table OF contents Letter From
the
Editor:
Who’s Running Again? Herman Cain The Collection Review: The Ides Buried
in
of
March
Debt: The High Cost
of
Dying
Interview: NFDA Extending Vital Life :
Stem Cells
ethics of
President Obama Has Done Something Killing Me Softly: The Danger The Politics
of a
French Fry
Organ Donation
of
The Sound Have You Seen: Never Let Me Go A Right To Kill: A View
on
Abortion
Who’s Running Again? Ron Paul Suicide: The Social Stigma Angels
of the
Grave
A Good Death: Understanding
the
Right To Die
The Conversation: Compassion
and
Choices
The Lit Depends: The Acts
of
Dying
reality of
God: Tragedy
for a
Here
and
Peta:
a
Social Security
or
Darwinism
Cause: What Makes
Gone Photo Series
Lesson
in animal
O Death Where
is
Rights
Thy Sting:
the afterlife
Team Mercutio’s Bucket List
a
Martyr
. . . . .
2011. [All Rights Reserved] disclaimer: all the image use is non-commercial and for the purpose of commentary only. None of the images used on this blog belong to me, except the ones i have created personally. images are usually credited and will be removed upon owner’s request...
Dear Readers, There is no other subject that can bring complete silence to a room quicker than DEATH. No matter how confident or secure you are in life, speaking of the inevitable makes even the bravest among us quiver. This does not mean we have to live our lives being afraid of a painful end or spend our time obsessing over the date and time we’ll go. In fact, everyone must accept death as a part of life. It is the great equalizer. In this issue, Team Mercutio examines the many aspects of death. From the price of dying to those who attempt to avoid death’s call at all cost. We debate the ethics of stem cell research and the existence of an “afterlife”. Some writers have even tackled the politics surrounding organ donation and euthanasia. This issue also introduces some new sections including profiles on the presidential candidates, a track list of President Obama’s accomplishments, music and movies Team Mercutio is excited about, and Here and Gone a photo series documenting one man’s journey across small town America. Even though the issue is about death, Team Mercutio is very much alive and as always has given you an issue that won’t disappoint.
Enjoy, Joshua Grant Editor-in-chief joshua@themercutio.com
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WHO'S RUNNING AGAIN? HERMAN CAIN
-Born: December 13th, 1945 in Memphis, TN (Grew up in Georgia) -Former Chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza -Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City from 1995-1996 -Lives in Atlanta and serves as an Associate Minister at Antioch Baptist Church North -Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Morehouse College and Masters in -Computer Science at Purdue -Senior Economic Advisor to the Dole/Kemp campaign in 1996 -Ran for Republican Presidential Nomination in 2000 -Ran for 2004 U.S. Senate in Georgia -Supports a non-federally subsidized efficient economic stimulus (more direct stimulus plans) 9,9,9 plan Phase I (9-9-9) *9% tax on personal income, 9% corporate tax, 9% national sales tax *End payroll tax, capital gains tax, and death tax completely Phase II (the Fair Tax) *The “Fair Tax” would ultimately replace individual and corporate income tax *Make it possible to end the IRS *Makes our exported goods and services the most competitive internationally than any other tax system -On Oct 7th, Cain was the frontrunner by 20% -Cancer survivor in 2006 (colon and liver), and is currently in remission after surgery and chemotherapy -Received the Horatio Alger Award in 1996, which recognizes outstanding Americans in dedication, perseverance, and purpose in their personal lives -Wants to reduce spending -Wants to secure borders and have immigration laws actually be followed throughout the process -Believes health care should be on the individual -Wants insurance premiums to be deductible regardless if purchased by employer or employee -Wants to reward teachers whose students excel in the classroom -Offer more school choices -Wants to decentralize education and put the responsibility on the states, not the federal government
-Stephen Saia
tHe CollEction THE TREE OF LIFE The Tree of Life is the impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950's. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain Directed by: Terrence Malick DVD Release: October 11, 2011
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS A veterinary student from the wrong side of the tracks meets and falls in love with a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. They discover beauty amidst the world of the Big Top, and come together through their compassion for a special elephant. Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz Directed by: Francis Lawrence DVD Release: November 1, 2011
SUPER 8 Super 8 tells the story of six friends who witness a train wreck while making a Super 8 movie, only to learn that something unimaginable escaped during the crash. They soon discover that the only thing more mysterious than what it is, is what it wants. Starring: Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney Directed by: J.J. Abrams DVD Release: November 22, 2011 PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES deftly gains unprecedented access to The New York Times newsroom and the inner workings of the Media Desk. With the Internet surpassing print as the main news source and newspapers all over the country going bankrupt, PAGE ONE chronicles the transformation of the media industry at its time of greatest turmoil. Directed by: Andrew Rossi DVD Release: October 18, 2011
tHe ticKet
The Ides of March Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, and Evan Rachel Wood (Dir: George Clooney, 2011)
T
here’s an old adage in Hollywood: you’re only as good as your last one. If you make a great film – or hell, even a really good film – you are expected to duplicate or, if possible, excel upon its predecessors. And when you don’t, there is much disappointment, even more so than from a filmmaker who churns out garbage after garbage. (For visual aids of disappointment, see Brian De Palma, Woody Allen, or Francis Ford Coppola) Sadly, George Clooney now joins their ranks with his fourth film, The Ides of March. To be fair, Clooney has only made one great film. His debut feature, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (written by Charlie Kaufman – at his most conventional) and his third film, Leatherheads, are not that interesting. They follow tried and true formulas for tried and true genres (biography and romantic comedy, respectively) and made few waves in the film community other than being directed by the biggest
movie star in the world. It was his second film, Good Night, and Good Luck, filled with Oscar pedigree, a smart script, gorgeous black and white cinematography, and an overtly political theme (Communism) that made people see him as another Mel Gibson, Robert Redford, or Clint Eastwood. Good Night, and Good Luck yielded five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and
Best Director for George Clooney. Lap dissolve The Ides of March. Again, an overtly political – and prescient – theme (Obamamania, the election cycle) headlined by one of the best casts in a long time (Oscar nominees Ryan
Gosling and Paul Giamatti, Oscar winners Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, and Clooney, Tony and Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright, and the always interesting Evan Rachel Wood) So why didn’t I love it? Was it the script? There’s nothing wrong, per se, with the script. A little obvious in places (sexual scandal with an intern), but it does a nice job of unveiling the process of a primary. The dialogue contains some great political truisms and catchy wit. (The scene at the restaurant between Wood and Gosling, Clooney’s Bamlike sound bites, and any speech by Giamatti) Could it have been better? Yes. (Calling Aaron Sorkin…) Could it have been worse? Yes. (W, anyone? Seriously, what a waste of a cast…) Was it the acting? No. Will they glean any Oscar nominations? Probably not. They are too underused to stand out. (Why was Marisa Tomei in this movie?
Anyone could have played that part) Giamatti might be the sole exception. He has the showiest role and voters may still try and pay him back for Sideways. Ironically, the lead character was the least interesting. Gosling seemed to be competing with Matt Damon in The Adjustment Bureau for Most Passive Protagonist. Come to think of it, they should have switched roles. Definitely. And Clooney. Of course, no one but George Clooney could play the white version of Barack Obama (I wonder how many people would vote for him if he ran…), but his signature charm seemed to be on mute here. It was as if he either a) purposefully subdued his natural ability to make us hang on his every word for fear of upstaging Gosling or b) he was busy thinking about the next set-up to be fully present as an actor in his own film. Either way, he blends into the background. So we have two main characters that leave us feeling distant. Thank goodness for Evan Rachel Wood who gives us sex, timidity, strength, and naivete in what is essentially a plot-facilitating role. Was it the cinematography? Partially. Shots are not out of focus or unintentionally underexposed, but there is nothing special about them at all. If it weren’t for the singularly beautiful shot of Hoffman and Gosling in front of the giant American flag, I would think it were done by a first time director trying to implement the standard coverage he learned in film school, certainly not the man who gave
us the smoky, noir news rooms of McCarthy Era America. Was it the title? A little. I definitely assumed that the film would be about Caesar when it turned out to be about Brutus. But we know what they say about assumptions.
Was it the wasted opportunity? Yes. Part of me appreciates that it didn’t finger point and name call the Republicans/Tea Party as Public Enemy #1 (we definitely get enough of that in real life no matter how true it may be). But another part of me wanted to see this story manifested. Or better yet, how interesting would the film have been if it had followed the entire election cycle? We could have seen the dirty dealings of the primaries, the drama of the general election, and ended with the inauguration of a President we knew would have a tough road ahead to implement his liberal policies in a stagnant Washington. I suppose I can just wait another five years for Oliver Stone to make that movie. I didn’t hate the movie if that is how this is coming out. Clearly, I didn’t love it either. Basically, the film left me in a state of ambivalence. Perhaps this is
because I am aware of the dirty laws of politics. We all know that politicians lie, cheat, and steal – even the ones we love the most. I didn’t learn anything. Must films teach us something? No. But they must engage us and the best way to do that is to show us something new.
As I write this, I entertain a rogue thought. Maybe it was George Clooney’s intention to disappoint our expectations. He gathered a seemingly perfect storm of elements to deliver a great film, but didn’t. Why? If he were truly drawing a parallel between his character and the President, then of course we would be disappointed with our expectation; Heaven is a high fall. If he is lowering our expectation so his next film (perhaps like a second term) can be great by comparison, then he is brilliantly deceptive. Or he is a B student who turned in an A paper one time.
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BURIED IN DEBT: THE COST OF DEATH IN AMERICA ROBERT ROOD
L
ess than two out of three Americans can afford to die.
Whether someone dies at home, in a hospital, or in some obscure place, there is a standard legal process regarding handling the dead. In other words, when Uncle Joe keels over, it’s less then legal to throw him in the back of the trunk of someone’s car and go bury him on the old farm. The attending physician issues a death certificate, which is then sent to the health department to be certified. The body can only be removed by an individual licensed by the state for the removal of the deceased. The body is transported from the location of death to a mortuary for refrigerated storage. Provided there is no pending investigation or other reason to suspend burial, the health department then issues a permit to bury/ cremate to the funeral home, allowing them to commence with the appropriate services. All this costs money. Then comes the funeral. The family is responsible for all associated fees and expenses; if no family member steps up, or no one claims responsibility for the body, the default is a nofrills direct cremation paid for by county taxpayers. Depending in what county you live, the cremation itself costs from $500 to $750. There is really no difference in what goes on in the crematory between different priced cremations; the body is incinerated to ashes, which are collected and stored in an urn. Where a cremation gets more expensive is what
else goes into the incinerator with the body. By law, bodies cannot just be placed on the tray to be incinerated; they have to be in a casket. The ‘bare bones’ casket is made of reinforced cardboard, but a plain pine box is also a common low cost choice. The caskets range from cardboard to the elaborately ornate, to make the deceased look comfortable. Once the cremation is complete and the ashes are collected, the ashes are handed over to the family, or if no one has claimed the deceased, the ashes are kept by the health
department. But you can’t just get a body cremated, someone has to move the body and store it, and the funeral home staff needs a paycheck. The fee for transfer and storage of the remains alone can cost around $300. In King County, the total cost for a direct cremation can cost around $2600 with no funeral services attached. That chunk of change covers the overhead, staffing costs, the fees for storage and transporting the body, and the cremation costs. Should the family elect to bury the remains in a cemetery, they
are looking at a hole in their pocket of at least $4000. You are looking at fees for breaking the open ground, digging the pit, lining the grave, filling it, plus the cost of a headstone or marker. As you send a loved one to the grave, you are also getting nickeled and dimed to death. Regardless if you are burying just an urn or a full casket, you cannot just dig a hole and call it a day. After a burial pit is dug, it must be fitted with a cement liner. This outer stone box is not to deter grave robbers or function as some misguided zombie insurance. It serves a very practical purpose. Most of us like to think of the ground as solid and immovable, but despite the high viscosity of dirt and rocks, things buried in the ground shift, and not just in earthquakes. Cement foundations for buildings have a similar function to the cement liners in graves in that they help fix the structures’ location in the ground. This is particularly important in cemeteries where burial plots are next to each other or in the case where multiple family members are buried in the same plot, with the tombs stacked on top of one another. If a grave has shifted in the ground, instead of an excavator plowing through an unexpected casket, it scraps against the cement liner. Neither federal nor state regulation oversees the cost of burial, but there is federal regulation standardizing how
funeral homes list their pricing, meaning every funeral home in the country is supposed to have the same itemized price list. On this list you will find items such as basic services of funeral director and staff, anywhere between $1100 to $2000. This covers a variety of things ranging from planning the funeral, preparing obituary notices, the filling of permits and coordinating with other agencies involve in the funeral such as the cemetery management. But death is not the beginning of what costs accrue from dying. As an American, one of the most expensive things you will ever own is the will to live. If you try to hold back death, a flood of expenses can wash over you and your family. Medical costs are the greatest factor in personal bankruptcy accounts for more than 60% of all bankruptcies in the US. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, those diagnosed with cancer are twice as likely to file for bankruptcy then the average population one year after diagnosis; five years out, the bankruptcy rate for cancer patients was four fold higher than the national average. In short the longer you live with cancer, the more likely you will be bankrupt, even if you survive. Treatment costs do not just go to the drug companies. Hospitals pay to keep the lights on, they pay to keep the water running, they pay for licensing fees, and they pay to maintain their facility. The janitorial staff that keeps the hospital sanitary gets a paycheck, so do the nurses and doctors who spent years of their lives studying medicine, as well as the administration that maintains the
records and other paperwork that goes on behind the scenes. Medical equipment needs to be serviced regularly (you don’t want lifesaving equipment breaking down). Someone has to pay, so the cost of the medications and treatments help cover the overhead for the facility. Unpaid hospital bills that are never collected are supposedly absorbed by the hospital, which in turn drives up the cost of treatment for everyone. In other words, instead of getting stiffed on the bill, the prices rise for everyone that does pay.
The nationwide average for hospice care runs around $100 a day, and the needs for each patient is unique. Most insurance allegedly covers the complete cost of Hospice care with Medicaid and Medicare picking up the slack. But any medical costs not covered by insurance or Medicare are the financial responsibility of the patient, and although in the United States debt cannot be inherited, there are loop holes that allow for families to get stuck with the medical costs of the deceased. Creditors can apply a lien against the deceased’s estate to compensate for the debt owed. In some states, if there is a joint account between spouses, or the state has community property laws like Washington State, then the spouse can be responsible for what is owed because
of shared assets. Additionally, if the hospital gets a cosigner for the cost of treatment, that cosigner assumes responsibility for the bill when the deceased checks out. The misnamed asset of Life Insurance, which covers expenses related to death, is a financial product many in the U.S. do not have. The estimates for the number of Americans that have some form of life insurance vary between 60% and 70%, but that number belies the statistic that only 60% of those policyholders would be able to cover the financial cost of a family member who is actually dying. The cost of dying is an added burden to both the afflicted and their survivors. Given that the average person doesn’t have the coin to pay the ferryman when it comes time to cross the River Styx, most people end up leaving a legacy of debt for their loved ones. If the cost of burial and cremation services were lower, the number of people with adequate life insurance would increase, and the uninsured wouldn’t be struggling to cope with a minimum $2600 bill on top of losing someone they love.
THE INTERVIEW:
MERCUTIO MAGAZINE SAT DOWN WITH NATIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBER JAMES OLSON, DIRECTOR OF THE LIPPERT OLSON FUNERAL HOME. WE DISCUSS EVERYTHING FROM THE COST OF PLANNING A FUNERAL TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NFDA TO THE IMPACT OF SIX FEET UNDER 1. While doing research for this interview, one of the things that surprised me most, having not planned a funeral myself, is how costly a funeral service can be. How are the rates of funeral services determined? Are there forms of regulation? The cost of a funeral can vary greatly but is ultimately driven by the needs of the family. Each funeral is customized by the family for their needs and in some instances, their financial resources. The funeral director’s main responsibility is to make sure that the families needs are met, that their loved one is cared for in a dignified manner and that there is no financial hardship to the family. For instance, some families already own
burial plots which may have been purchased years ago by other family members. This can greatly lower the cost to a family during their time of need as plots can easily range from $500 to $5000. Some families may choose cremation, which, depending on the type of memorialization they choose, could be less expensive than a traditional funeral where they would have to purchase a casket, vault and cemetery space. Funeral homes in the United States are regulated not only by the FTC, but by State, County, City and sometimes Cemetery regulations. 2. What is the most expensive part of a funeral service?
Again, the most expensive part of a funeral is different for each individual. For one family, it may be cemetery costs, another it may be the casket and yet another may be an urn. There is no blanket across the board cost for every funeral as they are individual to each families needs. 3. In 2001 the Federal Trade Commission charged two funeral homes with violating the FTC policy that protects consumers. The two funeral homes were not providing itemized price lists to clients before making decisions. Is this a common practice? Have you witnessed this type of behavior?
Although I cannot speak directly about this particular instance, not knowing the facts of the cases, I can say that funeral home are regulated by the FTC which require funeral homes make the proper disclosures to families. This includes giving them a General Price List when talking about prices, showing them a Casket Price list before entering the selection room, and giving copies of the Statement of Goods and Services Selected. National Funeral Directors Association members are also held to an enforceable Code of Professional Conduct which also regulates how funeral directors work with families. 4. What part does the NFDA play in protecting consumers? In protecting funeral home owners? What is the origin of the NFDA? NFDA members are held to a higher standard because of the enforceable Code of Professional Conduct (http:// www.nfda.org/about-nfda-/ code-of-professional-conduct. html). NFDA has also made available to families the Consumer Bill of Rights which explains what questions to ask and what should be disclosed to them (http://www. nfda.org/consumer-resourcespreneed/30-bill-of-rights-forfuneral-preplanning.html). NFDA helps its members to protect themselves by providing continuing education about changing rules and regulations, FTC Regulations, OSHA regulations, Advocacy and legal advice from our NFDA General Council.
NFDA was founded in 1882 – making it the world’s oldest association for funeral directors – by a group of funeral directors in Michigan who wanted to raise the bar on professional standards. In many ways, that desire to raise the bar on professional and ethical standards is still at the core of what NFDA stands for today.
less? Where are the costs being cut? The recession in our economy has changed the way some families are making decisions for their end of life rituals. Some families have chosen shorter services than they may have had in the past. For example, two to three day funerals used to be commonplace; now we are seeing more and more families choose one day services. Some families have chosen to reduce outside costs like flowers, live music and food. 7. Generally people don't like to think about their own deaths, but it is a reality. How soon should a person begin to plan their funeral arrangements?
5. Many critics of funeral homes claim that pushy directors take advantage of the client while they are at their most vulnerable. How does one protect oneself from this behavior? As with any consumer purchase, the best way to make sure you are getting what you want is to educate yourself ahead of time. Shop around, ask questions and familiarize yourself with the process so that there are no surprises. Funeral directors love when the families we serve are educated as it ultimately makes our job easier and more enjoyable. 6. How has the recession taken a toll on funeral homes? Are people spending
You are never too young to start planning your funeral. Talk to your family members and let them and an NFDA member funeral home know what you would like so that if something were to happen, all of these tough decisions are already made. It gives your family peace of mind that they are carrying out your wishes and not burdening them with these decisions during an already trying time. 8. I keep hearing of this new trend of “green” or “natural” service? What is this entail exactly? Is it really better for the environment? There are many aspects to green funerals and natural burials. These may include using biodegradable contain-
ers or shrouds, burial in a natural burial cemetery with no vaults, no embalming and having the funeral in the home or other natural setting. Some may choose to be cremated so as leave a smaller carbon footprint. These can all be parts of green funerals and natural burials. Again, it is the funeral directors job to listen to what the family wants and to carry out their wishes to the best of their ability. As for being better for the environment, using green funeral products and natural burial practices can decrease the amount of hardwood including tropical woods that are harvested each year, the amount of concrete burial vaults and metal being put in the ground. Although cremation by its nature is not green – it uses a fossil fuel and does put out a small emission – you do ultimately leave a smaller footprint. This has also lead to the use of alkaline hydrolysis which is a green alternative to traditional cremation. 9. How do you keep residual emotions from following you home from work? Does being around grief constantly affect you emotionally? Or have you built up a tolerance? It is impossible to be in the funeral business and not be affected by the emotions of the families we are serving. But ultimately we have a job to do, and that is to take care of the families in their time of need. You could never build up a tolerance, as this would not allow us to do the jobs that
we have been called to do. Caring for the dead is a ministry that we feel we have been called to do and emotions are part of that ministry. The NFDA recognizes this and has given us the tools to network with other funeral directors to be able to share our thoughts and feelings with someone else who knows what we are going through. This has been one of the greatest part of being a funeral director is being able to meet my colleagues from around the world and know that I am not the only out there.
and activities just like everyone else. We attend church in our community, volunteer actively in the community and have outside interests other than serving families during their time of need.
10. How big of a role does the state or federal government play in the lives of funeral home directors? Is the NFDA working towards any reforms?
As with any Hollywood show made to get a reaction, I would not say this show is an accurate depiction of what we do. The soap opera-style was made for ratings and just happened to take place in a funeral home. If you would like to see an accurate portrayal of what funeral directors do every day, I would suggest the PBS Frontline documentary called “The Undertaking” (http://www.pbs. org/wgbh/pages/frontline/ undertaking/). This is about as accurate portrayal of what we do every day to serve grieving families.
As we touched on earlier, there are a lot of state, federal, county and even municipal rules and regulations that we have to deal with on a daily basis. The NFDA has given us the tools to be able to respond quickly to changes in regulations. The NFDA has a full-time office in Washington, D.C. to direct our Advocacy efforts in helping with laws and regulations that protect the families that we serve. 11. What would say are the biggest misconceptions people have about funeral home directors? I would say the biggest misconception about funeral directors is that people forget we are human too. We have families, homes, pets, hobbies
12. Last question, have you seen the television show “Six Feet Under”? If you have, would you say it's an accurate depiction? How has this changed perceptions and communication between funeral home directors and the grieving families they care for?
EXTENDING VITAL LIFE: STEM CELL RESEARCH, ANTI-AGING MEDICINE, AND THE SEARCH FOR A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH HEATHER MINGUS
W
e are barely into our twenties when we are bombarded by the message of preserving youth. Advertisers and society begin to warn us that our vital years fade quickly, and we must do everything in our power to maintain the vitality we currently possess. From healthy eating to exercise, it is not only the
pursuit of an active lifestyle that motivates us, but the promise of extending our time on Earth. Externally, we fight the effects of aging by coloring our grey hair, slathering our skin with moisturizer and collagen-containing products, and sometimes even plastic surgery in the vain hope of carrying physical youth into our twilight years. At its root it starts out in vanity, but as
modern medicine progresses it becomes the search for longevity and eventually life without death. Today there are efforts toward extending life through methods of gene therapy (which have been largely unsuccessful) and stem cell research. Both are methods of teaching the body to regenerate itself to prevent disease, recover
from injury, and maintain physical youth for a longer amount of time. Controversy is ever-present, suggesting that medicine is stepping into God's territory and tampering with human life by extending it. Though it can be argued that all modern, scientific medicine goes against a Creator's intent, a Creator could not be reached for comment. Dr. Fossel from the Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine has this to say: "The question is not 'Will we extend healthy life?’ but ‘When and How?’” The main point of contention in stem cell research is of the use of human embryo. Human embryos are, to some of the population, considered a human life not to be destroyed. And because research largely ends in failure before significant breakthroughs are made, it is seen as wasting a life without any direct benefit to another. The Do No Harm Coalition exists specifically against any stem cell research that destroys a human life, an embryo. It warns of the tendencies embryonic cells have of developing cancer that can spread once the cells are transplanted and the potential disasters that can occur. They do, however, acknowledge on their website that "If scientists are correct, stem cell research could result in a veritable fountain of youth by replacing
diseased or damaged cells." Lucky for them, there are stem cell alternatives that are actually more successful than the use of an embryo. When debating stem cell research, it largely goes overlooked that adult stem cells have been used in over 2000 clinical trials and have treated illnesses such as cancer, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, immunodeficiency disorders, neural degenerative disorders, anemias, and other blood conditions. They can be harvested from bone
marrow, lipid cells, and blood from donors, for use in their own bodies. In addition to adult stem cells, there is new and constant research in the area of amniotic fluid stem cells, which could potentially overcome any ethical objections to using embryos as a source. Embryonic stem cells can develop into over 200 cell types in the body, so finding a replacement from something such as amniotic fluid would be a huge success for this kind of research. While adult stem cells are currently being used in treatments in humans and even horses (to treat injuries),
only in 2010 was the first embryonic trial initiated in the treatment of spinal cord injury. In an article from Forbes Online, William Haseltine, previous Chief Executive of Human Genome Sciences, is quoted as saying, "The routine utilization of human embryonic stem cells for medicine is 20 to 30 years hence." So those looking for a prolonged lifespan before they begin to wrinkle, should probably stick to their yoga and nightly moisturizer regimen for the time being. Even in gene therapy studies, there have only been minimal breakthroughs. A genetic discovery was reported in October 2009 in Technology Review, published by MIT. It began with the basic results that restricted caloric intake is already known to extend lifespan and reduce age-related disease (not just in mice, but everything from "yeast to mammals"). By disabling a certain gene in the mice, scientists were able to mimic the life-extending effects of restricted caloric intake. The mice with the disabled protein were leaner, more energetic, and displayed increased cognitive ability, well into their middle age. Yet another step in the direction of preserving youth. But before we get excited about delaying AARP for another few decades, we
should take a hard look at ourselves and think of the realities of an extended lifespan. Right now, barring an accident or disease in our prime, we are given between 70 and 80 years to live, on average. Seven or eight decades of life to do with what we please. How many of those years do we truly make the most ever every minute we have? How many days do we allow to slip by because we can "do it tomorrow"? What happens when we suddenly have the ability to say "I'll do it next decade"? It is possible that simply because we are given more years to live that we still will not live more life in its emotional or spiritual sense. Rarely, when given more time, do humans have the tendency to see it as an opportunity to pack in more activity, but as a chance to spread out what
they are already doing. A chance to do nothing. We are not extending time to see the world, but possibly just extending the time we say we're going to do it. Sure we will be healthy and wrinkle-free, but will we turn over a new leaf or remain on paths of stasis and procrastination? George Bernard Shaw's famous quote is that "youth is wasted on the young." It is a perspective of wisdom that only occurs to most people once they have aged, once their bodies are more restricted and their lives change direction because they can no longer be boundless in carefree youth. Learning to make the most of life frequently comes after the halfway point of years has passed. So what happens when we live forever? We will no longer be forced by our genetics into wisdom, but can con-
tinue to live in a place lacking self-reflection - the constant catalyst for personal and intellectual growth. Without age, not only our bodies will remain constant and same, but our minds, our emotions, our maturity. Even if genetic medicine and stem cell research change the forecast of our futures, we will never make the proper use of our extended lives if we do not take the time to appreciate them now, while they are vital and beautifully abbreviated.
OBAMA HAS DONE SOMETHING
HERE ARE 50 OF A VERY LONG LIST.... 1.Saved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailing them out, and putting incentive money to help the industry 2.Shifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and put the emphasis on reducing terrorism where it should have been all along 3.Relaxed Anti-American tensions throughout the world 4. Reformed Crack Cocaine Laws 5.Has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation 6.Has made education a national priority by not only putting emphasis and money behind new ideas like charter schools, but speaking directly to school children in telling them they have to do their part. 7.Won the Nobel Peace Prize 8.$789 billion economic stimulus plan 9.Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court 10.Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles 11.Authorized construction/ opening of additional health centers to care for veterans 12.Renewed dialogue with
NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues. 13.Begab the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc. 14.Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
15.“Cash for clunkers” program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales 16.Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan 17.Closed offshore tax safe havens 18.Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan 19.Ended media “blackout” on war casualties; reporting full
information 20.Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts 21.Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB. 22.Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules 23.Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings 24.Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports 25.American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created over a million jobs 26.Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions 27.Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back 28.Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards 29.Launched Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and
accountability through technology. 30.Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices 31.Ended previous “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/ Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date 32.Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources 33.Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient 34.Established a new cyber security office 35.Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children 36.Expandedvaccination programs 37.Families of fallen soldiers have expenses 38.Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America’s Veterans. 39.Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research 40.Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools 41.Responded with compassion and leadership to the earth-
quake in Haiti 42.Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters 43 Launched Business.gov – enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business. Great for the economy. 44.Improved housing for military personnel 45.Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals 46.Changed failing war strategy in Afghanistan. 47.Improved benefits for veterans 48.Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect 49.Donated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize to nonprofits. 50.Increased opportunities in AmeriCorps program
I
f it bleeds, it leads. Every day we’re bombarded with stories of violence. Turn on the news, watch a movie, read a book, and you’ll surely come across a victim of some horrible death, a gang slaying, a gory car accident, a terrorist attack. It’s no wonder we carry pepper spray, wear our seatbelts, and lock our doors at night. Like the proverbial train wreck, we are mutually fascinated and terrified by the concept of a violent death. But the truth is that homicide accounts for less than 1% of all deaths in the U.S., and accidents account for only about 5%. (CDC, National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 59[8], Aug 2011) In fact, you are almost five times more likely to die of the leading cause of death, one that even the best security system in the world can’t protect you from: heart disease. Scared yet? You should be. In the last year alone, about 1.25 million Americans suffered from a heart attack. On average, someone in America dies of a coronary event every minute of every day. Almost half of the men who have a heart attack under age 65 will die within eight years. One in four people who die, die from heart disease. We’re talking about over 600 thousand people dying each year. Scared now? Good. Not because I enjoy scaring people (well, maybe a little bit around this time of year), but because I’m hoping that maybe it’ll scare you into doing something about it. Because that’s one of the most frustrating things about heart disease: there is so much we can do to help prevent it, and yet we don’t.
KILLING ME SOFTLY: HO MORE DANGEROUS T
We know that there are a lot of simple things we can do to prevent ourselves from dying in a car accident: don’t drink and drive, wear a seat belt, obey traffic laws, and don’t text while driving. Check, check, for-the-most-part check, and only-at-red-lights check. Preventing heart disease? Experts agree that there are several steps you can take to dramatically reduce your chances of suffering from heart disease, such as eating healthy, staying active, reducing stress, and even washing your hands and brushing your teeth regularly. So why don’t we do those things? Perhaps because they are not as easy as clicking that seat belt or
Laura She
flipping on the turn signal. But wa
Maybe our convenience-obsessed s into thinking that eating healthy is with consumerism, that more-is-be our conception of proportion. May glued to the T.V./computer, watch stories about violent deaths, rathe fore avoiding the deadly progressi own bodies.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence tha obesity rate also has the highest d know that eating crappy foods and being fat increases our chances of
So why the hell do we keep going to McDonald’s? How on earth is the company that makes Twinkies still in business? Why-oh-why was the Triple Baconator even invented? Because we’re lazy, stupid fuckers. We’re too lazy to read the nutritional facts that all food manufacturers and restaurants are now required (by law) to provide. We’re too stupid to realize that, yeah, maybe a 1,400 calorie appetizer of fried onion rings with ranch dressing paired with a 1,300 calorie pasta bowl is a bad idea. We’re lazy and stupid and honestly think that the “convenience” of buying a Whopper, large fries, and medium Coke through the drive through is worthy of the damage it’s doing to our arteries. Ordering that large pizza and waiting 30 minutes for it to be delivered is oh-so-much faster and oh-somuch cheaper than making some fresh chili and a side of veggies. OK, maybe we’re not that lazy and we’re not that stupid. (At least I hope not). But we can’t deny the fact that obesity is becoming a bigger problem (pun intended). The number of young people who are obese practically doubled from the late 1970’s to the late 1990’s.
OW A FRENCH FRY IS THAN A TERRORIST
eehan
ait: maybe they are.
society has simply brainwashed us s too hard. Maybe our obsession etter frame of mind, has warped ybe our media-addiction has us hing movies, and reading news er than staying active and thereion of heart disease within our
at the state with the highest death rate for heart disease. We d not exercising makes us fat. And f dying from a heart attack.
Whatever the cause, we know the solution. Eat better. Exercise more.
Blame society if you want, but that won’t make you healthier. If we all shift our mindset, society will follow. Food manufacturers put up a fight when the FDA started regulating phrases like “low-calorie” and “fat free,” but when people like me and you started seeking out foods that met these requirements, manufacturers were tripping over themselves to accommodate us. So don’t wait for society to change for you. Make it change. If we start seeking out healthier foods, providers will meet that demand. Soon eating less-processed, lower-calorie foods will become the societal norm. Having a side of vegetables instead of a side of fries won’t make people look at you like you’re a “health nut.” One day, the people still eating Twinkies will be the ones getting the dirty looks. One day. In the meantime, if you’re still trying to figure out what scary costume to wear for Halloween, how about dressing up as yourself? Because you’re the biggest risk factor for your own death. And that’s a scary thought.
THE POLITICS OF ORGAN DONATION Betsy Hillstead
“The stark reality for thousands of patients in need of organ transplants is that they will probably die before a suitable donor match ever becomes available.”
I
n the United States, more than 100,000 individuals are currently on the national waiting list for an organ transplant. About 70,000 of those people are classified as active candidates, patients declared medically healthy enough to actually survive the surgery, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As the waiting list continues to lengthen, the stark reality for thousands of patients in need of organ transplants is that they will probably die before a suitable donor match ever becomes available.
license is a good start if your final wishes are to become an organ donor, but individuals who wish to donate their organs after death must communicate those wishes actively to their families. Misconceptions such as whether organ donation will prohibit open casket funeral arrangements (it won’t) often undermine the opportunity for giving the gift of life at the tragic occurrence of a loved-one’s death. Inadequate training of hospital personnel to counsel
Globally, the statistics are even worse. Although mortality rates may seem strikingly high, advances in medical science such as the implementation of anti-rejection drugs for transplant recipients have dramatically increased patient survival rates. However, the gap between available organs and waiting donors continues to widen. Despite media campaigns on behalf of The National Network of Organ Donors and other organizations in nationwide efforts to recruit more donors, a potential donor’s next of kin still legally must provide the final go-ahead before their loved one’s organs can actually be harvested. An endorsement on the back of your driver’s
grieving families further contributes to the compounding crisis. Members of the European Union along with a handful of other nations including Israel, Turkey, and Japan currently operate under a system of
presumed consent for organ donation. Under presumed consent, a person who has undergone brain death is considered a willing organ donor unless otherwise indicated in life. The system appears to work. The availability of donor organs in these countries has dramatically increased resulting in thousands of life saving transplant procedures. In the States, we operate under an opposite system, unfortunately blanketed in fear and urban myths regarding the realities of organ donation. One such myth is that an organ donor’s body might accidentally be disassembled before the individual is really dead. In truth, this example tends to confuse a comatose state with that of medically pronounced brain death. Brain death is defined as the cessation of neural functioning including involuntary body regulation processes (such as body temperate, blood pressure, and hormone production) characterized by no chance of recovery. A coma condition, alternately, is a distinctly different human state wherein a patient will exhibit neurological signs of brain function. Another popularly held misconception is that becoming a donor may result in inadequate emergency care. However, trauma person-
“The system is not foolproof. Black market transactions occur in American hospitals as well as abroad.”
nel work autonomously from transplant teams, and the option of harvesting a patient’s organs is never considered until all life saving measures have been exhausted. A host of other factors continue to contribute to the shortage of donor organs as well. The proximity of patients in need to an available donor can literally translate into life or death for both the waiting recipient and the organ itself. Organs can only tolerate conditions outside of a human body for very limited amounts of time. A matter of hours is all transplant teams have to work with. Legislatively enacted measures such as who may be considered a viable donor candidate further entrench the donation process in red-tape and often discriminatory rejections. In the States as well as abroad, gay men are currently banned from donating organs, and only a handful of organizations are even willing to accept homosexual blood. Even men engaged in documented multi-year monoga-
mous relationships are banned from making donations. This is clearly an example of outdated legislation based on the stigma that homosexual men are inherently prone to promiscuity and risky sexual behavior, and therefore at higher risk of contracting and transmitting HIV/AIDS or other blood-borne diseases.
plant tourism. Here’s how it works: hopeful organ recipients contact an “organ broker” and negotiate a financial contract wherein the broker is responsible for finding an appropriate donor match, arranging transportation to and from medical facilities, and providing accommodations for both parties.
While there is no current legislation barring gay men from receiving organ donations, patients with a history of using medically prescribed marijuana are excluded from transplant eligibility. Because marijuana is still considered an illegal substance at the federal level, state legislation regarding the approved use for medicinal purposes is overridden. The patient is essentially classified as an illicit substance abuser and therefore not a reasonable candidate for the life saving procedure.
The problem with this system (aside from the legal implications and a complete lack of regulatory systems) is that more often than not the rights, dignity, and physical well being of the generally poverty stricken donor pool population are abhorrently exploited. While organ brokers charge potential recipients tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars for use of their services, the donors (often recruited from slums and ghettos in underdeveloped nations) are compensated by only a fraction of those figures.
Out of desperation and in fear of death, many patients have turned to the black market in hopes of procuring replacement organs; a trend popularly referred to as trans
Author and contributor Nancy Scheper-Hughs reported in an article for Newsweek that donor pay rates are as little
as $3,000 for kidney transplants performed in a South African hospital. Compounding the plight of poverty stricken donors, subpar medical evaluations and inadequate postoperative care often lead to even worse life conditions post-surgery than desperate donors experienced before undergoing the operation. In India, transplant tourism has an especially negative impact on women as husbands may demand their wives to sell a kidney in order to raise money for their daughter’s dowries or to spend in whatever fashion they deem fit. Often donors are lied to about how much compensation they will receive once the surgeries are complete, and victims are left with no hope of retribution and nowhere to turn for help.
to determine the suitability of their organs for transplant. Post-execution (carried out with a single bullet to the head at the hands of a firing squad, careful not to damage precious vital organs) condemned prisoner’s innards are directed to already waiting recipients in nearby transplant facilities. The practice is regarded as inhuman partly due to China’s harsh execution laws, and also in observance of local spiritual beliefs regarding the harvesting of body
The selling of human organs is currently a globally prohibited act in every country save Iran. Yet as transplant wait times continue to lengthen everywhere else in the world, Iran’s free market system has essentially leveled out the available organ supply with medical demand. The controversy surrounding the legalization of selling human organs remains a point of popular debate, with the strongest opposition argument citing exploitation of the poor as grounds to maintain the status quo.
parts after death.
China’s solution to increasing the organ donor supply has been met with much criticism from the international human rights community. In China, prison inmates marked for execution undergo medical testing before death in order
Organ donation in the states is based on an altruistic system of giving and only after we have passed on. Under specially approved circumstances, the gift of organs from living donors is allowed provided the potential donor can pass a series of physical and psychological tests to prove he is healthy enough to survive the operation, and that he shall accept nothing of financial value in return. However, in an effort to increase after death donations and alleviate demand for healthy tissue, legislation proposed in favor of monetarily compensating a potential donor’s next of kin for voluntarily donating of their loved one’s organs or corpse to science has been a topic of wide debate. The
money living relatives receive could be spent at their own discretion. UNOS (the United Network for Organ Sharing) is the private, non-profit organization that manages the U.S. organ transplant system under contract with the federal government. They maintain the national transplant database and keep records on all transplant procedures performed in the U.S. UNOS also drives initiatives to improve education regarding organ donation and strives to make the best use of the limited supply regardless of potential recipients’ race, age, ethnicity, religious affiliations, or income levels. Organ procurement organizations (OPOs) are responsible for evaluating potential donors and arranging specific details pertaining to initiating transplant operations, including organ removal, direct communication with the donor’s family, and organ transpiration to the eventual transplant site. The system is not foolproof. Black market transactions occur in American hospitals as well as abroad. With the promise of a few thousand dollars and a chance to see an American city, hired donors posing as altruistic volunteers have been known to pass through the examination process undetected, or in some cases, with transplant teams choosing to turn a blind eye to the deception at the chance to save another life.
tHe SoUnd FEIST- METALS Feist returns with her highly anticipated new album, Metals. After an 18-month hiatus, the album promises to be intimate and transcendent, something we've come to expect from Feist. Release: September 30, 2011 BJORK- BIOPHILIA The Icelandic goddess' 7th album is perhaps her most ambitious since 2004's vocal only Medulla. Biophilia refers to the love of all living things, and in every aspect of this game-changing media effort, Bjork effortlessly connects nature music and technology. Release: October 10, 2011 DRAKE – TAKE CARE After the success of his debut album Thank Me Later, Drake's follow up Take Care will be 19 tracks of personal experiences occurring during his meteoric rise to fame and superstardom. Release: October 24, 2011
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE CEREMONIALS To be released on Halloween, Florence and the Machine are out to not disappoint fans who adored 2009's Lungs. The 13-track record is built around the themes of “love, death, violence, and guilt” Release: October 31, 2011 WILLIAM SHATNER – SEARCHING FOR MAJOR TOM 80 year old television legend William Shatner releases a spoken word album entitled Searching For Major Tom. Honestly, does this man ever quit? Release: October 11, 2011 COLDPLAY: MYLO XYLOTO British rock band Coldplay releases their 5th studio album entitled Mylo Xyloto, a concept album that follows the story of two characters and the struggle they go through to find love. Release: October 24, 2011
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HAVE YOU SEEN.......?
Never Let Me Go Starring: Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, and Andrew Garfield (Dir: Mark Romanek, 2010)
W
hat is our purpose?
To share? To seek knowledge? To entertain some omniscient deity’s masturbatory fancy? To trudge forward through an existence about nothing to nothingness? The possibilities are really endless. But not for the children at Hailsham. Their purpose is quite clear: to share. Their organs. Never Let Me Go is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro. It takes place in England during a fictitious 1960s-80s, a time of medical miracles where the likes of heart disease and cancer no longer exist. How? Children like the ones at Hailsham. Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth may look and behave like ordinary children (teasing, first loves, alliances), but they are not. They were born – created – for the sole purpose of having their organs harvested for the good of humanity. Of course, they don’t know this.
All they know is that they are “special.” They have the Gallery to prove it. Every year, Madame comes to choose various drawings and sculptures for display. These children are singled out. But for what purpose? Miss Lucy, a new kindly teacher, distraught over the children’s ignorance of their fate, tells them they are clones – yes, clones – who will start to donate their vital organs after they turn 18 until they “complete.” Not surprisingly, she is promptly fired. The headmistress, Miss Emily, sweeps this revelation under the rug and continues “school” as usual. The children eventually “graduate” and move to the Cottages where they will wait for their turn to begin the donation process. The Gallery remains a mystery. Life at the Cottages affords them what Hailsham never could: a taste of the outside world. There is a great scene where the three of them go to a diner for the first time, completely unable to even decide on a beverage. Their entire
lives have been regimented for them. Rumor has it that Hailsham children – being special – can apply for a deferral if they are in love, buying them a few years together before the first donation. Perhaps this was the purpose of the Gallery: to see inside their souls in order to be able to know when love was real. Kathy wishes this were true. She loves Tommy. And always has. But Tommy is with Ruth. And always has been. Ruth tells Kathy that Tommy is hers. And always will be. Instead, Kathy becomes a carer, a clone in charge of monitoring the donation of other clones, while Tommy and Ruth, now separated, begin their donations in different parts of the country. By chance, Kathy tends to a clone at the same hospital where Ruth has just finished her second donation. They drive down to see Tommy. It is their first reunion in ten years. Hoping to make amends, Ruth has found the address of Mad-
ame, the woman in charge of the Gallery at Hailsham and supposedly the one in charge of granting deferrals. Ruth pleads for the two of them to see her before it is too late. After all, Kathy and Tommy are in love. And always have been. Is it too late for them? Did the Gallery truly provide Madame with some sort of access to their souls? Or is their fate as nothing more than viable tissue immoveable? The acting in this film is just superb. Ridiculously ignored, even. The triumvirate of leads (Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley) sparkle like diamonds in performances filled with subtlety and depth. Knightley’s Ruth is sexy, yet demure, manipulative, yet frightened; Garfield’s Tommy is all “heart” as Miss Emily says, played with earnestness and rage, worthy of an Oscar nomination (Garfield was equally snubbed for The Social Network); and Mulligan’s Kathy. Wow. Every feeling, every swallowed word, every disappointment right there behind tear stained
eyes. She gives internal acting new meaning. Rounding out the fantastic cast are Charlotte Rampling as a scary as Hell Miss Emily and Sally Hawkins as a compassionate Miss Lucy. Director Mark Romanek is primarily known for making music videos. And he has made some of the greatest (Madonna’s “Bedtime Story,” NIN’s “Closer,” Fiona Apple’s “Criminal,” Michael and Janet Jackson’s “Scream”). With Never Let Me Go (and its equally awesome, yet similarly forgotten predecessor, One Hour Photo), we see a major emerging talent at work. The cinematography is gorgeous without being showy, the music poignant without being melodramatic, and the tone somber without being depressing. The film builds at a beautifully lethargic pace, trusting its audience that we will stay with it despite its refusal to dumb down or spell out every detail. The film is smart and moving. And does what many don’t – or even try to: it makes us think. Of course, this means it flopped at the box office, disappearing from
theatres almost as quickly as it came. Like all great films, Never Let Me Go – and the questions it raises – lingers with us long after it is over. What are the ethics of cloning? How far is cloning from stem cell research really? If we ever get to a point where clones are a plausible alternative for medical breakthroughs, is it better to treat them as humans like the students at Hailsham? Or should we keep them cryogenically sedated like some specimen found at Area 51? Is a clone a person? If not, could we use them as slave labor? How far will we go in the name of science? Or does “too far” even exist?
THE LICENSE TO KILL Tylla Bradley
“T
he most dangerous place for an African-American is in the womb,” so proclaimed a Soho billboard sponsored by a prolife group in honor of Black History Month. And despite the controversial nature of the statement, the findings of New York City Health Department backed it up. And, while the womb may be more dangerous for African-American fetuses in New York City, across America, it takes an epic journey for an unborn fetus to emerge unscathed from the birth canal. Despite the usual medical complications that may arise from the pregnancy, fetuses today must dodge the dangers of the outside world far before they actually enter it. As Mother Teresa said, “the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child - a direct killing of the innocent child - murder by the mother herself.” While mothers aren’t the only threat to in utero fetuses, unfortunately, they are the biggest threat that modern society encourages and cheers on in the name of women’s and reproductive rights. In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that a Texas abortion law was unconstitutional, striking down similar laws across the country and legalizing abortion throughout the United States. Since then, over 50 million abortions have
been performed. However, although the ruling did legalize abortion, it did not hand activists the carte blanche that they were hoping for. Instead, the court ruled that a woman would legally be able to obtain an abortion until the fetus was viable. However, since the esteemed justices of the Supreme Court are experts on the law and not medical experts, they left the issue of viability to people far more (and less) qualified than themselves to deal with.
“Life is a fun, magical, mystical thing that has stumped theologians, philosophers, and scientists for years. No one knows when it begins.”
Life is a fun, magical, mystical thing that has stumped theologians, philosophers, and scientists for years. No one knows when it begins. Everyone has an opinion, based on personal experience, religious belief, or scientific facts, but in the end, there is no one definitive answer. The argument usually divides into two camps. The
first argues that life begins at conception, i.e. when the sperm fertilizes the egg and creates a zygote. The second argues that life begins at a further point during gestation ranging from when the fetus’ brain and heart develops, to when the fetus begins to move, or, in extreme cases, an unknown point after the fetus is delivered. Former abortionist Bernard Nathanson stated, “Fetology makes it undeniably evident that life begins at conception and requires all the protection and safeguards that any of us enjoy.” Princeton ethicist and professor Peter Singer argues, “As long as the abortion is carried out at less than 20 weeks of gestation – as almost all abortions are – the brain of the fetus has not developed to the point of making consciousness possible.” He continued by countering the follow-up argument of pro-life activists by asserting, “Other opponents say the fetus has the potential to become a person, that is, a thinking, rational being, like ourselves . . . But why should mere potential give a being a right to life?” According to our laws, it doesn’t. Legally, abortions are available during the first and second trimester of a pregnancy, third trimester abortions are limited to rare instances where the health of the mother is at risk. First trimester abortions are less expensive and easier to perform than abortions in the second
(MTX): a medical abortion procedure used up to the first seven weeks of pregnancy.
trimester. In fact, depending on how early the pregnancy is, first trimester abortions consist of several pills and maybe some extensive bleeding to flush the detached tissue out of the body. According to the Guttmacher Institute, the majority of abortions performed happen during the first trimester. Second trimester pregnancies are more complicated since the fetus has developed greater physical mass. The primary difference is the cost difference between getting an abortion earlier rather than later. Third trimester abortions, completely illegal in 13 states, may require a second physician to approve and aid with the procedure; partial birth abortions (delivering a live fetus until the head is visible and then inducing death through cranial damage) are strictly prohibited in all 50 states and carries a two year jail sentence. Key Weeks of Pregnancy and Available Abortions: First Trimester (1-12 weeks) During the first trimester the heart, eyes, and external extremities begin to develop in minute detail. -Methotrexate & Misoprostol
-Mifepristone and Misoprostol: a medical abortion procedure used up to the first seven to nine weeks of pregnancy. It is also referred to as RU-486, the abortion pill and Mifeprex. -Suction Aspiration: a surgical abortion procedure used to terminate pregnancy between 6 to 12 weeks gestation. It is also referred to as suction curettage or vacuum aspiration. Second Trimester (13-21 weeks) During the second trimester the brain, heart, and lungs
start and continue to develop. -Dilation & Curettage (D & C): a surgical abortion procedure used to terminate a pregnancy between 13 to 15 weeks gestation. It is also referred to as suction curettage or vacuum aspiration. -Dilation & Evacuation (D & E): a surgical abortion procedure used to terminate a pregnancy between 15 to 21 weeks gestation. -Induction Abortion: a rarely performed surgical procedure where salt water, urea, or potassium chloride is injected into the amniotic sac; prostaglandins are inserted into the
vagina and pitocin is injected intravenously. Third Trimester (22- 38 weeks) By this time, the baby is almost fully developed and has begun to form a nervous system and gain weight in anticipation of delivery. -Induction Abortion -Dilation and Extraction: a surgical abortion procedure used to terminate a pregnancy after 21 weeks of gestation. This procedure is also known as D & X, Intact D & X, Intrauterine Cranial Decompression and Partial Birth Abortion. Since 1973 when Roe v. Wade was passed, over 50 million women have exercised their reproductive right to take control of their own life and their sexuality by terminating their pregnancy. For those women, this was a success, a victory that allowed them to walk out the front door unencumbered by the weight of responsibility. For the millions of discarded fetuses that were taken out the back door, they took a gamble and lost. Ironically, the floodgates that Roe v. Wade opened brought with it another complication. While women were allowed
to terminate their unwanted pregnancies at will, what happens when outside forces terminate wanted pregnancies? Case in point, in 1969 Teresa Keeler was seven months pregnant when her exhusband confronted her about having a child with her lover. Enraged, he kneed her in the stomach and swore to “stomp it out of her” as he beat her. She gave birth to a stillborn daughter with a fractured skull, but Robert Keeler was only charged with assault on the mother since the California Supreme Court ruled that since “the legislature probably intended the phrase 'human being’ to mean a person who had been born alive,” Mr. Keeler could not be charged with murder because the fetus was not yet born. However, due to public outcry, the murder statue was changed to “Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought." Over 30 states have laws on the books similar to California’s.For instance, in Alabama, the law expanded “to include an unborn child in utero at any stage of development, regardless of viability, and specifies that nothing in the act shall make it a crime to perform or obtain an abortion that is otherwise legal.” Florida defined vehicular homicide as the killing of a human being, or the killing of a viable fetus by any injury to the mother caused by the operation of a motor vehicle by another in a reckless manner, In Kansas, Alexa’s Law protects a fetus “ at any stage of gestation from fertilization to birth,” and
North Carolina enacted a law that “states that any person, who in the commission of a felony, causes injury to a woman, knowing the woman to be pregnant, in which injury results in the miscarriage or stillbirth by the woman is guilty of a felony that is one class higher than the felony committed.” Basically, states are able to prosecute and punish anyone who dare terminate a pregnancy, except for a mother. As activist and writer David Daleiden points out, “Fetal homicide laws, constitutional even under current abortion jurisprudence, render the unborn persons with rights to be protected by the State. Nothing is more arbitrary discrimination than allowing the will of a private citizen to dictate whether another person’s killing is murder or not.” The pro-choice side tends to take a general stance against the laws mainly due to the fact that recognizing that the fetus has rights can lead to the ultimate overthrow of Roe v. Wade. However, it is difficult to vocally protest something that would allow a convicted murderer like Scott Peterson off of death row. “If this is murder, well, then any time a late-term fetus is aborted, they could call it murder," Morris County NOW President Mavra Stark protested in 2003 after the prosecutors announced that they would be charging Peterson with double homicide. She continued, “He [Connor, the fetus] was wanted and expected, and (Laci Peterson) had a name
for him, but if he wasn't born, he wasn't born.” Considering the fact that she was the president of a chapter of the National Organization of Women and that Peterson was being charged with the murder of his wife Laci, a woman, Stark’s comments were poorly received. Marie Tasy, public and legislative affairs director for New Jersey Right to Life, replied by pointing out, "The argument that (fetal homicide statutes) would interfere with abortion rights is ridiculous. These groups are so radical that they would deny recourse to a family for the loss of a wanted child." If the prosecutors had only charged Peterson with the murder of his wife, they could not seek the death penalty that they eventually received by convicting him of both murders. In the end, the general conclusion tends to be that dead fetuses are generally bad. But, a woman has the right to choose what she wants to do with her body and that includes the fetus growing inside of her. There is however, a vocal determined group willing to take a stand and say that human rights trump a woman’s reproductive right, but they get marginalized and drowned out. As long as the divide exists between fetal personhood and reproductive rights, it’s going to be a rough 40 weeks for any zygote trying to make the trip. Who knew getting here would be the hardest part?
WHO'S RUNNING AGAIN? RONALD ERNEST “RON” PAUL
-Born: August 20th, 1935 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania -U.S. Congressman for the 14th District in Texas -Captain in the Air Force -Candidate for the 2012 Republican Party Presidential nomination -Serves on House committee of Foreign Affairs, Joint Economic Committee, House Committee on -Financial Services -Chairman for the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology -Attended Gettysburg College and Duke University School of Medicine -Flight Surgeon in the Air Force during the Vietnam War (1963-1968) -First campaigned for President of the United States during 1988 as a representative for the Libertarian Party -His son, Rand Paul, was elected to the U.S. Senate for Kentucky in 2010 making this the only Father -Son combo in history -Nicknamed “Dr. No” and “Mr. Republican” Isolationism *Advocates withdrawal from the United Nations and NATO *Opposes welfare for illegal aliens, birthright citizenship, and amnesty -Pledges never to raise taxes and never voted to approve a budget deficit -Strong Pro-Life Pro-Energy President *Remove restrictions on drilling so we can tap our resources we have here *Repeal federal gas tax (saving approx. 18 cents per gallon) *Lift government roadblocks on the use of coal and nuclear power *Make tax credits available for the purchase and production of alternative fuel technologies Proponent of Homeschooling *Ensure the government treats high school diplomas through homeschooling the same as through a traditional venue *Provide parents with a $5000 tax credit per child for educational needs *Wants parents to be able to choose the right fit for their family Second Amendment *Never voted on a single issue that would infringe on gun owners’ rights *Introducing legislation to repeal the “Brady Bill” *Writing a bill that would allow pilots and trained law enforcement to carry a weapon in order to protect passengers to help prevent future 9/11 attacks -Wants to end the Federal Reserve -Will work for passage of a comprehensive audit legislation -Fight to legalize “sound money” so Americans have an alternative to the Fed’s paper money - Stephen Saia
A MISUNDERSTOOD DEATH: THE SOCIAL STIGMA OF SUICIDE
W
hen someone we love passes, there are social constants in the ways we mourn: funerals, dark attire, wakes filled with food, and the telling of stories from that person’s life that help us to shed light on the good we remember. Even in the media, coverage of a person’s death often reflects on the most positive aspects of their life and denouncement of the disease or accident that ended it too soon. But there are more than 33,000 people dying each year of a cause that frequently goes overlooked. In 2010, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the
HEATHER MINGUS United States according to the CDC. On average, it’s nearly double the number of homicides in any given year. It’s a death that crosses gender and ethnic boundaries, regardless of age or other factors. In searching the web, ten pages of news can be sifted through – keyword “suicide” – but only certain types recur in the media. Suicide bombing and murder-suicide are the top two media spotlights: instances that always include innocent victims, and only recently – due to a rash of youth suicides as a result of bullying – have other cases come to the forefront. But why? Where are the stories mourning the death of a hopeless forty-year-old mother of two, suffocating
herself in the garage or downing a bottle of pills? Where are the stories of a college-age boy so overcome by depression he puts a gun to his head? Why are they absent? Why are we – not just the media – unable to mourn and reflect on their lives in the same way? It begins with sympathy. Before beginning to understand the nature of unspoken deaths by suicide, it is important to note why some cases indeed do make an impact on the social media. In the past several years, homosexuality has been a constant cause for discussion and disagreement, a new civil rights movement for a new era. As more and more states begin approving same-sex
marriage, the pushback toward homosexuals from those who don’t approve has become greater. A website called ItGetsBetter.org began a campaign in July of 2010 that has since been flooded with videos done by celebrities and even President Barack Obama, all with the same message: This isn’t the end. Things will get better. Suicide is not the answer, and we’re all here for you. It is an outpouring of love and compassion against suicide never before seen of this magnitude. It is an effort to counteract these extreme bullies and save the lives of those who may be losing hope. But July 2010 wasn’t the first instance of youth suicide, homosexual or otherwise. It’s the 3rd leading cause of death between ages 15-24. It is only because there is a media trend in reporting hot-topic issues, such as homosexuality, that caused the spike in reporting. Organizations like Suicide.org have been around for much longer, offering information about the different types of suicide – youth, LGBT, PTSD soldier, elderly, mental illness, divorce, rape, college, etc. It is a site overflowing with information, phone numbers, and web links. It is an organization run by survivors of attempted suicide, those who have experienced suicidal tendencies and been through treatment, and the families of those who have lost loved ones to suicide. But Lady Gaga and President Barack Obama are nowhere to be found. There are no videos
filmed by America’s favorite TV stars or athletes, telling the standard suicidal population that It Will Get Better. It takes the attention of the media to round up these names and faces, something America is hesitant to do. On the CDC’s webpage, the first listed heading under sui-
“There are more than 33,000 people dying each year of a cause that frequently goes overlooked..”
cide’s consequences is “Cost to Society.” This speaks volumes of the social perceptions of suicide. Our first reactions range from “How could they be so selfish” to “I had no idea he/she was depressed.”
The sympathy found in the outpouring of support about bullying is less present when the person falls into a different category, such as mental illness. Frequently, these suicides are looked upon as avoidable, selfish choices. We remind those with depression that there are “things to live for” and to “think of their families.” But an understanding of the basic emotions that nourish suicidal thoughts would show that these comments rarely reach a person so desperate they believe they are making the right decision in ending their lives. They do think of their families. They sometimes see themselves as such a burden, so overcome with feelings of uselessness and hopeless outlooks, that they feel they would be doing everyone a favor by removing themselves from the world. A side effect of depression is often losing interest for things once loved – hobbies, careers, friends – so the list of Things To Live For dwindles or becomes completely null. In 2009, soldier suicide was at an all-time high. 245 soldiers took their lives. If thinking of their families and things they once loved were immediate solutions, these deaths would not continue at the same rate. According to the New York Daily News, more soldiers committed suicide in January 2009 – 24 total – than were killed by Al Qaeda. "If we lost this many soldiers to an enemy weapon, the entire country would know about it and we would demand
defensive measures." - Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. So what does it take to bring America’s attention to suicide and help them understand its true causes? Sympathy. Sympathy that comes from an understanding of the true reality suicidal people experience every day that leads them down this path. Suicidal people are not selfish people.
become isolated. Much like a depressed teen who locks his or herself in their room, feeling that no one truly understands or values what they see as true, these men and women are isolated in their own lives. And this begins the ball rolling toward the path of potential suicide. It is only true sympathy and willingness to listen and understand – and willingness to help that person seek treatment – that can begin to heal and prevent this end.
They are not people looking to hurt those around them. They are people who hurt so badly from within, they feel it is the only way to make it stop. Because of the stigmas that surround these kinds of emotions – the stigmas of weakness or being “crazy” – people oftentimes shirk treatment they may truly need. Mental disorders are often results of chemical imbalances in the brain or reactions to trauma that haven’t been dealt with properly, like in the instances of soldiers. No one but a soldier can understand exactly what they’ve witnessed. They return to families who can’t understand what they felt, the decisions they had to make, the actions they were forced to carry out, the hardships of a life in the military. So they
Suicide.org’s homepage opens with one phrase: “Getting help is the answer.” Their Executive Director Kevin Caruso addresses the person reading the webpage, instantly, as “my friend.” He opens by saying “[…] you are not alone. I am very pleased that you are here. And let me remind you that there is nothing more important than your life. Nothing.” The first thing he does is give back the value of a person’s life that they may feel they are losing. He says “Things [get] better.” The exact message that has become key in assisting bullied youth has been a staple of Suicide. org’s message. That these feelings have happened to many others. That there is no reason to be ashamed. That they can be overcome, if only help is sought. Not only are the site’s visitors told they are not alone, but they are told that it takes help from others to make it through and that those others are right here on
this site, extending a hand. It is the sympathy that needs to be found in understanding, as a nation, the importance of dealing with a suicidal person in the right way. September is Suicide Awareness Month. There are no specific characteristics of those we must recognize. There are no restrictions. It is simply a month where communities and organizations across the nation recognize suicide as a cause of death that can be prevented when the right tools are in the hands of those dealing with it. It abandons asking “why” and understands there are many causes of hopelessness that lead to suicide and that they are avoidable. It does not condemn those who have committed suicide as “selfish,” but looks at their lives as a loss that can be prevented in others. It celebrates their lives as they would be celebrated with any other cause of death. It mourns them with love and not anger. It understands that suicide is an act of a person who desperately needed the help of someone close to them to recognize their condition and take it seriously. And it brings to light avenues of help that can save lives. But for these avenues to truly be successful, they need to be brought to the attention of more and more Americans. Though it isn’t a current trend in social media, an adjusted spotlight could start a conversation that could change the perceptions of suicide and ultimately save many more lives.
“AN ANGEL'S ARM CAN'T SNATCH ME FROM THE GRAVE; LEGIONS OF ANGELS CAN'T CONFINE ME THERE.”