X-Message-Number: 1436
Date: 13 Dec 92 02:01:58 EST
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: Re: cryonics: #1425 - #1428

To Graham Wilson:

If things were done according to your Point 1) that would be great. Of
course we can't seriously expect such a change in the law for a long time,
either here or in England. That's because, as you well know, the cryonics
groups just aren't influential enough as yet. So we have to live with the
law as made by others who totally misunderstand (even factually, regard-
less of cryonics) the death they want to write up certificates about.

As for your Point 2), refer to my last message about splitting Alcor. To
rely on any government body seems foolish in the extreme. Governments 
have far less real interest in looking after you than you do, or the 
people you yourself appoint. Not only that, but regardless of the fact
that they have lots of officials operating out of big big buildings, and
run parades and all that, they can't even be relied upon for 50 years,
not to mention 200. Remember the poem: "... I am Ozymandias, King of Kings,
let all you who look upon me despair... and all around the lone and level
sands stretch far away..."

Or to put the matter differently: the Roman Catholic Church, of all
institutions, has lasted the longest (in one form or another). We note
that it is NOT a government. Forgetting the religion, the aim of cryonics
societies should be to create a similar institution that would last
at least as long --- while all the governments come and go like rain.

				Best and long life
					Thomas

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