Part of the problem is that they aren’t citizens. They’re subjects.
They’ve bought into the idea that some lives are worth more than others. A healthy royal is worth the most. An unhealthy commoner is worth the least. Anyone who costs more than they produce is a useless eater, and must be “allowed to die with dignity.”
The phrase “brain dead” has replaced “useless eater,” but it serves the same purpose. “Life unworthy” has been replaced by “futile care,” and “born terminal.” They’ve retained the phrase “incompatible with life.” They’re as arrogant as the convicted Nazis, who insisted the rest of the world is just too stupid to understand the beauty of their ideas.
Alfie’s Dad made some comments about some of the hospital employees disliking them and avoiding them, because they were different. I don’t know if he ever explained in what way they are different, but I think they have a completely different view of and interaction with the world around them. The hospital employees, and most British subjects, are fully vested in the utilitarian view of life, and Alfie’s parents aren’t. That manifests itself in every aspect of daily life. So much of what we say and do is influenced by our views on the value of life. Alfie’s parents are nothing like the hospital employees who turned corners and darted into storage rooms to avoid them. And it goes beyond a disagreement over medical care.
Well stated. I’ve been so upset about these threads about Alfie. Had one Freeper basically tell me that I didn’t know anything and that Alfie wasn’t murdered but just died from his disease after being treated by “top-notch, dedicated” physicians in a “top of the line hospital”. It made me sick that a FReeper could agree with the treatment that Alfie received or, should I say, didn’t receive!
Thanks for your insightful post. Sorry I couldn’t get back to you sooner, but we’ve been so busy, including a long power outage.
There is too much group think in England, but, of course we also have it here.