As I type this blog post the movie “Me Before You” is just about to be released in theaters. This book-turned-movie tells the tale of a young, handsome banker who is left paralyzed after an accident. With no will to live, no cure for his disability and despising the thought of being a burden to others, he decides to end his life. I mean, what else are people with disabilities supposed to do in a world where the greatest value is ease of life, right? Who wants to be burdened by others in having to care for them? I mean, it’s not like life is sacred or anything.
Back to the movie. In the midst of all this chaos comes a bubbly girl named Louisa who is hired to care for the guy. As expected, they fall in love as she tries to show him that life can indeed be very good. He still wants to end his life though, as he does not want her to miss out on life by being with, you know, a disabled person. I think the fact that even an NPR commentator found this movie’s message about the value of life in a wheelchair “depressing, dark, negative…” is telling. But it is the direction in which we are going. From aborting babies with Down Syndrome to pulling the plug on grandpa (all in the name of love, of course) we are saying that life is not really worth living unless you are an independent, self-sufficient person. It’s stuff right out of a dystopian novel. (The Giver, anyone?)
So I don’t know. You may still want to watch the movie. Maybe it does serve the purpose of showing that life with disabilities can actually be worth living, because who knows when a pretty young thing will come into the scene and profess her love for you? I prefer to pass on this sort of stuff. It’s sad enough to know that in some parts of the world, the death before inconvenience thing is already happening, such as in the case of the Belgian woman who received permission to die after suffering from depression her whole life.
It is very sad to think that we are failing people in this way and sending a message that they are a burden to us. Let’s pray for hearts that are open to the suffering of others and that are able to give without counting the cost.
Saint Dymphna, pray for us.
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