|
|
|
tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
 Posted - 12/09/2004 : 07:29:25 [Permalink]
|
| To give a bit of a follow-up on this. Today the newpaper "de Volkskrant" had an issue on front cover about this, well actually about the American reaction to this. According to the headline "The 'barbaric' Netherlands are the new bogeyman in the USA. According to the article, conservatives in America are looking at the Netherlands as a country which is morally bankrupt. |
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
 |
|
|
Plyss
Skeptic Friend
Netherlands
231 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2004 : 08:33:53 [Permalink]
|
quote:
Originally posted by tomk80
To give a bit of a follow-up on this. Today the newpaper "de Volkskrant" had an issue on front cover about this, well actually about the American reaction to this. According to the headline "The 'barbaric' Netherlands are the new bogeyman in the USA. According to the article, conservatives in America are looking at the Netherlands as a country which is morally bankrupt.
It's a sad testament to the state of this nation's journalism and public debate that the only issue that's really measured out is some foreign countries' opinion on local events.
I'm somewhat reminded of my father's side of my family. Everything that went on in that there would be judged by taking into account "what the neighbours would think".
Or course there's hardly any debate on this subject in the Netherlands because an absolute majority of the population supports the right to euthanasie, including in special cases in infants. |
Miss Tick sniffed. 'You could say this piece of advice is pricesless', she said. 'Are you listening?'
'Yes' said Tiffany.
'Good now...If you trust in yourself.."
'Yes..?'
'..and believe in your dreams...'
'yes?'
'...and follow your star..' Miss Tick went on.
'Yes?'
'You'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy. Goodbye.' |
|
|
|
tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2004 : 08:50:58 [Permalink]
|
quote:
Originally posted by Plyss
It's a sad testament to the state of this nation's journalism and public debate that the only issue that's really measured out is some foreign countries' opinion on local events.
I'm somewhat reminded of my father's side of my family. Everything that went on in that there would be judged by taking into account "what the neighbours would think".
Or course there's hardly any debate on this subject in the Netherlands because an absolute majority of the population supports the right to euthanasie, including in special cases in infants.
Hmmm, I'm not sure I agree. We are one of the few countries where the media takes attention on 'what the neighbours think' (although only if their didn't happen much shocking in the rest of the world). However, looking at the history of the Netherlands, it's always been that way. We look at what the rest of the world thinks, and ignore it subsequently if we disagree. It's one of the things that spells the success of the Netherlands. In our own country we do what we want, although we keep track of other's opinions. In other countries, we adapt. It's what has made us (and still makes us) one of the big players (relative to size) in international commerce. I don't view it as a bad thing.
For example, this attitude allowed us to trade with the Chinese and the Japanese, while the only way countries like America could trade with them was by forcing them to.
The problem is that their isn't really any ground for debate on euthanasia (even in the cases provided here), since the majority of the population agrees with it. Thus, the reaction of the outside world is the only thing really noteworthy in the issue.
It's the same with the dutch drug policy. The most noteworthy things on it are the ambiguity in the dutch drug laws (you're allowed to sell soft drugs, but not allowed to have enough of them to sell them) and the opinions in the rest of the world (which are slowly following in the direction dutch law has already taken for years).
|
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
|
|
|
Wendy
SFN Regular
USA
614 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2004 : 11:38:38 [Permalink]
|
quote:
Originally posted by Plyss
Or course there's hardly any debate on this subject in the Netherlands because an absolute majority of the population supports the right to euthanasie, including in special cases in infants.
You're fortunate in that, as I expect the majority of the population here is opposed - even though many probably could not articulately express why.
I am whole-heartedly in favor of allowing competent adults the right to euthanasia. I am also in favor of those same adults creating a durable request for euthanasia should age or illness render them incompetent.
My concern with this particular issue is that (though it is shocking to many) it seems humane to me, but as we know power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. What power would be more absolute than the power over life? Sure, a stringent system of checks and balances would go a long way to insure the practice isn't abused. Still, it does have a bit of that creepy, sci-fi story "we know what's best for you" kind of feel to it.
Some kind of skeptic I'm turning out to be.  |
Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do on a rainy afternoon.
-- Susan Ertz
|
|
|
|
tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2004 : 12:37:33 [Permalink]
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wendy
You're fortunate in that, as I expect the majority of the population here is opposed - even though many probably could not articulately express why.
I am whole-heartedly in favor of allowing competent adults the right to euthanasia. I am also in favor of those same adults creating a durable request for euthanasia should age or illness render them incompetent.
My concern with this particular issue is that (though it is shocking to many) it seems humane to me, but as we know power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. What power would be more absolute than the power over life? Sure, a stringent system of checks and balances would go a long way to insure the practice isn't abused. Still, it does have a bit of that creepy, sci-fi story "we know what's best for you" kind of feel to it.
Some kind of skeptic I'm turning out to be.
I'm not sure whether your concern is justified. In the dutch situation, all steps towards euthanasia must be recorded, and a second physician must be consulted. I would posit that in stead of enabling this behaviour, laws on permitting and regulating euthanasia can also provide a more stringent means of countering misuse of it. |
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
