It’s the right thing to do

There is an article in today’s SJ-R about how the number of organ donors has increased since the first-person consent donor registry went into effect in 2006. It recalls the story of how a 23-year-old died from injuries suffered in an auto accident this past October, just three weeks after he signed up for the first-person consent registry. What that means is that, while it was a tragedy that this young man was killed, some good actually came from his death by allowing doctors to save the lives of at least 3 other people due to his donating his organs and/or tissue.

I am not a doctor or other medical professional. The closest I can get is that Mrs. Johann is a pharmacist, Johann Sr. (my dad) is a retired pharmacist, and I was a pharmacy technician for about 15 years. I have no “education” in the medical field (or any other, for that matter) other than real-life hospital work experiences. I have not done any research into statistics on organ donation, short of reading this particular SJ-R article, nor do I intend to, or really need to. I am simply speaking from my own heart and mind on this.

Sign up to be an organ donor, folks. It’s the right thing to do.

The biggest (and, frankly, the dumbest) argument I’ve heard against organ donation is the belief that “if they know you’re a donor, they’ll just let you die and cut you up and ’steal’ all your organs”. That’s idiotic. First of all, I recognize that there are doctors and facilities out there that view patients as statistics and want to “boost their numbers”. I’d be stupid to be blind to that. But the grand majority of health professionals in this country (short of cosmetic surgeons, perhaps, but that’s just this “writer” ’s opinion…) actually believe and follow their Hippocratic oath. They’re not just going to let a patient die so they can start doling out organs. I think people watch way too much “E.R.” and “House” and what not, and believe what they see. (Don’t get me started on that phenomenon… ba deeeee, ba dee dee)

There is a sense of urgency in that once the donor’s body dies and doctors are able to harvest organs, there is an extremely small window of time before the tissue essentially dies itself and becomes unable to thrive in its new host. Again, I have no stats here, but I’m not completely talking out of my ass here, either. There are so many people waiting on transplant lists, and so few acceptable donors out there. We need organ and tissue donations, folks.

Look, people, the bottom line is that you need to look at how much potential there is in being a donor. Maybe your donated organ or tissue will save a child’s life. And yes, if you’re in that bad of shape, any anonymous child’s life is more important than yours. Maybe your donated organ or tissue will be the one researchers used to discover or perfect the cure for cancer, or AIDS, or the common cold. (You actually can donate your body to science; my brother-in-law’s mother and stepfather are doing so when they pass away.) Not trying to spark a religious debate here, but regardless of one’s stance on “the afterlife”, one would have to feel pretty good, wherever they “are” in the cosmos at that point, knowing that they did such a good thing for their fellow man. I know I would. Or are you one of those assholes that expects strangers to donate to save you or your loved ones but you won’t donate to save them? Selfish little fucker, aren’t you?

Mrs. Johann already knows that if I’m ever in an accident and I die, or am only being kept “alive” by machines, that I expect and demand to have my “plug pulled” and for doctors to take whatever they can use. Being kept alive on a ventilator is not living. There is such a thing as “quality of life”. I mean, yeah, the person on that ventilator is “alive”, but who is truly benefitting from that? The patient? Their family? (I could make a whole new post on the selfishness of grief from death, but I won’t… yet…) I’ll just repeat the phrase: “quality of life”. If I no longer have it, but can possibly give it to someone else, let’s do it. Even if my donated parts don’t wind up saving anyone, I tried.

Please, people. Regardless of what you think of me or my rambling on this blog (or in comments on your or other people’s blogs), do the right thing. Sign up here and become an organ donor. Thank you.

GUILTY!

According to the Worldwide Leader™, Michael Vick will plead guilty to federal dogfighting charges next Monday the 27th.

Since he is a celebrity and has lots of money–some of which he made from said dogfighting–he’ll likely wind up with not much more than a slap on the wrist compared to what Joe Citizen would get in the same situation. Even so, it’s a great day for justice. I’m not a tree-hugging Save the Whales Greenpeace extremist whack job by any means, but dogfighting is about the most heinous crime that can be perpetrated against an animal. Myself, I’m not into cats, but I would NEVER even for a split second consider exacting any sort of torture on cats even remotely like what Vick and his fellow thugs did to those dogs.

And of course, the racism card has been dangled out there already. ESPN is currently trying to spin it that the blacks in Atlanta support Vick and the whites detest him. Boy, that’s original. Creating racism where there is none- THAT’S never happened before. It’s not a race thing, people; it’s common decency. Whether you’re black, white, or titty pink, if you support Michael Vick (especially now) or dogfighting in general, you’re scum. Plain and simple. It’s right vs. wrong.

People say that “they” are trying to make an example of Vick. Big deal. Look at the state of sports nowadays: steroids, crooked refs on the take, dogfighting, etc. If you really truly want to clean up sports, then some people HAVE to have examples made of themselves to do so. Deal with it.

However, put a little perspective on it. I’m thrilled to death that Vick will be punished at least a little (likely, TOO little) for what he did, but look at how many others have effectively gotten away with so much more. Drugs, weapons, rape, MURDER of another HUMAN BEING or two (good evening to you, O.J. …). Again, I’m very happy Vick finally did the right thing for once (or at least is scheduled to…) but spare me the sob stories of him being the victim of a witch hunt or whatever. Even if he IS being “singled out”, “hung out to dry”, “sent down the river”, or any of the other lame clichés I’ve heard since this story first broke, that’s better than the far more distressing and far greater number of those that get/got away with… well, murder. At least Vick will actually be punished for the crimes he committed, unlike most of his peers.

So don’t shed a tear for Vick; he’ll do his “time” and be back in the NFL within a year or two. SOME idiotic desperate team will sign him. Some justice.

I can’t believe I’m saying this: Girls, put some damn clothes on!

Like most residents and visitors of the great city of Springfield, I frequent White Oaks Mall. Sometimes more than I care to.

Mrs. Johann and I have been walking around the mall to try to start getting in a little better shape. Johann is sporting a spare tire that would at least fit a school bus. But I digress.

Anyway, as I said, I visit the mall somewhat regularly. There is an issue that, while not only occurring at the mall, seems to be most noticeable there, and it needs to cease immediately.

Now I’m all for women who choose to show some skin. That’s one of the reasons I look forward to the spring and summer months, as I’m sure many men do. The only thing is, have some freaking tact about it. The “fashion” right now is to wear pants that just barely cover one’s ass crack, and also to have one’s belly visible. But as bad as this sounds, if you don’t have the body to pull this off, you really shouldn’t be allowed to wear such clothes.