Peter James Cox
Scottish Association for Inter-religious Dialogue President
When conceiving the design for the Holyrood Scottish Parliament building the brilliant Barcelona architect Enrique Miralles thought of upturned boats.
I had coffee with a friend in the Scottish Parliament recently – we sat in the upturned boat and looked out toward the future.
As if sitting at the edge of a high precipice we looked out into a void. As the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults(Scotland) Bill is considered in the chambers of the Scottish Parliament we saw well intentioned people on both sides. As we sat and considered we saw people for and against this important legislation, the battle lines drawn up.
It seemed to Anwar and I that the edges of the upturned boat are rendered more slippery by apathy. If this Bill becomes law we see a bleak future for the country – one in which people are made to feel that they are a burden and otherwise healthy young people are given the opportunity to end their lives because of mental health issues – as has in fact happened in the Netherlands.
As the bill continues to make its insipid quiet, unnoticed way through the various stages of consideration inside Holyrood there was more interest inside the parliament in signing a condolence book for the late SNP leader Alex Salmond – who recently died in Macedonia – than the imperative piece of legislation that is now weaving its way through parliament like a snake. The tragic case of Zoraya ter Beek in the Netherlands deserves more attention. Canada and Belgium have also opened the watersheds as regards similar legislation. In Canada approaching 45,000 deaths have been reported by Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) since MAID was made legal in 2016.
Having taken input from the public the Bill is now at the first stage of consideration. It must pass five stages of scrutiny in order to become law.
Public attention must be drawn towards this dangerous Bill before it proceeds any further.
Introduced by the Liberal Democrat Northern Islands MSP Liam McArthur The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill introduces a dangerous precedent and a sea of questions that must be answered like – “Should the sanctity of life – respected across all religious traditions – be ignored?” “Why should terminally ill people be made to feel a burden to society?” “Why should otherwise healthy young people who are depressed be offered the chance to legally end their lives – shouldn’t people be offered hope instead?” “What about the mentally ill – will they be encouraged to end their lives too?”
Edmund Burke said that “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” As society becomes increasingly apathetic if we do nothing we are as complicit as those – like Liam McArthur – who are well-intentioned but completely misguided.
As recent times have demonstrated, people are surprisingly compliant in times of crisis.
Legislation like this on the other hand gently turns up the heat in the simmering pot of what society deems legitimate. Soon it will be far too late for Scotland. Are we to be ruled by a vocal minority who understand the quiet system? Let us stand up and be counted – let’s protest together at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood at the next available opportunity.
Details of Scottish Association for Inter-religious Dialogue Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults protest at Holyrood to follow on social media.