tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14189071.post113900210433005272..comments2023-05-15T06:06:33.543-06:00Comments on Arcol-o-Gist: What is "selfish"? - Part 2arcolaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448256908335690710noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14189071.post-1139757542095703362006-02-12T09:19:00.000-06:002006-02-12T09:19:00.000-06:00I should mention that I continue to be honored to ...I should mention that I continue to be honored to be listed under "Folks with something in common." Occasionally, lately, I've found myself defending my modest lifestyle. I'm proud of my debt-free, nearly tax-free life, driven by an effort to make morally and ecologically sound choices (and hoping that moral and ecological coincide). But I find I''m having more trouble speaking out about it than I did when I was younger. I live in a delightfully progressive, green community. But I've moved outside my comfort zone and I find myself encountering more and more people baffled by my choices. <BR/><BR/>Your ongoing effort to make informed decisions is inspiring. Your thought process about organ donation mirrors so many daily decisions. What's the cost? What are the consequences?Mary Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00236910059228402369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14189071.post-1139227360193272862006-02-06T06:02:00.000-06:002006-02-06T06:02:00.000-06:00For me, I guess if I was to donate anything, I wou...For me, I guess if I was to donate anything, I would donate stem cells and blood. They are renewable and can be harvested more than once.<BR/><BR/>I used to donate blood more, now, working M-F I never seem to have the time. With the amount of platelets and blood we give to patients, I should put in more of an effort. I would feel better about it if they didn't charge so much money for these products since after all, they were "donated." <BR/><BR/>If I were a selfish person (or at least acting in my own self -interest) I would balk at donating these things as after all, they are mine, I own them, I should be paid fair market price for them--or at least be able to write off my charitable "donation" on my income taxes. One could argue--who owns your body?<BR/><BR/>One of our recently deceased patients actually had a family situation where his brother came to the door looking for money for his stem cell donation! The guy is dying, and his brother is there at the door with an invoice! Imagine being the cop that responds to that domestic situation.<BR/><BR/>Anyhoo, for the leukemia patients I know and love, I would donate my stem cells if they would work. It is very hard to find a match that is unrelated to you--siblings are best. I would definitely pay to have them harvested if it would save my brother or sister.Luceluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10264998981423695295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14189071.post-1139007338251098712006-02-03T16:55:00.000-06:002006-02-03T16:55:00.000-06:00The US talks about the right to "life liberty and ...The US talks about the right to "life liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Being a consumer and contributing to "sustainable growth" doesn't meet my personal "pursuit of happiness". My personal theology has evolved to "life is a gift to be enjoyed". Selfish? I don't think so. I'm willing to work for what I have and willing to pay for things that contribute to the common good. I'm not willing to accept the propaganda that "more is better, bigger is better" or that I "deserve" something or "owe it to myself". I'm willing to pay taxes for benefits that I may not see but that others will see. In return, I ask that a small part of the world be preseved in it's natural state so that I can enjoy life. For me, nature, sustanability and self-reliance are like food and water -- I can't live without them. They are not choices or preferences -- they are necessities. I don't think that's selfishPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536102483146881252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14189071.post-1139004446047439272006-02-03T16:07:00.000-06:002006-02-03T16:07:00.000-06:00I think in some kind of ideal set-up, we'd all be ...I think in some kind of ideal set-up, we'd all be fulfilling our own basic needs, plus a little extra for the "common", like roads. Roads (etc.) wouldn't need the constant upgrades if people weren't forever driving for pizza (etc.).Madcaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966173518099250557noreply@blogger.com