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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Do you think vaccinations should be mandatory? Victorious Raiders parade trophy through downtown Ashland State police search for pursuit suspect near Hyatt Lake Police Reports Cheering on the champs Education For a friend: AHS seniors team up to help former fellow student Ashland builds a bridge across the STEM gap Chicken pox hits Ashland Middle School AHS speech and debate team to compete in Medford Ashland: Lions Club steps up for vision tests Environment New TAP pumps bolster Ashland's options Most residents speak against gas pipeline proposed for Southern Oregon Home Help: Make your new house feel like home ‘Tis the season — for wild mushrooms Business Ashland's Safeway part of Haggen acquisition The Playwright pub will be serving again Saturday Mt. 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SOU tops Marian in NAIA football finals High school Shibley-Styer, Malcolm lead Grizzlies to comeback win over Henley Feinberg scores 17 in Grizz loss Grizzlies tripped up late in tourney loss to Ridgeview Grizzlies' comeback attempt falls short against Mazama Ashland girls win three duals in home swim meet Southern Oregon University Raiders bring it home Weber's triple-double help SOU men survive OT thriller For fans who made trip, title game special Cheering on the champs Shibley-Styer, Malcolm lead Grizzlies to comeback win over Henley Opinion Latest Stories Herb Rothschild Jr.: The Christmas spirit Our View: Good news this week The vaccination deniers Granlund cartoon: Christmas season Matthew T. Mangino: The future of the death penalty in question? Editorial Our View: Good news this week The vaccination deniers Other Views: Hunting helps the economy Our View: ACH's remarkable recovery Our View: Growing up is inevitable Letters Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 8 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 5 Guest opinions Herb Rothschild Jr.: The Christmas spirit Guest Opinion: Heard the buzz about Bee City USA? Herb Rothschild Jr.: Fight Zionist suppression Guest Opinion: Life — and death — by choice Guest Opinion: The environmental tipping point Revels Latest Stories Dancing People Company celebrates the Winter Solstice 4 Things to do this weekend Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Best Bets: Dec. 18-24 'Homesman' plays grit and despair perfectly Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Putting the music into 'A Christmas Carol' Meet the real Jacob Marley Music Rating old-timers’ albums from 2014 SOU presents all-percussion concert Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: This ‘Museum’ entry should be closed to the public Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Homesman' plays grit and despair perfectly Movie review: Exiting Middle-earth with a triumphant flourish Movie review: A captivating film about a girl gone ‘Wild’ Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Health Watch: Small diet changes can make a big difference Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season Marketta Gregory: What’s in the Bible Looking Up: The stars from the North Pole Suzette Martinez Standring: Christmas light reflections Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW Do you think vaccinations should be mandatory? ... Victorious Raiders parade trophy through downtown Ashland ... State police search for pursuit suspect near Hyatt Lake ... Do you think vaccinations should be mandatory? ... Victorious Raiders parade trophy through downtown Ashland ... State police search for pursuit suspect near Hyatt Lake ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Life — and death — by choice Comment By Leah E.V. Ireland DailyTidings.com By Leah E.V. Ireland Posted Dec. 12, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Leah E.V. Ireland Posted Dec. 12, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News There is a nationally growing movement called the Death Cafe. The grim title belies its subject: choice in death. Mostly seniors gather to discuss how they want to die. The belief is that open discussions of possibilities and choice increase the quality of life here and now. Why not a group in Ashland? Why not call it Happy Endings Inc.? This is the civil rights issue of our time. We are blessed in Oregon to have passed a physician-assisted suicide law. For those who are terminally ill this is a very good and sane thing. But what about seniors who are not terminally ill? What about an elder who feels their life is over and remaining alive does no one any good? What if they've accomplished what they set out in life to do and are ready to go? Why will doctors not even discuss methods of suicide that will be effective with these people, often leaving them to fail in botched attempts? The American attitude toward suicide puts unsuccessfully trying to take one's life on a par with a criminal act. But our culture of death allows the medical, insurance and legal industries to decide when it's OK to go. Why is that? Why do social mores held by a few decide for everyone? In a country founded on freedom of choice, where has it gone? A very high percentage of suicide attempts fail, then life is worse than before, sometimes resulting in self-mutilation. It is wrong that we have a growing number of self-mutilated, suffering seniors who try the wrong way, only to greatly increase their desire to go peacefully and without pain. The merciless, unjust practice of keeping the elderly alive, no matter what, is not how we should repay the generation that survived the Great Depression and World War II. It's certainly not the way most elders want to spend their final days: hooked up to machines, draining the family of any financial resources. Thank goodness we've at least seen fit to allow people to end physical pain and suffering with the physician-assisted suicide law. But most families don't even discuss death. To whom can elders turn? Where are the warnings of what not to do? How do you deal with the physical body's reflexive will to live that tries to stop you at the crucial moment? It is not easy to take your life. Even the infamous “death cocktail” doesn't always work. Why do antiquated social mores and medieval religious beliefs control this crucial decision we all face in the 21st century? We are a death-terrified nation denying old age in every absurd way possible, worshiping the blissful ignorance of youth. And that's what we end up with. Death is a downer subject for media, a taboo subject, generally, unless sensationalized. Yet as a culture we refuse to take the fear out of death for ourselves and others. Zillions of dollars are made from the terror of death. For those concerned about greedy children “putting down” parents for the inheritance, there are many laws that protect elders from that. Where's the concern about seniors being kept alive too long for the sake of commercial greed? In America, that's big business. Choice is sacred. It's the greatest achievement of mankind, born of freedom. We must continually fight for it with our lives here and now! Why can't those who believe in self-death at the right time, in old age, be free to safely go? Those who feel it's not right, stay! Where's separation of church and state? Capitalism gone crazy makes billions off our death denial. The race to be “vital” with super longevity is pathetic. If these are the golden years, where is the gold going? We're too distracted by our cellphones while racing to the gym to notice wisdom calling. With all our technology at hand we haven't learned the difference between physical and mental youth. Pursuing physical youth immoderately makes us ridiculous. Accepting that mental youth can come only after the rare, hard-earned knowledge of life is the golden wisdom of old age. It's life's greatest prize. Once won, why not be allowed to move on? Let's begin with liberty and choice. Go boomers! You've been given so much. Live and be fruitful. But remember this issue. After all, you're next. Leah E.V. Ireland is available at P.O. Box 284, Ashland. By Leah E.V. Ireland DailyTidings.com By Leah E.V. Ireland Posted Dec. 12, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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