I have read with interest Joanne's and Yvonne's stories, and I hear the anguish in
your words when you describe the medical problems of your babies.  As an adult
with C.P., however, I can speak that life, even amidst the worst of things,  has
meaning. and I think before parents think about having a DNR on their baby, they
talk candidly to an adult with c.p.  Maybe Joey's problems were too much, and
Yvonne did the right thing. Joanne also did the right thing by fighting for Alex.
We have no stones to throw here.

In the late '80's, a lady with C.P. Elizabeth Bouvier, wanted a hospital to help
her commit suicide by starvation.   She did not like to have anyone help her, and
rather than suffer the "indignity" of helplessness, she wanted to commit suicide,

How does this relate to Latimer, Alex, and Joey?  They relate in that the society
and culture places irs interests and concerns on being independent.  The more
independent you are, the more society values you, and the more dependent you are,
the less society values you.  Even in disability culture this is true, although
not spoken about much.

Just my $.02.

Betty B wrote:

> Hi Yvonne,
>
> I'm not concentrating well this morning at all, so I'll make this short.  I'm
> in so much pain and slept so lightly last night that I just can't seem to get
> my thoughts together.
>
> I can't speak for anyone else, but you certainly have not offended me.  I
> read all that you shared about Joseph, and was touched to have the
> opportunity.
>
> Before I say anything else, perhaps I should apologize -- sans excuse -- for
> having shortchanged the Canadian media.
>
> It seems to me that a discussion about right-to-life/death with the
> disability factor amongst those in the disability community is a different
> thing from the same topic of discussion in the non disabled world.  We are
> us, and they are uh...well, not.
>
> Parents of minor children have to do the best job they can in making
> decisions for their children, and their rights should be respected as well.
>
> Non disabled people (I'm not talking about the parents) don't seem to do an
> accurate job when it comes to assessing the disabled person's quality of
> life.  They don't seem to have the same regard for us that we have for
> ourselves.
>
> All in all, I don't think it's a good idea for Robert Latimer's act to be
> portrayed as a merciful one.  Even if that's what he intended, the public
> won't get the whole picture.  It will just add fuel to some very bad
> misconceptions that already exist.
>
> Betty