I was reading our local newspaper online and decided to click on the obituaries. I don't particularly enjoy reading this page, but do so in case I know someone. The majority of the time I see a current or former student's name listed under survived by. Knowing this helps me be prepared for my students.
Tonight, there was a listing that was both very sad and very disturbing. It also made me question myself. The obituary was for----ummmm, not sure how to word this.......ummmm......hmmmm.....well, a 17-week-old fetus. The wording said "...passed away 17 weeks after conception." I truly feel bad for this family. To lose a child at anytime is difficult. However, I find it disturbing the way it is written. I started questioning the whole process--and the universal argument about when life begins.
**If life begins at conception, why are obituaries like this not published more often?
**When do you write an obituary? Is there a magic number of weeks where it becomes acceptable?
**Has modern technology changed the way people feel?? Since people are no longer being surprised with the birth-and naming the child before a single breath has been taken-is this making the fetus "more human?" (I apologize for my lack of vocabulary.)
Any and all thoughts, comments, and prayers welcome.
2 comments:
1. what are you doing up at 2:49
AM?
2. I don't know how to respond.
1. The same thing I'm doing up at 2:12 am. Can't sleep!!
2. I know!!!!! I spoke with one of our school counselors. She was perplexed as well. This reminds me of another incident from this year--a baby was stillborn and the parents had it baptized before the funeral. That is different, but makes more sense than this to me.
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