With life there is hope. Death ends hope. The death penalty ends hope for redemption, reconciliation and release if truly innocent. Execution says society has given up hope on the individual and, worse, that we accept the possibility of innocents being killed. Assisted suicide ends hope of grace, dignity of the infirm and end of life time with loved ones.
Suicide is a terrible plague on our world today, and how does society tell the person struggling with mental health or the burdens they carry that there is hope when we accept suicide. Abortion ends hope for the life which could be and the gifts and love each person has capacity to bring to the world.
Think and say aloud the names of those in our lives who were unplanned, adopted, spent time in foster care, or are labeled as disabled or special needs. Then appreciate life has given them hope to experience the joys, trials and contributions which every human life has the capacity to bring. The unfathomable loss of millions of lives and what contributions and gifts society has lost is haunting and destroys hope in the world. Respect, protect, and cherish human life and the hope of what can be.
Troy Rushton, Riverton