When one reaches a certain age, should that ‘one’ be sufficiently fortunate to still be in possession of one or perhaps even two living parents, discussions inevitably occur as to modes of death, dying and disaster. And brings with it the corresponding comments along the lines of: if I get to that point, just shoot me. Which is NOT in this context, in any way a mere throw-away line, nor a metaphor. It is sincere and heart-felt.

(Note to my children: I DON’T MEAN YOU. Not yet anyway)

Mel & I agreed virtually on our first date that if we ever reached the point where either entered a drooling, vacant vegetative state, that ‘termination’ was the desirable option. Terminally in increasingly worsening pain with no hope of improvement? Shoot me now.

Its not harsh, its not about being a burden, its not about the cost of care-homes, its a selfish act of suicide for the benefit of all but particularly for the sufferer. An end to misery. Or an end to horrible nothingness that may have replaced ‘life, as we know it’.

Lord Falkener proposed an assisted suicide bill a few years ago which was rather brilliant and much-needed. But it kind of ‘lingered’ as not being considered worthy of political expediency, and, after a lot of suffering, the bill just died. Ran out of time.

Now they’ve raised it again, this time with former Director of Public Prosecution, now MP, Kier Starmer, a big hitter with a big brain. And this time they’ll pursue it to the bitter end.

So entering the fray steps the combined chiefs of the world’s religions, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastran, whoever, and levelled their opposition to this proposal. They don’t want assisted suicide, they don’t want Dignitas UK, they don’t want nuffink. God wouldn’t like it. None of the gods, apparently. He’d rather watch people suffer?

The thing is; this is a massive moral question. As much as it is political. And therefore in this one instance I can forgive religion for getting involved in what is a legislative and legal issue. They kind’a have to. Its their right.

Much as its our right to ignore them, as we do in all other facets of religion-led dogma and stupidity which exists purely to remove choice. Particularly ‘big choice’.

No-one will be tied up and injected with carpet cleaner against their will because they’ve become a bit of a burden. Or because we want our inheritance and WE WANT IT NOW! The proposals are very thorough in their protection of the ‘candidate’.

Over 50% of people want to allow assisted suicide in this country. Well, over 50% of Daily Mail readers, which is almost the same.

It is time. It is definitely time. Everyone deserves the right to choose.

Ok, now we can get back to living.

Happy Monday

A xxxx