of rights and societal norms...

You know, it's funny how we sometimes cling on to the cherished notion of freedom to decide our own destiny but at other times want to impose our own views on others. So do we really want to be able to say that we can end our life at our own choosing? Apparently not so, says the law. Found something interesting on the Singapore Statutes OnLine webpage. Section 309 of the Penal Code states that "Whoever attempts to commit suicide, and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both." Sounds to me like what they're saying is we can't kill ourselves but others can (but not emotional parents). Hmm...

So the question is this: do we have the right to decide when to die? We certainly don’t have the right to decide when we’re born...


View from Anglesea, a small town along the Great Ocean Road.
Taken in June 2001.

If we have the right to decide our manner of death, what about the right to consume drugs? What about other rights?

You have the right to inhale cancer-inducing fumes which costs $11 a pack but do I have the right to fresh air?


Along Bedok Jetty. Taken in 1999.

You have the right to gamble away the family fortune but do your family members have the right to a stable family life?

So when does individual freedom end and societal norms take over? Is there an absolute code of conduct by which we measure ourselves against? If no, I say we screw civilised conduct, but if yes, then I’m afraid we’ve all got some serious accounts to settle.