From My Perspective - - -
A “Cause Celebre” usually means “any issue or controversy that attracts great public attention, as a celebrated legal case or trial.” An illustration of this is the Roe v. Wade Act that legalized Abortion in our country. Another case usually associated with Madalyn Murray O’Hair (although there were other similar lawsuits brought, sic as, Engel v. Vitale and Ed Schempp regarding the recitation of The Lord’s Prayer in Maryland Public Schools), led to the law that prohibited Prayer and Bible Reading in the Public Schools. The United States Supreme Court consolidated these various cases and in 1963 ruled 8 to 1 that “devotional Bible Reading or other government-sponsored religious activities in the public schools are unconstitutional.”
In the Cultural Dictionary, cause celebrate means, “a cause or issue, generally political, that arouses public opinion…It originates in French meaning: a celebrated cause.” Yesterday, such an issue became a reality within our culture when the news was circulated that the “Terminally Ill Woman Brittany Maynard Has Ended Her Own Life.” The article in People Magazine for November 2, 2014 states: “Brittany Maynard, who became the public face of the controversial right-to-die movement over the last few weeks, ended her own life Saturday at her home in Portland, Oregon. She was 29.” As she was preparing to take the fatal dose of prescribed barbiturates she wrote: “Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me … but would have taken so much more…The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type … Goodbye world.” The legacy she wanted to leave is: “For me what matters most is the way I'm remembered by my family and my husband as a good woman who did my best to be a good wife and a good daughter. Beyond that, getting involved with this campaign, I hope to be making a difference here. If I'm leaving a legacy, it's to change this health-care policy or be a part of this change of this health care policy so it (death with dignity) becomes available to all Americans. That would be an enormous contribution to make, even if I'm just a piece of it." The People Magazine adds: “Before she died, Maynard asked her husband and her mother if they would carry on the work she started to get death with dignity passed in every state.”
Even though the terminology has been changed to “Death With Dignity”, the act is definitively Euthanasia (or Assisted Suicide). The historic definition and viewpoint has been: “Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide (dying), doctor-assisted dying (suicide), and more loosely termed mercy killing, basically means to take a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable (persistent, unstoppable) suffering.” An old saying is, “A rose by any other name is still a rose.” This same saying can be used to express: “Suicide by any other name is still suicide.”
If one looks at this subject on the basis of moral and Biblical values, the conclusion one arrives at is based upon the sixth commandment: “Thou shalt not kill/You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17).” The Westminster Larger Catechism states these parameters for the commandment (Questions/Answers 134-136): The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others…The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defense; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life…and whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any.” The other issue pertains to whether or not the advocates of Euthanasia are unwittingly usurping the right and prerogative of The Creator, the one True and Almighty God. One would do well to read Hebrews 9:27, Psalm 90:10-12, and Deuteronomy 30:19-20. For those facing the challenge of suffering, a must read is II Corinthians 12:7-10, God’s Grace will be more than sufficient for your trial and/or need. Consider these things with me.
A “Cause Celebre” usually means “any issue or controversy that attracts great public attention, as a celebrated legal case or trial.” An illustration of this is the Roe v. Wade Act that legalized Abortion in our country. Another case usually associated with Madalyn Murray O’Hair (although there were other similar lawsuits brought, sic as, Engel v. Vitale and Ed Schempp regarding the recitation of The Lord’s Prayer in Maryland Public Schools), led to the law that prohibited Prayer and Bible Reading in the Public Schools. The United States Supreme Court consolidated these various cases and in 1963 ruled 8 to 1 that “devotional Bible Reading or other government-sponsored religious activities in the public schools are unconstitutional.”
In the Cultural Dictionary, cause celebrate means, “a cause or issue, generally political, that arouses public opinion…It originates in French meaning: a celebrated cause.” Yesterday, such an issue became a reality within our culture when the news was circulated that the “Terminally Ill Woman Brittany Maynard Has Ended Her Own Life.” The article in People Magazine for November 2, 2014 states: “Brittany Maynard, who became the public face of the controversial right-to-die movement over the last few weeks, ended her own life Saturday at her home in Portland, Oregon. She was 29.” As she was preparing to take the fatal dose of prescribed barbiturates she wrote: “Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me … but would have taken so much more…The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type … Goodbye world.” The legacy she wanted to leave is: “For me what matters most is the way I'm remembered by my family and my husband as a good woman who did my best to be a good wife and a good daughter. Beyond that, getting involved with this campaign, I hope to be making a difference here. If I'm leaving a legacy, it's to change this health-care policy or be a part of this change of this health care policy so it (death with dignity) becomes available to all Americans. That would be an enormous contribution to make, even if I'm just a piece of it." The People Magazine adds: “Before she died, Maynard asked her husband and her mother if they would carry on the work she started to get death with dignity passed in every state.”
Even though the terminology has been changed to “Death With Dignity”, the act is definitively Euthanasia (or Assisted Suicide). The historic definition and viewpoint has been: “Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide (dying), doctor-assisted dying (suicide), and more loosely termed mercy killing, basically means to take a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable (persistent, unstoppable) suffering.” An old saying is, “A rose by any other name is still a rose.” This same saying can be used to express: “Suicide by any other name is still suicide.”
If one looks at this subject on the basis of moral and Biblical values, the conclusion one arrives at is based upon the sixth commandment: “Thou shalt not kill/You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17).” The Westminster Larger Catechism states these parameters for the commandment (Questions/Answers 134-136): The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others…The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defense; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life…and whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any.” The other issue pertains to whether or not the advocates of Euthanasia are unwittingly usurping the right and prerogative of The Creator, the one True and Almighty God. One would do well to read Hebrews 9:27, Psalm 90:10-12, and Deuteronomy 30:19-20. For those facing the challenge of suffering, a must read is II Corinthians 12:7-10, God’s Grace will be more than sufficient for your trial and/or need. Consider these things with me.
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