being made a pariah for it.
Yeah. I'm with the "This Guy Did Great Work" crew. After watching my grandparents suffer for years and years . . . I don't know if they would have accepted Assisted Suicide as an option, but I know that there are people out there who would go for it in lieu of seemingly endless pain without chance of healing or hope.
Pass in peace, Jack.
thinking on it, i don't know if i've ever had any friends that have come out against the guy...
I still can't bring myself to speak rationally and eloquently about the subject, but just for the record I will punch the fucking mouth off of anyone IRL who tries to argue against the right to die. Kevorkian is a fucking saint, and it doesn't fucking MATTER how he comes across on TV or any stupid shit like that. Ain't anybody here done anything 1/100th as worthwhile as that guy.