I feel you Beth.

We all should go when we desire to.

Very good poetic tribute to both you and your friend.

God bless you both.

Very beautifully written, and deelpy touching.

I can understand why people would want to go how they wish. I find the path towards a state legalising it a little more worrying. Can we trust a government not to go further?

  I think an acceptance of illegality tinged with judicial compassion and tolerance is the answer. I just don't trust politicians.

  The tribute is beautiful.

George "Kodak" Eastman

"My work is done here, why wait?"

Prisoner of light

That is a beautiful tribute. A lovely piece. Let the spiritual bean counters catch up with A and her beautiful friends!

Accompanying someone into the journey toward death certainly changes tolerance.  Well written and bravo!  The years I lived in Oregon I was never aware of anyone using the law to end their lives.

deeply moved by this tribute to A.  and honored that you would share it with us.

Well, Beth, for sure I won't be one to say she is hell-bound.  

Your tale of the now orphaned "A" saddens me some tonight.  My Adi is alone (with other dogs and caretakers) in town at the emergency clinic for the night.  If she isn't better by morning she will have to go to the hospital.

..

Adi is a therapy dog, we are a certified animal therapy team.  She wanted to come home so badly when we hugged her goodnight.  ;-)

..

Hi Beth,

  I hope you don't mind me commenting again, but this is such an important issue. First, a couple of points. I applaud your bravery in writing about this. Also, if a loved one of mine was in horrendous pain and asked me to assist in ending it all, I hope I would have the courage to carry out those wishes, despite what any law said. And I certainly do not judge anyone who does so.

  My problem is purely a legal matter. A State either does, or does not, sanction death. Apart from some areas of pre-birth and unavoidable defence of self or others, I strongly believe that death should never be State sanctioned. To cross this rubicon can, I'm sure, lead to a slippery slope. Hence, I think a compromise is that someone who does assist should not be punished, but should nonetheless be outside the law and face the law for that action - this simply makes it clear that the State itself has not gone down this road, thus preserving the principle that the State should not sanction death.

Hey, I agree with you 100%. To me, it is not a crime to go home. You poem is a treasure, and I am sure your friend considered you one.

Where is the dog now?

A lovely tribute. Certainly, I'll throw no stones nor will I count karmas on a stick. I've had this discussion so many times with others...bless you for being so wonderful to your beautiful friend.

Hi Beth,

   As I say, I'm not condemning anyone with regards to assisted suicide. If this is a free choice between those involved, then it is morally right as far as I'm concerned. So my words are not to do with the process itself, but the State sanction.

  The lingering death of my mother to breast cancer when I was 12 is etched upon my mind, so I can understand. And I have been around death and illness most of my life. But transferring this to legality deeply worries me. Let me recount a process here in trhe UK - on a different matter, but it shows the delicate balance of law.

  During the 1990s there was a move towards the rights of the victim of crime over the criminal. It was a crossing of the rubicon, with the best of intentions. The first thing to go was the right to silence (the equivalent of your 5th Amendment). A series of campaigns began, and before long, in serious crime, we had lost double jeopardy. A person can now be cleared of a crime, but always has another trial hanging over him.

  Next came a new categorisation for some crimes of 'not proved'. Hence, an innocent person can never be completely innocent if this category is implied. Innocent until proved guilty is going. Then came the anti-terrorism legislation, easily passed into law once the rubicon is crossed.

  Now, an intent to commit a crime is enough for arrest. And it didn't stop with suspected terrorism. Only a month ago here the police raided a hundred green campaigners planning a protest at a power station and arrested them. No crime was done, no crime planned.

  Basically, the best of intentions can lead to terrible outcomes for freedom. Good intentions are taking those freedoms away here in the UK - and all because the victim was put first in law. It is a delicate balance, law, worked out over hundreds of years, and I feel we make fundamental changes at our peril.

" she is hell-bound or at risk of bad karma. " _

{ ref: mahabharata - the scripture on ' karma ' }

.. the ' mahabharata ' speaks of ' bhishma ' , an august character from the epic, as being blessed with the gift / boon of  ' ichcha mrityu ' - death by desire / choice  ( ie he would die only if  he so wishes ) ~ ./ corollary - for death to come to him he has to wish for death _

to my mind if a sage like bhishma could be so invested , then the ' karma ' of wishing for death /death-wish ~ would be ( should be )  qualified by context and motive , in other words if it is not a bad karma  for a sage like bhishma then the merits of context /situation / and motive would / should  surely  come into play -

[  i am only rationalizing, but the scripture of  the mahabharata- the treatise on ' karma ' does speak of the concept of a death-wish ie ' ichcha-mrityu ' and does not speak of it neagatively-/ only religious connotations raised vis a vis the mahabharata /

the experts would know and know  better ]

I get so angry when people make such judgements. I'm so glad she is at peace and welcomed into the light.

Peace.

Really moves the reader, makes us spin on the different meanings of 'tolerance'..I read the inspiration for your site. How wonderful! I'll be back to visit your virtual teahouse.

Much peace.

<a href="http://firmlyrooted.blogspot.com/2009/05/fingers-dance-merrily-in-air.html">OSI: fingers dance merrily in air</a>

Beautiful tribute of/to a beautiful woman, those are blessed who count you among their friends.  I believe there comes a time when the spirit soars even if the heart still beats and it's only natural to stop the beating heart.  Always in love...

Amazing piece.  It truly conveys the strength, beauty and yes agony of living and dying.  You wrote it well, Beth.

Oh Beth~  what a beautifully moving tribute to a friend...peace to her and those she left behind.  Thank you for sharing it

Your piece on tolerance touch me more than you will ever know.

I am so happy that your friend had the rights of saying..."enough"

...and left in peace to go her own way.

I wish I had the same option.

God bless her and all her loved ones.

I can get meta-physical with the best of them. This week's poem could be called 'let's get un-meta-physical

Collage I made in mid May. It is one of a series of 7 that has to do with my friend A's life and death.