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• Sunday, February 11, 2007 04:55 AM

  Living With Moral Paradox

  Sometimes there is no right answer.

  Sunspot, I was the first poster. I do feel she was made more convenient by the surgery, I also do not judge her parents, and I also do not declare that I think her life would necessarily be better without the surgery. I don't know. I think the culture has failed the family, as it fails all families who face these burdens alone or with institutional rather than neighborly support. Take 12 households and set up shifts...we all take care of each other, we have amazing extended families and rich relationships, learn immense and meaningful lessons about our spirituality, etc. Utopia, I know. But Utopia is where most moral assumptions reside. It's worth upholding. Slippery slopes are worth noting, and seeing one case without the broader context can make us myopic to what we're becoming. We use technology instead of community.

  As to Ashley's periods, I'm baffled by that one. Seems to me that simply tracking them on a calendar and giving her pain Rx on schedule would eliminate that problem.

  I like it that you raised the parallel questions. I agree with you they're all intertwined. All of a piece. It's all about compassion (as the Ashley Treatment may represent in one way...but in another, not). It's paradox, and that's why it was a dangerous, difficult decision.

  I wonder about the morality of precedent setting, too.

  I think circumcision should be banned.

  I think what we do to pigs is morally reprehensible. No bacon here.

  —PO Mama
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