Suicide Prevention Day for Some

September 10th is "Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day". I truly hope all suicide is preventable. That being said, many in our society are promoting suicide rather than preventing it, with an agenda of legalized assisted suicide. Is that double talk, or is it double talk? Our society is schizophrenic. One problem is what do young people think? On the one hand, the schools are ringing their hands about the problem of teen suicide, while on the other hand, many are working diligently to promote death with dignity, as they term it, in the name of Compassion and Choices. What choice? It seems to me that there should only be one choice, and that's to prevent suicide by any means, for every age level. According to Wesley J. Smith, after he viewed the Worldwide Suicide Prevention website, he stated, "We have become a world in which meaningless symbols offer matter more than effective action. Not only does Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day not tackle the problem of suicide prevention in society - it suggests we engage in gesture advocacy to show how much we care." This statement came after Mr. Smith saw, on the website, a new event called, "Light a Candle on Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day". This event will be held on the evening of September 10th. Even though Mr. Smith believes this to be a meaningless and ineffective gesture, perhaps if the promoters of legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia lit a candle, it might dissuade them from their obsession with assisted suicide as a solution to social problems. These social problems in a civilized society can be solved without encouraging the taking of one's life. That's despair. A candle is hope. At the very least it draws attention to the matter, and starts people thinking. So, while Mr. Smith contends lighting a candle is simply a "feel good" symbolism, rather than an effective action, the website states, "We are hoping this activity will bring light into the world and increase awareness of the good work so many people do in preventing suicide." Before there can be effective action, people must be motivated and educated on an issue. The issue of suicide must be prevented to the best of society's ability. Lighting a candle can be a beginning in showing that suicide can never be condoned for some and preventable for others.