Would you? IF you were in heaven, which is the best place you could ever be, then would you really want to go back to your previous life? The same life that lead you to your death?

Well obviously if you commit suicide your chances of heaven are NOT THAT GOOD?!

I think you should have the right.

I support the right to die, especially in a society like America. If you have the right to waste your life and give nothing to society (and in America, you do have that right) then you should also have the right to terminate your own life, as you aren't taking anything from anyone else (in the general, societal sense) by doing so.

Many people say that its not OK for people to terminate themselves because of how they affect their families, but thats a faulty argument. By that standard, why dont' we make people get their family's approval before switching jobs, going on a trip, moving, or any other action that could cause serious unrest.

Personally, if I was in a permanent vegatative state or other similar condition of mental impairment, while I could never pull the plug on myself, I would certainly be relieved if someone pulled it for me.

From what I can tell, most of you believe you have the "right" to take your own lives.
The right given to you by men, who also once gave you the right to own slaves manufacture and buy assault weapons, dissalowed women to vote until appr 1920... anyway, if it's a written law, why not? Sure I'll say you have the right .... as long as you are cool with me having the equal right (as I load my gun... hehe).

Amen. If our bodies are not our own, what is?

I'm pretty sure your being sarcastic, so I shall make a sarcastic response:

Oh, good. That would be the shortest regret I'd ever have.

I am in full support of a person having the ability and power to end your own life. It is your life, no matter the value that other people put on it.

You betcha!! If a sickness I may have has destroyed my quality of life, my family has been financially and emotionally burdened, I would like it to end.

I believe that we should live the maxim 'do unto others...' Except in this particular case.

I'll plead ignorance here. I didn't realize people didn't have a right to end your own life. From the begining of life that's what you live your life for, dying.

Maybe I'm looking at things differently. In this life you have the right to do whatever you want but there are consequences that come with many of those choices. If I want to go kill myself who is going to stop me? If I'm terminally ill but I have left instructions that I be killed/euthanized(sp) who can stop it other than the person I have left instructions with?

I think usually ending your life is a very bad idea; even if it helps you, it is likely to hurt others you love.

There are no absolutes; there are possible counter-examples (e.g., dying of bone cancer and in agony). But I think they are rare.

Do you have a "right" to kill yourself? I dunno. I don't think "rights" are particularly real.

If suicide is the only option for ending one's miserable condition, then loved ones being hurt by it is the height of selfishness. They should have your interests in mind first: the ending of your misery. Not their own feelings about you being gone from their lives.

Sounds harsh, I know.

It's not only harsh, it's unrealistic. What if some of my loved ones are three-year-olds?

There are no easy answers, IMO.

No, no easy answers for sure. But you cannot child-proof the world. Life is harsh and painful on occasion. Children need to learn this as do we all. Trying to go through life without experiencing any pain is futile. Minimize it where you can, deal with it when you cannot.

I think we should be able to end our life, and I think homicide can be justified. Although, I can't see too many, if any, possibilities were Id want to end my life, and nor do I believe in our current captial punishment system (too innacurate, when we convict someone it needs to be 100% certain.)

If abortions are legal ( particually partial birth abortions!!!! my pet peeve!! 9/10ths out and its abortion- 1 more inch and its murder according to law) then suicide seems like it should be...

That said the line " dont commit suicide you'll regret it for the rest of your life" refers to many people have a change of heart when its too late to do anything

So who is willing right now to "exercise" their "right" to take their own lives?

Why?

This is what I said, more or less. The thing I didn't like about the word "right" is that it presupposes a bestowal upon me by a higher entity, such as a government, of a power of action which I am subsequently entitled to. E.g, the "right to vote".

What I'm trying to say is that the power you have to end your own life is more basic---"primeval" if you will---than some concept of "right". For instance, in most countries, suicide is illegal. As such, you don't have the "right" to end your life, while clearly you can and should be able to decide that for yourself.

We fully agree on the overall issue here. All I am saying is that "right" is not the correct concept to use.

I think a review of SecretMethod's posting of the definition of "Right" is in order:

By definition (or at least this one) a "right" is not given by men, God, or anyone else - it is inherent by its very nature; there is no one to ask permission of or have the "right" granted by.

Think of it this way: Everyone has the "right" to do anything and everything that they have the power to accomplish. Man's laws, God's laws, ethics, morals, etc. are imposed to restrict rights - not grant them.

In this context, it becomes a question of "Is taking your own life:

Ethically
Morally
Religiously
Legally

- or -

Otherwise

restricted or withdrawn?" More of an "Is it right?" than "Do I have the right" argument. To oppose it, you must identify what grounds your objection stems from.

By definition (or at least this one) a "right" is not given by men, God, or anyone else - it is inherent by its very nature; there is no one to ask permission of or have the "right" granted by.
...To oppose it, you must identify what grounds your objection stems from.


One of my objections stems from the fact I do not believe God would consent to taking your own life. Now of course if you don't believe in God (at the moment), then I guess there is nothing stopping folks from killing themselves off. I mean, really, if you have nothing to offer the world or those in it... why not? Make way for those whose lives have meaning, something to offer, whether inspiration, words of encouragement, hey, even a smile to brighten someones day!