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KILLING ME SOFTLY
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
I once saw this horrendous video of a nurse from my country who had accidentally shut off the breathing
apparatus of her long term care patient. Naturally, the family of the patient was horrified and instigated legal
action against the nurse. Her patient’s brain ran out of oxygen and came into a more serious condition after
what had happened. We can’t blame the family for doing as they did since no one would ever want a family
member to suffer or even die under such negligence. The patient had to suffer living life as a complete
vegetable because of the nurse’s irresponsible actions. I have lost track of what happened to the maligned
nurse. Most likely, her own life has also taken a nosedive after the incident.
In high school, we watched a documentary on what really happens in abortion. The video, black and white and
projected on a screen, was made to describe what the unborn fetus feels when it is to be subjected to such a
cruel process just to snuff out its life. It was crafted in the perspective of the unborn child. I remember the
fetus narrating thus: “…they would pull me and slice me into pieces and throw me away..” Those were really
graphic descriptions to our very young minds then, even if the video was shown for a Pop Ed class.
Now we see images on TV, pixilated to detract from the horrendousness, of fetuses placed in shoeboxes or
plastic bags and thrown in garbage piles like they were, well, garbage. One can only wonder at the
heartlessness of the individuals who threw those little angels away. Those cruel people didn’t even have the
decency to bury the products of their evil deeds or perhaps to even say a prayer for those tiny, helpless beings’
souls.
Yes, I am anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia. I am deeply affected by news items that show just how cruel or
careless some people can be. Perhaps I have been lucky to have had a supportive family that has no place for
taking life away, even for medical purposes. I sincerely hope my children will see just how I value life. I hope
they will see just how important giving life to them has been to me, no matter how huge a mistake many
others around me have perceived me to have made. I hope my own decisions will inspire them to be
responsible in all their actions because life is a sacred thing. Life is a blessing, no matter how extremely difficult
it can prove to be at certain points.
The very fact that we are alive is already a gift in itself. How many souls fail to be given embodiment to? How
many helpless souls fail to be born because of individuals that take away their life before it even happens? How
many lives are senselessly terminated just because of a careless decision or a mistake? Love the life that you
live, and love the lives you give birth to and are assigned care over even more. Only then will you have learned
to truly live.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
What is your opinion on abortion? On euthanasia?
2.
Is it easy to make life-changing decisions like going for abortion or euthanasia? Justify your answer
with concrete examples.
3.
How do we “kill” other people aside from actually taking their lives?
4.
Is legalizing abortion the only way to control human population? Cite specific examples as needed.
5.
What role/s should parents play in their own children’s lives? Elaborate on your answer.