Letters - 11 July 2014

From the Quaker view on assisted suicide to journalism

No to assisted suicide

I believe the Quaker view on assisted suicide should be no.

The purpose of Meeting for Worship and Meeting for Worship for Business is to seek the will of God. The Religious Society of Friends has a serious purpose; it is not a political forum or place where marginal groups can seek unconditional support. The true nature of a Quaker concern seems to have been missed. For the process of discernment to work, Friends should speak truth to each other. Too often Friends remain silent because of politeness, being in awe of dominant Friends or the desire for a quiet life.

In the documents produced by those advocating assisted suicide there is very little mention of the spirit. It is contrary to the teachings and actions of Jesus and his disciples; it is also not in line with Quaker faith & practice up to the present.

Life and death are serious matters which were discussed widely in the mainstream churches I came in contact with when I was clerk.

I am uncomfortable with the idea of encouraging suicide as a means of coping with suffering.

Assisted dying – not in my name.

Death is a fact of life. We should choose life.

Gareth Evans

Trident proposals rejected

As Helen Drewery so rightly says (4 July), there is no way we can accept the conclusion that the UK must have Trident. If it is ‘necessary’, what on earth for? It is absolutely useless in dealing with terrorists. And we could only use it legally if it was our very very last resort.

Most senior military officers have said that there is no place for Trident in a modern arsenal. They would, of course, like the money but I think we could find better uses for it.

Recently, Kate Hudson, the general secretary of CND asked James Arbuthnot, chair of the Select Defence Committee and much respected, why the government wanted Trident. He responded ‘for political reasons’.

Altogether, it seems as if the Trident Commission is living in a parallel world. We must help them to see things more realistically and realise we have the most horrendous weapons without nuclear ones.

Sarah Lasenby

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