Daily Lessons from Life 21 January 2013 - Which One -" Let the Old Die" or "Unwed Mother's Supports"

2 news headlines to choose from or to comment on both? Ans: Comment on BOTH!!

"Japan should let old 'hurry up and die': minister - AFP Monday, Jan 21, 2013

TOKYO - Japan's finance minister Taro Aso said Monday the elderly should be allowed to "hurry up and die" instead of costing the government money for end-of-life medical care.

Aso, who also doubles as deputy prime minister, reportedly said during a meeting of the National Council on Social Security Reforms: "Heaven forbid if you are forced to live on when you want to die. You cannot sleep well when you think it's all paid by the government. "This won't be solved unless you let them hurry up and die," he said.  "I don't need that kind of care. I will die quickly," he said adding he had left written instructions that his life is not artificially prolonged.  During the meeting, he reportedly referred to "tube people" when talking of patients who cannot feed themselves.  The 72-year-old Aso, a former prime minister, has been in his current job less than a month, but has a long history of planting his foot firmly in his mouth.  After Monday's mis-step, he tried to backtrack, insisting he had only been talking about his personal wishes when he said the elderly should shuffle off quickly.  "I said what I personally believe, not what the end-of-life medical care system should be," he told reporters. "It is important that you can spend the final days of your life peacefully."  NOTHING wrong with what he SAID IF he is speaking for himself. A 72-year old who is probably too fiercely independent and still health to contemplate 'suriving' on tubes!  Still, it is for the old folks to decide how they want to leave this world. Hopefully there are avenues for them to opt to be off the life support system IF they feel that their quality of life is ZERO. Just that saying: 'let them hurry up and die' is simply too insensitive! 
Vs.

"Aware: Why no benefits for unwed mothers? AsiaOne Monday, Jan 21, 2013

SINGAPORE - Singapore women's group Aware released a statement today applauding the government's actions to promote marriage and parenthood and boost fertility.

However in its statement, Aware said it was "disappointing", that unwed mothers continue to be denied maternity and parenting benefits.

It added: "The policy to deny unwed mothers also contradicts the current direction of the Government to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor and to give every child an equal start in life.

"Access to childcare subsidies, motherhood benefits and housing benefits should be granted to all parents, without discriminating against unwed parents or stay-at-home parents."

Without these benefits, "these families, who most need the support, will continue to suffer," said the group."

Not sure WHY Aware is mixing up the intentions of the government latest actions to promote marriage and parenthood and boost fertility:

1. "to promote MARRIAGE" - an unwed mother is NOT married right? There is NO marriage to speak of some the package to promote marriage DOES NOT apply to unwed mother. Simple?

2. "Access to childcare subsidies, motherhood benefits, etc SHOULD be granted to ALL parents, WITHOUT DISCRIMINATING against unwed parents or stay-at-home parents." - Aware is mixing: unwed parents and stay-at-home parents. Stay-at-home parents are the norm. Unwed parents, or should it be unwed parent (normally the mother as the 'father' has gone missing most of the time!), is abnormal;

3. having SAID that in item 1 and 2 above, I MUST say this BEFORE many misunderstood me: Unwed mother DESERVED to be help BUT Aware is doing it the WRONG way by CONFUSING with the intents of the government in providing these packages of help.

Aware will do well to DOCUMENT how many unwed mothers do we have in the last 3 years? how are they bringing up the kids? what type of SPECIFIC HELP do these unwed mothers need? are there Co-ownership of solving their 'problems' - the unwed mother and their family members, Aware?, Social workers, and the government?

Eradicating the sources of unwed mother must also be part of the root causes solution.

Aware - are you aware of these?