(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Saturday, November 15, 2008
California Prop 8
I was elated with I heard that Obama won the US presidential elections 2 weeks ago. It remains to be seen if Obama can bring about the 'CHANGE' that has been the theme of his campaign, but I really hope he does.
What really brought me down was the shocking news that California has voted in a referendum to ban same-sex marriages which was legalized by the state's top court in May. Thousands of gay couples got married since same-sex marriages were approved. Their marriages can now be challenged in court, but the court says it will apparently defend the legality of same-sex marriages that were performed after May and before election day (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7723645.stm). Other gay couples have their marriage registration appointments put on hold because of the voting results. The votes were 52% for and 48% against I think.
I am appalled by how this situation came to be. For a while I could not really explain why I was so against prop 8 being passed as there were also people talking about how civil partnerships should be sufficient, that marriage is not something that one , but after hearing Keith Olbermann's "Special Comment" on Prop 8 (see the link below, it was sent by an ex-colleague, and a very heart-rendering video I must say) I think I am beginning to make a bit more sense of my repulsion towards the verdict. Mr Olbermann is exactly right. Proposition 8 was getting people to vote for something that was to take away other people's rights. That to me is an abuse of democracy (see http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm2.htm). A democratic society is one in which the people have a say in political decisions, and decision are made by the majority rule. The article however explicitly says that there are limitations to that standard as minority rights have to be upheld. Democratic rules are meant to protect the rights of all citizens, and to pass a law on majority rule, that will eliminate the rights of a proportion of those citizens, is an outright violation of the principles of democracy.
These people are not asking you to do something at your detriment. They are asking you to give them the same rights that everyone should enjoy. They just want to be able to go through the same rites that you can go through, be sanctified by marriage that you are committed to a person you love and want to spend the rest of your life with.
http://www.couragecampaign.org/prop8repeal
Anyway... I am in no place to say such things. :p Going to research a bit more about LGB issues in Singapore
What really brought me down was the shocking news that California has voted in a referendum to ban same-sex marriages which was legalized by the state's top court in May. Thousands of gay couples got married since same-sex marriages were approved. Their marriages can now be challenged in court, but the court says it will apparently defend the legality of same-sex marriages that were performed after May and before election day (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7723645.stm). Other gay couples have their marriage registration appointments put on hold because of the voting results. The votes were 52% for and 48% against I think.
I am appalled by how this situation came to be. For a while I could not really explain why I was so against prop 8 being passed as there were also people talking about how civil partnerships should be sufficient, that marriage is not something that one , but after hearing Keith Olbermann's "Special Comment" on Prop 8 (see the link below, it was sent by an ex-colleague, and a very heart-rendering video I must say) I think I am beginning to make a bit more sense of my repulsion towards the verdict. Mr Olbermann is exactly right. Proposition 8 was getting people to vote for something that was to take away other people's rights. That to me is an abuse of democracy (see http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm2.htm). A democratic society is one in which the people have a say in political decisions, and decision are made by the majority rule. The article however explicitly says that there are limitations to that standard as minority rights have to be upheld. Democratic rules are meant to protect the rights of all citizens, and to pass a law on majority rule, that will eliminate the rights of a proportion of those citizens, is an outright violation of the principles of democracy.
These people are not asking you to do something at your detriment. They are asking you to give them the same rights that everyone should enjoy. They just want to be able to go through the same rites that you can go through, be sanctified by marriage that you are committed to a person you love and want to spend the rest of your life with.
http://www.couragecampaign.org/prop8repeal
Anyway... I am in no place to say such things. :p Going to research a bit more about LGB issues in Singapore
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
This has been in the news headlines for the past few days.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hereford/worcs/7721231.stm
A 12 year old wins the right to refuse a heart transplant. The terminally ill girl who was born with a hole in her heart, was stricken with leukemia and has been taking drugs for it since she was 5 years old. Those drugs have weaken her heart and she was advised to have a heart transplant. There is a risk that the heart transplant would not work, but if it did, it sounds like she would be able to live, albeit on constant medication. Her parents support her decision but the doctors were in doubt. So they called in the child protection team. The case went to court and the court ruled in her favour, reinforcing her right as a patient to make decisions about her treatment.
I suppose the first question that comes to mind after reading about this is whether a 13 year old is able to make such a major decision. One reader commented on the bbc website and raised the point that a child not of age to vote, drive or drink alcohol should not be allowed to make a decision to die. The General Medical council on the other hand, states that on principle patients should have a say over their care and children are no different.
I believe that if the child has the capacity to make such a decision one should respect that decision. After all it is her body and what ever is done to it, she would have to live with it. I believe that a child has the capacity to make such a decision, provided she has had counselling from doctors, psychologists, and explored all the possibilities of living and dying and has thought through what she things life is about and what its means to live.
Even so, I still feel pained by her decision. I might be speaking from my privileged perspective. I am enjoying good health and have the freedom to do the things I like (most of the time), but I feel that no matter how hard life is, it can't be worse than death. For a person like me who does not believe in a higher order, death would be nothing. Nothing at all. and there is no point in giving up something (no matter how slight) for nothing, is there? To be conscious, to be aware, is to me the most amazing thing in this world. Would you bear to let it be taken away from you? Even if it is the most horrible feeling, being conscious, can emptiness be better than that? If there is a zimmer of hope that one can have a sustainable life... fight?
She is brave, brave to face that great unknown that most of us fear. But would she be braver if fought with all means possible (including those given by advanced medicine) till she could no longer physically fight or if there was really no hope of improvement? The point is, she has a shot at having a better life after the heart transplant (right?). There is a risk that that would not happen, but there is a chance that it would be better. I understand that she must be emotionally exhausted from having to deal with chronic pain and being unable to have the life that all her same-aged peers are having. but no matter how tired she is, this is a crucial point in time where she can't let this fatigue bring her down.
Other people might not have had the same chance like her to have a second shot at life. I remember a girl from my school who had leukemia and had only 6 months to live. She stopped treatment then because it was apparent that the treatment was not going to do her anymore good. The school was raising funds for her treatment so I think she and her parents decided to use that money to provide financial aid for students who need it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hereford/worcs/7721231.stm
A 12 year old wins the right to refuse a heart transplant. The terminally ill girl who was born with a hole in her heart, was stricken with leukemia and has been taking drugs for it since she was 5 years old. Those drugs have weaken her heart and she was advised to have a heart transplant. There is a risk that the heart transplant would not work, but if it did, it sounds like she would be able to live, albeit on constant medication. Her parents support her decision but the doctors were in doubt. So they called in the child protection team. The case went to court and the court ruled in her favour, reinforcing her right as a patient to make decisions about her treatment.
I suppose the first question that comes to mind after reading about this is whether a 13 year old is able to make such a major decision. One reader commented on the bbc website and raised the point that a child not of age to vote, drive or drink alcohol should not be allowed to make a decision to die. The General Medical council on the other hand, states that on principle patients should have a say over their care and children are no different.
I believe that if the child has the capacity to make such a decision one should respect that decision. After all it is her body and what ever is done to it, she would have to live with it. I believe that a child has the capacity to make such a decision, provided she has had counselling from doctors, psychologists, and explored all the possibilities of living and dying and has thought through what she things life is about and what its means to live.
Even so, I still feel pained by her decision. I might be speaking from my privileged perspective. I am enjoying good health and have the freedom to do the things I like (most of the time), but I feel that no matter how hard life is, it can't be worse than death. For a person like me who does not believe in a higher order, death would be nothing. Nothing at all. and there is no point in giving up something (no matter how slight) for nothing, is there? To be conscious, to be aware, is to me the most amazing thing in this world. Would you bear to let it be taken away from you? Even if it is the most horrible feeling, being conscious, can emptiness be better than that? If there is a zimmer of hope that one can have a sustainable life... fight?
She is brave, brave to face that great unknown that most of us fear. But would she be braver if fought with all means possible (including those given by advanced medicine) till she could no longer physically fight or if there was really no hope of improvement? The point is, she has a shot at having a better life after the heart transplant (right?). There is a risk that that would not happen, but there is a chance that it would be better. I understand that she must be emotionally exhausted from having to deal with chronic pain and being unable to have the life that all her same-aged peers are having. but no matter how tired she is, this is a crucial point in time where she can't let this fatigue bring her down.
Other people might not have had the same chance like her to have a second shot at life. I remember a girl from my school who had leukemia and had only 6 months to live. She stopped treatment then because it was apparent that the treatment was not going to do her anymore good. The school was raising funds for her treatment so I think she and her parents decided to use that money to provide financial aid for students who need it.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Back In Sheffield :)
I am back in Sheffield and living with K (my friend from UG psych). Still trying to get my life organized, and my things together. I've got some of my stuff stored at 2 other friends' places and still have some house things I need to buy. I am also currently the subject of Animal Abuse = I'm getting abused by an animal. And its this little lady over here.
She looks pretty docile in this picture, but don't be fooled. This is Tiger Lily/ Lyra/ Ezzy. K's kitten/cat. She's 3 months old now I think. She lovely at times, but can be a complete nightmare most times. It's only been 2 weeks and I have bites and scratch marks not only on my legs, but on my hip and back too. Yes, she jumps that high up to attack you. haha but I do love her. I'm glad K's taken her in. I'm sure too that K has worse 'injuries ' than I do. I think the cat attacks the people she loves most. hmmm...
I'm living further away from the department as I have ever been. I was closer in distance even when I was on the notorious Crookes Hill. :p But it is a really nice and quiet area. I am having a bit of difficulty getting groceries up there as the bus stop is still about 15mins away, but I'm sure I can get used to that (be a online grocery shopper? not eat or drink? go with K in her car when she goes grocery shopping? :p). There are options. I'm leaving you with some pictures of my neighbourhood.
5 minutes away from my new place and 30mins to the Department.
Looking back at Ranmoor Inn. My apt is just 10 mins up the road on the right.
ooh the Department of Psychology. Its probably a good thing that it is shrouded by trees now. The building's exterior is actually surrounded by scaffolding. They've been doing works on the windows since the start of summer.
In San Diego, no more. :(
I left San Diego on the 24th of October at wee hours of the morning. I had my 'last meal' at Denny's (24/7 breakfast oohoo!) with Irene, and she sent me off to the airport for 5.20am. I must say I was in a daze (I think the beer I had at dinner the day before made me sleepy) and probably could not have made it to the airport without Irene. :p The plane flew off at 6.20am. This was my last shot of San Diego. I think that was Mission bay.
It has been an amazing 6 months. The friends I've made, the things I've learnt. Well I guess it is one chapter in my book done, time to start a new one.
This is appropriately sun rise. :)
I'm going to keep the La Jolla Cove picture on my blog heading for a while. :) I'll change it back to the moon soon.
It has been an amazing 6 months. The friends I've made, the things I've learnt. Well I guess it is one chapter in my book done, time to start a new one.
This is appropriately sun rise. :)I'm going to keep the La Jolla Cove picture on my blog heading for a while. :) I'll change it back to the moon soon.
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