Friday, December 1, 2023

Book: Therefore Choose Life—My Journey from Hopelessness to Hope

This book is an Amazon best seller.

Interview with Tyler on Ontario Morning from CBC Radio (Interview Link).

Earlier this year, Tyler Dunlop gained international attention for all the wrong reasons. He was the ‘Homeless, hopeless Orillia man’ who was seeking euthanasia. Now, he hopes to make a similar impact for all the right reasons. On November 17th, his book Therefore Choose Life—My Journey from Hopelessness to Hope is being published.

Therefore Choose Life is available from the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition for $20 for 1 book or $50 for 3 books (+$5 for shipping per book). 

Order the book with this link (Order Link) or call the EPC office at: 1-877-439-3348.

Joe Roberts, “The Skid Row CEO,” and the author of several books, says of Therefore Choose Life:

“This book has the honesty of Charles Bukowski and the insight of Richard Wagamese. But it’s neither. It’s all Tyler Dunlop, and it’s a masterpiece.” 

Paul Copan, an American human rights scholar who teaches ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida, writes of Tyler’s book:

“This is a powerful, well-told, and uplifting story!” Rev. Dr. John Hamilton, a practicing psychologist, says, “Tyler's book is forthright, frank, gripping, and emotionally riveting!”
In his chapter ‘Canada’s Inferno,’ Tyler—like the ancient Roman poet Virgil in Dante’s Inferno, who guides Dante through hell—escorts the reader through a different hell: the drug culture in Main and East Hastings in East Vancouver. It is probably the most powerful piece of writing you will ever read on the subject.

        Here is an excerpt from it:
“When, the next day, I walked down East Hastings Street, the smell of old and new urine hung in the air like the spectre of old pain that showed in the pale, drawn, scabbed faces of the lost souls stumbling by. Garbage, used condoms, needles and cigarette butts were strewn around. The sound of shopping carts, commandeered by scavengers, shook and rattled. They contained anything the many dumpsters in the endless alleys had to offer, such as old printers and cheap paintings. Empty aluminum cans, rattling in bags tied to the sides of the carts, were a kind of chime. The sound of honking horns and obscenities filled the air. Down an alley, I saw open sex acts. Gaunt hooded figures ducked behind dumpsters. Their crack smoke curled up and rose into the sky like mythological dragons before disappearing with the wind. People slept on the sidewalks with needles still stuck in their arms. Graffiti messages—the names and sentiments of people probably long dead—defaced the storefronts. The loud caws of crows on the rooftops and sagging hydro lines added to the nightmarish scene. A small group of men and women looked barely human as, hunched over, they looked for pebbles of crack they had dropped. A buck-naked young man smashed his head against a wall and screamed profanities.”
“One time, the drug frenzy stopped as some guy started flying a toy helicopter remotely. The whole mass just stopped and looked up at the toy. As they did so, a beam of warm sun pierced through the clouds, and for the briefest of moments, amidst the backdrop of obscenities, all our collective pain did not exist.”
Therefore Choose Life deals with other “dark” subjects such as alcoholism, homelessness, and mental illness. The book explores such “light” topics as God, grace, and hope.

The book begins with the chapter, ‘The MAID Who Kills.’ It speaks of Tyler’s decision to seek MAID, discusses how he changed his mind on the subject, and ends with a scathing critique of the Canadian government’s legalization of this practice. In this and other chapters, Tyler attacks this policy as being utterly without moral justification.

Vera Petrovic, a retired psychiatrist, says:

“We live in a ‘culture of death.’ Euthanasia is taking advantage of the physical and mental pain of people too broken to fight and then calling it ‘death with dignity.’ What it is, is society ridding itself of ‘undesirables.’ God did not allow it in the past, and He will not allow it now. He will send those devoted to His service, those He has placed in His war against the ‘culture of death.’ He will send people like Tyler, pulling himself up to choose life despite every insurmountable personal challenge.”
I also believe that God has raised up Tyler to speak against MAID. But don’t take our word for it. Buy the book and decide for yourself.

Article: Homeless man seeks death by euthanasia. He feels hopeless (Link).

9 comments:

Barbara Fitchette said...

This book explains in the clearest terms how difficult Tyler's journey has been. He choose life because he wants to have a social impact which he will. It teaches, horrifies, but is going to become mandatory reading in schools. Tyler shows that we are all human, and all deserve to live.

Maureen said...

It is so encouraging to read something like this.....It gives me hope as the3 grandmother of one who may be lost just like Tyler was...God bless Tyler

Carol V said...

Very inspiring. So glad that Tyler saw the light, rejected the lies of the enemy, and is still with us today encouraging others.

Anonymous said...

In essence, the system's embrace of MAiD is a eugenic attempt to rid society of the "inferior." Tyler rises above the blatant superiority and Ableism to say that all human beings have merit if the choose to recognize it in themselves. One of society's biggest faults is that the Able knows more than the Unable as to what they need. But the reality rests within each individual as a human being.

Deacon William Orazio Gallerizzo
Catholic Pastoral Bioethics

Anonymous said...

I am so looking forward to reading Tyler's book-------One time, the drug frenzy stopped-----
A beam of warm sunshine pierced through the clouds and for the briefest of moments ,amidst the back drop of obscenities, ALL OUR COLLECTIVE PAIN DID NOT EXIST.I think my heart skipped a beat when I read that in the e-mail. During this season of waiting, we already have a gift, in Tyler's book. Let us pray for the courage to voice our thoughts to those who will make a decision in March, 2024.
Madge Weber.

Anonymous said...

I read in Orillia Matters about a homeless man who was unable to get a job or secure housing so he stated he was going to take steps to obtain Medical Assisance in Dying.

The photo taken of him was at a spot in Couchiching Park where my daughter and I often went to enjoy time together after the death of her father.
Our happy memories seemed obliterated by the image of this man and the misery he was espousing.

I felt that deciding to kill oneself was a very personal decision and could not comprehend why this man would choose to have his photo puublished.

Was he after attention?

Since reading that article I have thought about how our so-called society refuses to acknowledge the pain caused by poverty.
The article introduced me to the fact that our government was introducing the MAID option for people who were chronically depressed.

I lost my job in September.
My sweet loving child chooses to not aassociate with me since I am now poor and poverty is such an uncomfortable reality for those better off.

Thus, added to the pain of poverty, I am facing acute loneliness.

And it is Christmastime.

I suffer from some health issues which result in daily pain and limited mobility.

I have been looking for work with no success.

I am about to lose our home due to lack of income.

I have been seriously considering MAID.

I need to find a doctor who agrees with the policy in order that I can start the process.

I believe that society would prefer not to acknowledge the poor and therefore the government is quite willing to pour funds into MAID and all its required steps to extinguish a life, rather than to try to save a life which languishes in poverty.

Unlike Tyler, I have no history of alcohol or drug abuse.
In fact, I have never so much as tasted a beer or inhaled cannabis.
I have no criminal record and I am hardworking and university-educated.
Yet here I am, hopeless and sad.

Is MAID the answer for those suffering as I am?
Is MAID the answer for me?

I don't know, but in a few months the world is going to make it easy for myself, and others in similar situations to find out.

Alex Schadenberg said...

“I appreciate that you are willing to make yourself vulnerable by sharing your feelings, thoughts, and struggles! Please know that, although this may sound cliche, your life matters!! I pray that you would be able to see this, just as Tyler did. If you would like a listening ear, please reach out to Alex where I will leave my contact info. CL”

Please let me know if this is ok with you. Thank you for your time,

Cristina Lahoud

The following comment was sent to Alex Schadenberg for posting.

Barbara Fitchette said...

I praise Alex for telling anon that he is despair and experiencing a crisis, which can be resolved in a lot of ways, including what might the future may hold. I am the past President of the Ontario Distress Centres Association and started the Gerstein Crisis Centre after treating 2900 suicidal patients. I always say that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I also highly recommend the book. I saved his life and he dedicates this book to me, his mom is what he calls me. Tyler wants to affect change in how homeless people are ignored and more. But, it also is written to help those still struggling. He told me how good he feels when he can help people.

Cherry Bieber said...

Many years ago, I and my teenaged nephew were taking a petition around to stop yet another expansion of murdering the unborn. We took the petition to an older woman well known for her strong Christian faith and kindness. After reading the petition, she handed it back to me saying, "I could never sign this." Perplexed, I asked her why. She replied, "Child abuse is on the rise and limiting abortion will only make it worse." My nephew and I left her office in shock. Once outside, my nephew looked at me with tears in his eyes and asked, "Did I understand stand her right? Did she just say that you and I would have been better off if we'd been killed before we were born!?" I told him that was correct. I had grown up very abused and was now raising him after he had suffered years of abuse. It is always shocking to realize just how much society has embraced the idea that the answer to suffering is to destroy the victims.

I have followed the progress of euthanasia since the early 90s. Like abortion, it is an insatiable, ravenous beast that will never stop consuming. It will always present itself as a loving, compassionate means to end suffering. Sadly, increasing numbers are being taken in with that lie.