Why Talk About Political Issues?

Others have asked me why I include political issues in this blog. What's the connection between politics and living a meaningful life? In order to live a more meaningful life, one would need the freedom to pursue a meaningful life. So if this freedom is denied to a person, then an injustice is being committed against that person. Such a person would not be happy. For example, when African-Americans were sold as slaves, their freedom to live genuinely human lives were denied to them. When a child is aborted, the child's right & freedom to live a meaningful life is denied to that child. When a disabled person's life is terminated, such as Terri Schiavo's life, then her freedom to live a meaningful life is also being denied. There are several cases of people, in similar or worse condition than her, who were able to recover with rehabilitation. Terri was denied rehabilitation. In conclusion, freedom and justice are required in order for people to pursue a more meaningful life. These issues happen to be considered "political" issues also. Therefore, it becomes necessary to address these "political" issues if they interfere with a person's legitimate pursuit of a meaningful and purposeful life.

Respect for Life

I just read the news on the Internet today. A young woman in Wichita, Kansas was stabbed in a convenience store. The other shoppers simply walked over her, while another took a picture of the dying woman with a cell phone, instead of helping her. The Police Chief was shocked by this behavior and asked, "What happened to our respect for life?" I'd like to ask the same question. But remember, in America, a mother has a "right" to kill her own unborn baby through abortion, and a disabled person, such as Terri Schiavo, can be euthanized against her will, simply because she's disabled. So is it any wonder then, why people nowadays, have a wanton disregard for human life? No one is safe. The next "victim" could be you. Mother Teresa was quite right and prophetic when she said, "And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?" Maybe what we need is to restore respect for life, from conception to natural death.

True Meaning of "Quality of Life"

Many have heard the term "quality of life" before, especially with the case of Terry Schiavo. Some say that if you can't do anything anymore, then you don't have a "quality of life". I discovered the true meaning of "quality of life" when I met a single mother, who adopted a severely disabled & terminally ill child. People thought she was crazy since this requires tremendous sacrifice. But when asked why, she said no one else will want a child who can't do, nor become, anything. But she wants a child, not to get something back , but rather to give. So she adopted the child to give him love. That child died recently and the single mother grieved the loss. But she had no regrets. That's because that child received the most important thing of all - to be genuinely loved. Now that's what it means for both of them to have a "quality of life" - to be able to love and be loved.