by M. Paul Beetham
I read with pleasure the "Decision Windows" article by George W. Iliff. It ably touched on the extremes of life as we know it (pre-birth and dying.) I disagree with the premise that a legacy of the Judeo-Christian heritage drives our present cultural mores, but I'll leave that matter for another time. If I may, I would like to use my personal experience to fill the gap between the extremes. My point is to show that the present issue of the validity of "Decision Windows" is both dynamic and is, as such, incomplete.
I'm deaf-blind, as you know. Technically, this is considered a really nasty thing, mainly because about 90 percent of my optimal sensory input is not available. Deafness came at birth. As a young lad I was considered to be retarded. Nobody realized the impact of this deafness thingie. Unlike a few doctors and teachers, my ego did not suffer when I earned a multi-year scholarship to a Jesuit College. Yup, IQ tests have some value. My parents had been convinced that, in the case of twins, one might be of strong intellect while the other could be like me. "Poor Paul," some had said. Some had hoped that medical knowledge would improve to allow the pre-birth death of those like me. Idiots. Not to worry, my twin brother has a strong intellect, and earned a scholarship to the same school.
I became legally blind some 15 years ago. Try as I might to hide it, some people noticed, especially when I stepped on them. Their attitudes changed to one of fear. Fear not of me per se, but of their culturally-driven lack of ability to handle my situation. Ok, ok, fear of being stepped on again was part of it, too.
What the heck, that's their problem, not mine. After I became blind I became a research scientist. Shortly thereafter, so did my twin brother. Not bad; of him I am most proud. My parents, long-deceased, would be pleased. Others could no longer openly recommend my death. One fellow, a good friend, asked if my dearest children should be euthanized, to stop the spread of my condition. He is now a really good friend, a Mensan no less, who was kind enough to ask me as a man of intellect. No, my progeny need not die; my condition is recessive. It's my problem, not theirs. In times past I and they would have been treated with compassion for my sorry state as we were allowed to pass on to the ... er ... afterlife.
Today I'm first and foremost a happy house-husband. Some consider this to be a waste or, at the very least, a shame; or, at worst, a lie. Idiots. A few know better. The position of house-husband is almost, but not quite, as important as that of house-wife. I'm happily retired. I'm also a director of the Phoenix Institute of Technology ( a group of physical scientists developing localized power and habitat infrastructures for poor and third-world areas) and a soon-to-be innkeeper. Also, I'm a (somewhat) active Mensan. I'm tickled by the reactions of those who think this just cannot be. One more time: idiots.
I suggest we all take great care on the life-death subject. Our understanding is quite incomplete. After all, we have yet to devise tests to adequately measure these conditions. Until that time we can always enjoy somewhat positive thoughts about the here-and-now and the hereafter. After all, we have yet so much to learn, and positive thoughts sound like fun. In the meantime, we should minimize the opportunity for people like me to say "idiots."