A man by the name of Charles Fariala committed suicide recently. He had MS, but was still able to walk. His mother is on trial for counseling him to commit suicide.

Her lawyer called her courageous and compassionate. In a published letter to the Editor, someone said that this man was brave and thoughtful for killing himself. An attitude I find prevalant whenever disabled people are killed.

I wrote a letter myself saying that this man could have had another 40 years ahead of him if he hadn't decided to kill himself, that people with MS get married, raise children and go on trips. I wrote that I had grappled with the suicide question myself and that it would be a horrible mistake if I went now.

I doubt that letter will see the light of day. It was e-mailed yesterday.

Don't these people think when they write or publish these letters how disabled people might feel after reading them? Before, reading such comments hurt, but now that I have considered suicide, I feel enraged and sickened.

There is a very prevalent attitude out there that disabled people are better off dead and it didn't die with Nazi Germany. It is alive and well. If you are disabled and suicidal, it may very well make the national news headlines and set a dangerous precedant for others to follow.

I just feel plain sick. How can people say such things and what's more, be allowed a national forum to do it in?