It Is Cruel to Wish Suffering For Someone Else

I read a very disturbing post on the Facebook newsfeed this

morning.  This person, who shall remain nameless, is obviously

very upset with our current president and went on to say that

she hoped he would suffer a massive stroke or a heart attack.

I do not generally discuss politics on this blog, nor do I intend

to start now.  I want this blog to be a cozy space and a safe haven

from the woes of the world.  While I realize that at one time or 

another we all have become discouraged or angered by the things

our leaders have said or done, I certainly have, must we sink to

cruelty to express our opinions or desires?  I sincerely hope not.

And if so, where does it end?  

My Christian faith teaches to forgive and turn the other cheek.

Karma teaches that what you put out comes back to you. 

Have you ever seen someone you love suffer from a massive stroke?

I have.  My Mom had one three years ago.  There was no chance of

saving her.  She spent the remaining nine days of her life confined to

a bed, unable to speak, unable to swallow.  She did not respond to 

anyone.  At times she would grimace and her hand would grab onto

the bedrail and shake in extreme pain.  The only thing that could be

done was to give her morphine via an IV and essentially wait for her

to die.  It was shear agony for me as I spent virtually every hour of 

those nine days sitting by her bedside knowing there was nothing

I could do to save her.   I would not wish this fate on anyone.

Or what about a massive heart attack?  My Daddy had one.  He was on

a business trip in Asia and passed out in the airport in Seoul, Korea.

The doctors had very little hope.  My Mom had to rush to the doctor

to have required vaccinations for an unexpected trip across the Pacific

to get to the hospital where he had been taken.  Can you imagine her

terror being alone and flying for hours across the ocean and not

knowing whether her husband would still be alive when she arrived?

When she did arrive, the prognosis was grim.  The kind staff at the

hospital arranged for her to stay in an adjoining room.  She spent six

weeks in that room while Daddy struggled to regain strength and stamina

to be able to return to the states.  It was truly a miracle that Daddy

did survive the attack and I am forever grateful to the wonderful

doctors and staff who looked after him and my Mom too.  Such lovely

people they were.

Not long after they returned to the states, my Grandfather, my Daddy's

father, died from a heart attack.  Daddy's doctor would not permit him

to make the trip hundreds of miles away to his father's funeral.  Daddy

lived with the regret of not being there to support my Grandmother 

when she needed her only son the most.  

Heart disease runs in my family on both sides.  My maternal

Grandmother died of a heart attack.  My Aunt had open heart surgery

in her 80's.  It was not an option despite her advanced age because

she had a heart valve prolapse and would have died a slow and

painful death had it not been repaired.  As it was, she was never

quite the same after the surgery.  Her valve was successfully repaired

but she had a sort of brain fog from the anesthesia that never left

her feeling whole ever again.

When one wishes ill health on someone they are also wishing the pain

and suffering for this person's family.  As one who has experienced the 

suffering of ill health of my loved ones, I would not want anyone to

experience the heartache I have known.

This being said, let us think carefully before we speak so harshly.

Our country gives us the chance to vote in or to vote out a president

every four years.  Whether one agrees or disagrees with the policies

and actions of a sitting president is their right.  To wish that

president to suffer a massive stroke or a devastating heart attack

is cruel and uncivilized.   That is my opinion and I stand behind it.

Treat others as you wish to be treated.  

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley