- LETTER TO CHRISTOPHER PYNE (Federal Minister for the Aged) 13/04/07 -

From: Your Choice In Dying [mailto:choice@yourchoiceindying.com]
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 10:22 AM
To: 'C.Pyne.MP@aph.gov.au'
Cc: 'Tony.Abbott.MP@aph.gov.au:
Subject: Firstly a Catholic then a Politician?


Dear Mr. Christopher Pyne, (Liberal) Federal Minister for the Aged:

Cc: Mr. Tony Abbott as a little of what I have written could also be attributed to the Minister for Health

I am one of the Pro Choice activist that you dismissed so easily in the SBS Insight Forum April 3, on Last Rights, and I am the woman (the one in remission with ovarian cancer with 4 of 5 family members having major heart concerns - 2 dead 2 open heart surgery, me waiting!) that spoke directly to you about the Right for Choice asking you how you could represent us with any understanding, given your visual presentation of youth and vitality.

However, though young in years few are under any illusions about your political skills to enhance your own personal viewpoints on the Australian electorate. At least you were totally honest when you said that you don't govern on what Australians want for themselves - 80% wanting Pro Choice in Last Rights - but you've told us that you don't care about what "we want, for us!".....

Born on August 13, 1967, you are younger than my daughter which leads me to repeat my animated description used in the SBS Program, that with your health and energy levels combined with your youth...you would be incapable of realistically understanding the needs of the Aged... My children, like you are yet to walk in the shoes of a seriously or chronically ill person.
Youth has its limitations for empathy.

I also note that you are a practicing Catholic which automatically prevents you from taking a really broad interest in the general communities wellbeing.....we, in Australia, are many faiths, dogmas and beliefs, but Catholics alone believe they are the one true Church which translates as others being "untrue" in their faith system. We didn't vote in the Catholic Church when the Liberal Government was elected. We didn't know that eleven Ministers were firstly "very good" Christians and perhaps " a bad second best", Representative of the people, and given the Dogma of the Church as I know it well...the Church's dogma (based on faith not
logic) , must come before the State! You are not permitted by your Church, to think for yourself as a Liberal Politician - You belief yourself elected to "do God's Work". But for many Christians they too believe in Pro Choice in Last Rights and believe their God to be firstly a compassionate one who would understand a person's humanity in not wanting to suffer ongoing unnecessarily when death will eventuate regardless.

I thought it an opportune time to share a couple of viewers sentiments which appeared under "Your Say" on my website.

(One) Thanks Mary. It doesn't surprise me that the Religious Right has highjacked Australian politics. They've done this very well, by deliberately toning down their religion. Did you notice how Christopher Pyne did not mention religion during the debate, but instead used an appeal to the "foundations of human civilisation". How sickening. We treat pets and animals more humanely than we treat the terminally ill and Iraqi Prisoners of War.

(Two) "The highlight of the program was the uncensored input of Mr Pyne, Minister for the Aged. How anyone so obviously inexperienced in the real world could be put in charge of a portfolio about which he knows nothing whatsoever just blows the mind. However I was grateful to him for telling us, the electorate, just how our elected representatives see us. To be told to sit down, shut up and let the politicians do our thinking for us - his arrogance is literally breathtaking. This 'ivory tower' thinking does
not bode well for the outcome of your efforts, though.  It was obvious that even on the pro-choice side of the debate there are
variations in viewpoints, whereas the pro-lifers have just one point of view
- "Your suffering is of little importance compared to my personal views. I insist that your life and death be subject to my own opinions".

And thirdly a verbal comment remembered: "What an arrogant Minister he was, has he no compassion at all for others rights, doesn't he understand anything?

After the event of the screening Minister Pyne I wondered whether you may have reconsidered your hard line position of "absolutely no" to just a smidgen of understanding our position, as 80% of the population.
Surely this counts for something in "your being elected as a servant of the people"

Politicians, Listen then Act, constituents are told by hopeful Candidates leading up to an Election:


Thank you for your time.


Mary Walsh

www.yourchoiceindying.com

If you cannot see the menu, click here for an alternate menu