X-Message-Number: 29142
From: 
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:37:03 EST
Subject: Deify a Medical Procedure?!

Others on CryoNet have suggested for years (just check out the  archives, and 
by the way, where have all those guys gone?) that cryonics is a  matter of 
medicine, not religion, and that this distinction should not  be further 
clouded.  I agree just over 100%. Case in point:  I read the posts on CryoNet 

regarding Keith Henson's recent  situation -- all posts both "pro and con."  All
worthy  thoughts. A reason his situation is such a mind-twisting  problem for 

cryonics is the very fact that the "dispute" involves  a Religion in some 
manner. 
If the other party happened to be  our Healthcare System -- say, outrage about 
the huge number of  unnecessary hospital deaths across the country due to 

preventable medical  mistakes and poor hygiene practices, etc., it would be  
much 
less an enigma for cryonics.  Cryonics is a medical  procedure, not a 
religion, right? Of course it is! Considering that both  sides lose in public 

disputes, not just the wrong side, for God's sake (sorry),  let the religions 
police 
their own!  Ever hear Billy Graham and his  crew take on any of the more 

outrageous money-grubbing  televangelists?  No. But if someone else will do it 
for 
them,  that's just lovely.  Never met him, but I like Billy Graham.  For one,  
I think he believes in his cause, and he's smart.  
 

While "a member" of CI for years, I have never filled out the  paperwork and 
never been funded. (I'm not sure I'm brave enough to  face the future, and 

also I am a bad procrastinator.) I was not qualified  to vote on the name change
of CI's print publication, but thought the selection  (i.e., "Long Life" from 
"The Immortalist") was excellent for the same  reason as above: Cryonics is a 
matter of medicine, not religion.  Let's not  deify a medical procedure.
 
The High Cost of Good
 
Nothing like Keith's, but I've been in a few fights myself. (In fact,  if 

there's a Heaven and good is rewarded, I may have earned my  place.) These days 
I 
try to avoid them more. Too old. Too beaten up.  Too poor. And I've got 

things to do. Like Keith, injustice has always  been a particular pet peeve of 
mine 
too.  If anyone could have  any doubt about the health of our justice system, 
they  should take a good look at the ongoing Duke University Rape Case  a few 
miles down the road from here. The district attorney is a less rare  species 
than we would like to believe, and without the publicity, the NC S_tate  Bar 
might well have remained silent.
 
Here's my post to him in 2001:
 
_http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=17998_ 
(http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/dsp.cgi?msg=17998) 
 
Never met him, but I like Keith Henson.  For one, I think he  believes in his 
cause, and he's smart. From now on, I hope  he'll let the religions police 
their own. He's made his  point.  He's cost them tons in more ways than one. I 
hope he gives  them their pound and gets on with his life.  He's got things to 
do.  
 
D. C. Johnson




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