- LETTER TO RIGHT TO DIE OPEN LISTS 08/06/05 -
- - - -Original Message- - - -
From~
Mary Walsh [mailto:mtwatsh@atphatink.com.au)
Sent:
Wednesday,
June
08,20052:09 PM
To: 'org.opn.lists.right-to-die@lists.opn.org'
Cc: 'Exit International'
Subject:
ABC
Censorship & Choice
Mademoiselle and the Doctor filmed under the Compass umbrella should not have been censored. It was filmed after 10 pm on Channel 2, hardly a channel or theme (religious) when young "hot heads" are likely to be clued to 'the TV set. Unfortunately for those of us, who wish only to face "the niceties" of living life to the fullest, sex and death are very much a part of living!. Sex gets enough exposure, from the commercial channels, so it must be left to "Auntie" (Channel 2) to talk about Death. Not the Hollywood murder scenes so graphically portrayed in our living rooms each night but rather, the real thing. The ending of life!, dying, a serious and
momentous time in anyone's life. I have viewed many worthwhile programs with Compass, where dying and death has been treated with decorum, appropriately respecting those participating in the documentary.
However, this Sunday's program (June 5) has set a precedence, in that the Management of the ABC has been seen to bow to pressure from outside forces, namely the Catholic Church (represented by Geraldine Doogue) and those who run programs for depressed people (Beyond Blue), to withhold a segment involving the use of a plastic bag.
When I purchase anything wrapped in a plastic bag, there is a large message written on it telling me to "Dispose of it Safely to avoid Suffocation". Why don't we then ban this method of packaging as "giving depressed people" an idea that perhaps this bag may be a tool to be used to commit suicide. Like its message is loud and clear, the bag can be used for suffocation, be it an accident, suicide, or murder. The point I am making is, that one doesn't have to sit through an hour of a religious/non religious program in order to find a method of committing suicide. I too found that scene confronting, but it was also informative in that it reaffirmed for me my horror at the thought of dying with a plastic bag over my head. It didn't matter to me that it may be a "good way to die", the image was sufficient to ensure it would not be my preferred method of dying. The ABC. in taking upon itself to withdraw that scene from the original documentary,
denied others the opportunity to reach the conclusion afforded me because I went to a theatre without censorship being an issue. The scene was part of the whole. Whilst genuine violence is viewed readily both on our nightly news and American TV dramas, a woman demonstrating something which she was explaining to an audience that that she didn't advocate, was not.
As I said in my emails sent to Mediawatch and tvreligious@your.abc.net.au
l resent censorship by anyone particular group over another, who is to say, because my view is different to theirs, it is therefore, wrong. Hitler started by telling people what he wanted them to know.
I also pointed out to the management of Compass, that by definition, a compass covers all views. My needle just happens to point in a different direction to Geraldine's because my path through life and death is different. Not more right or wrong than her views, just different.
It used to be that we had "choice" about a great many things in our lives, but slowly our rights are being whittled away to satisfy those of us in society who believe they have a god given right to save us from ourselves. Why don't you just mind your own business and let others mind theirs? For those who are serious about committing suicide, censorship will not prevent it.
The Criminal Code Amendment (Suicide Related Material Offences) Bill 2005 will not stop people from committing
suicide either, it will just mean people will fail to succeed the first time due to a lack of experienced information. But, of course, it will just be so much more distressing for those who find the bodies but then the Governments
already know this! Stress in the workplace won't be tolerated under the new Industrial Relations
laws so I wonder how ambulance drivers, police, doctors and nurses will cope with the outcome. Perhaps prayer will be the answer for some, but what of the rest of society!
Mary Walsh
choice@yourchoiceindying.com
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