I just read a story today about a couple that is facing a hearing next month on the charges that "they aided each other's attempted suicides". Now, who besides me, thinks that this is one of the STUPIDEST laws ever put on the books? Sure, there are other just as annoying 'for your own good' laws that exist, like the helmet laws, seatbelt laws, drug laws, prostitution laws, etc...I must admit that I agree with the Republicans about 'less goverment'. Why the hell are we legislating safety? This should all be common sense, and if you're too damn stupid to pay attention to things that are dangerous, or you're willing to cast caution to the wind, I say 'Go for it'.It's YOUR life, you should be able to make of it what you want. As long as it doesn't hurt anybody else. 

I'm not talking about 'oh, but so many people will be upset if they kill themselves/overdose/wreck/get a fatal social disease'. I'm talking about DIRECT harm, like walking up to somebody and causing them physical or mental grief. ON PURPOSE. If you want to be stupid and harm yourself, you should have the right to do so. BUT, if this is then the case, you SHOULD NOT be allowed to SUE because you were stupid and got hurt. People that sue other people and companies because of *their own* negligence should be whipped. If you have no other recourse because you were an idiot, it's your own damn fault. Do the 'authorities' that arrested the couple *actually think* that this is an effective deterrent? These people just tried to KILL THEMSELVES. Do you really think that sending them to jail or fining them is going to make their situation any better? Usually things have to get pretty bad for people to think about suicide. It sounds like the aforementioned couple was already struggling with disease and addiction and they just wanted to be free of it. And why do we feel this burning urge to bring these people back? It's selfish of them to go in the way that they want to, but it's pretty damn selfish of us to want them to stay if they're obviously suffering. At this point, you're probably thinking that I believe that Kevorkian got a bad rap and doesn't deserve to be in jail. You'd be right. If a relative of mine that was suffering a painful, debilitating disease came up to me and asked me to 'help the process along' there would be no question in my mind as to what I'd do. 

I remember a time when one of my aunts was suffering a horredously painful medical malady and the doctors didn't want to give her anything that could be addictive so she suffered through the pain. She was about 70. Now...at that age, who the FUCK cares if you're gonna get strung out on something? She's in pain! I'm sure she'll give a shit that the last couple of days she has left on this earth were spent 'drug free'. Again...the doctors did this 'for her own safety'. 

I ride motorcycles. I LIKE the feel of the wind in my face. I'd like to be given the *choice* as to whether or not I wear a helmet. I'm a big fan of the 'peanut' style helmet that most bikers wear. It gives you a sense of freedom that full faced helmets just don't have, but it doesn't effectively cover your head in case you go down. Sure, I'll agree that it's not the brightest idea in the world, going around on a motorcycle with a non DOT approved helmet, but I don't like being forced by the law into wearing one. I also wear my seatbelt. ALL the time. I got pulled over last week, and the first question out of the officer's mouth was "Ma'am, was your seatbelt on when you pulled over?" Why should this matter? 

All these petty little laws don't help. They hinder. And they aggravate problems. As for 'keeping drugs out of the hands of citizens so they don't cause themselves harm', we all see how well that's working out. Al Capone was a high-school bully compared to the current drug empire that's been created because of the need to 'keep people from harming themselves'. How many more seedy little undergrounds do we need to create in order to see that we're destroying ourselves? How many schoolhouse shootings are going to be committed before people loosen the fuck up and stop being so goddamn obsessive about restricting people for 'their own good'? When you repress a natural desire, you create a potentially dangerous abberation. I'm hoping that somebody with the power to create change notices what's actually going on around them in society, and has the balls to make the necessary changes in my lifetime. Yeah, I'm selfish. I'd like to be able to bask in all the worldy pursuits that have been taken away from me because they were deemed as 'too harmful to be legal'. I'm a firm believer in the 'pursuit of life, liberty and happiness'. 

Here's hoping that somebody out there cares enough to make a difference.

FICTION:

Jhada and Argent || The Model and the Mad Scientist || Gabriel || An Unlikely Pairing || The Worst Porno Story Ever

POETRY:

No Longer Angry || Depression || Run with the Moon || Love is a Virus || BloodDance || Diamanda || Murderer || The Watcher || Confusion || Dream || Romeo is Bleeding || Cribdeath || HoPeLeSs || Soulmate || Darling || Illuminate || Madness || Insecurity || Fear || Angel || The Job || Pathetic || Shard of Hate || Thin || Departure of Friends || Empty Life || Kindred Spirit || Why Bother? || Loss of Control || Lonely Girl || Loss of a Dream || Damaged || Done|| Excision  || Missing You || Jhada|| Hope ||  Reflection ||  History Repeating

TIRADES:

Sucky Movies || Relationships || Marriage || Shortcomings || Parents || Monstrous Brats || Barbie's Newest Trauma || Babies in Trashcans || Religion || Listening || Public Facilities || Choices...|| Grieving || Legalize Prostitution ||  Sports VS Public Service || Y2K || Abortion || To Buffy, or not to Buffy? || Enough with the HATE Already! || Christmas|| Valentine's Day || Love in the 90's || The Big Trenchcoat Freakout || Keeping Up Appearances || Presidential Scourge || Legislating Safety || Anti-drug commercials || Dating || Annoying Anonymity || America West || The Great Bug Debacle || Smoking || Anthrax, anthrax, anthrax || The USA Patriot Act