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OXNARD HIGH SCHOOL, 3400 W. GONZALES ROAD, OXNARD, CA. 93036
Project Kindness: Your Problem Is Mine Too An editorial expressing our duty to help homeless people By: Stephanie Quero and Tatyana Sharpe
The idea of having homeless people out in the streets may spark sympathy in some -however, it may cause others to identify homeless people as lazy individuals who simply do not want to work. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law, an individual “who lacks housing, including one whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility that provides temporary living accommodations; an individual who is a resident in transitional housing; or an individual who has as a primary residence a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings,” is considered ‘homeless.’ The homeless population was estimated to be 42 percent African American; just under 40 percent, white; 13 percent Hispanic; four percent Native American; and two percent Asian, these figures varying widely according to the area of the country reports the U.S. Conference of Mayors Report for 2008 (as reported in the September 2009 updated statistics kept by the NCH). Having an increasing amount of homeless people in communities, one contemplates as to whether or not homeless people should be our problem. “It becomes difficult to want to help a homeless person that sits on the same park bench day after day asking for money,” said writer Lauren Villanueva from The Bottom Line:
When Laziness Seizes the Life of a Homeless Person.
Even though the idea of a panhandler can cause an internal conflict for some, there are those who may try to understand how an individual can end up in such conditions.
Photo by Stephanie Quero
The issue of homelessness extends to different parts of the world.
“I care about the homeless,” said Dalton Marshall, a resident from Avondale, Arizona. “Certain people are homeless because they’re veterans, or they’ve been through a lot.” With Christmas approaching, people tend to be more helpful to others. “Helping someone out shouldn’t be a matter of when you want to-it should be when you can and not just during the holidays because you just have to imagine everyone as a person dear to your heart,” said a Ventura County resident Ana Torres.
Euthanasia- Killing or Caring? An inside look at the controversial topic of euthanization By: Jamie Tadiaman
According to Medical News Today, euthanasia is “the inten-
but technically not the same because a doctor will only facilitate the dying process of a terminally ill patient by providing them with a means to end their own life. Euthanasia can be considered voluntary, involuntary, or nonvoluntary. Voluntary euthanasia is conducted with request and
Volume 9 Issue 2
mas said, “I am for euthanization because it’s [the patient’s] choice. If they want to die or live, who am I to stop them?“ On the other hand, people like Mr. Creech, a teacher at OHS, disagree. He said, “I’d probably have to say no [to euthanasia]. It’s just too much power for any person or group to have. When you end up in that situation
tional putting to death of a person with an incurable or painful disease intended as an act of mercy.” Euthanasia has become an increasingly controversial topic because some believe it conflicts with their moral or religious preferences, while others think that it should be a viable option for patients who need it. Ms. Eva D’Ambrosio, an Oxnard High School biology teacher who has experience in the medical field, said that she has “mixed feelings” about the subject. “I think that to a certain extent we do have a role in society to help people die in a dignified manner,” said Ms. D’Ambrosio, “But at the same time, having been involved with the research in medicine, I feel that there could be some potential Photo by Jamie Tadiaman treatment that we haven’t This diagram explains the definition and various types come across yet, and we of euthanasia. need to explore all possibilities before we take that step.” consent from the patient. To be where you’re giving that kind of There are two general classi- euthanized, a patient needs to power to a group of people or an fications of euthanization proce- meet certain requirements. individual, I don’t like that idea.” dures: passive and active. According the New York Additionally, junior Sama Passive euthanasia, as de- Times, patients “would have to Kalaj said, “I know that people fined by Medical Dictionary.com, make two oral requests for the can be put in really tough situais “a mode of ending life in which prescription, two weeks apart, tions, but in my religion, one of a physician is given an option to and one in writing. Two doctors the teachings is not to kill others not prescribe futile treatments would have to certify that the and not to kill yourself. I know a for the hopelessly ill patient.” In patient is likely to die within six lot of religions have a similar law, other words, the patient will be months. The written request which is another reason why I’m denied necessary treatments must be made in front of wit- against it.” such as food, water, antibiotics, nesses who are asked to certify Although Dimas expressed etc. that the patient is of sound mind that he is religious, he still supThe same source defines and is not being coerced.” ports euthanization. He said, active euthanasia as “a mode of Involuntary euthanasia is “Why not [legalize euthanaending life in which the intent is done without request or con- sia]? We already legalized other to cause the patient’s death in a sent from the patient. In certain things that are against religious single act.” cases, it can be considered ho- beliefs. Gay marriage is against An example of active euth- micide. Christianity, but we still legalized anization would be if a doctor Nonvoluntary euthanasia is it.” administered a lethal dose of administered when the patient “I also feel humanity has medication to a patient. is incapable of making their own not reached the point where Some people support this decisions. This would be an op- we have progressed and mapractice and believe that it is a tion if the patient is in a coma, tured fully enough to be using helpful force. “I don’t really have has severe brain damage, or has this technology in the right way,” a problem with [euthanization],” some other similar situation. added Kalaj, “When you don’t said senior Kiana Hernandez, On October 5, 2015, Gover- use something in the right way, “My uncle passed away because nor Jerry Brown signed the “End it can do more harm than good.” he had very severe lung cancer of Life Option Act”, which legalIn either case, euthanasia is and they pulled the plug on him.” ized physician-assisted suicide in a serious matter and should not “Just seeing him in this state California. be taken lightly. of literally nothing, I don’t think Hernandez said, “I think [eu“I think anytime you’re he wanted to go on living like thanization] should be [legal- talking about ending a person’s that, so I saw his death justified,” ized]. I’d rather have some peo- life,” said Mr. Creech, “you really Hernandez added. ple benefit from it than have no have to make sure that it’s being Physician-assisted suicide is one benefit from it at all.” done with the best respect to a similar practice to euthanasia, Likewise, junior Charley Di- the life of that individual.”