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Jack Kevorkian with altered U.S. flag (Sun Sentinel/Andrew Ba Tran / February 5, 2009) |
DAVIE -
He has appeared in court wearing a wig and on another occasion bearing a ball and chain. And he famously challenged on prime time TV anyone watching to stop him from assisting in suicides.
On Thursday night, Jack Kevorkian pulled another stunt in front of an audience of thousands at Nova Southeastern University: "Let's all say the Pledge of Allegiance," he said, then flipped a U.S. flag to reveal a replica on the other side with a swastika where the blue and stars would have been.
A mixture of poor acoustics and a long lecture caused many people to leave 45 minutes in, but during the question-and-answer period, he talked excitedly about a patient's right to death and at the end, unveiled the altered flag. Silence filled the audience, followed by a few boos.
"They should use the machine on you!" an audience member said.
"This is what our country is becoming if we aren't careful," retorted Kevorkian.
Several in the 3,000-member audience applauded.
Before his speech, Kevorkian visited student groups and met with reporters, a platform he used to rail against corrupt politics, the court system and over-population. Above all, he repeated his support for euthanasia and said it should be legalized as a standard medical procedure for willing patients.
"It's a doctor's aim to end suffering," he said. "Any person who has his life ended justifiably, it must be done by a physician, like any operation to save a life or cure a disease."
He began assisting in suicides in 1990, was arrested in 1998 and served eight years in prison. He was released on parole in 2007.
His conditions of release prevent him from speaking about means of assisted suicide. "I'll never consult with a patient on how to do it as long as I'm on parole," he said.
His parole ends in June. Kevorkian declined to elaborate on his post-parole plans.
"I'm free to do anything I want. I so-called 'paid my debt to society,'" he said. "You know, what a farce."
Kevorkian speaks at colleges every few months, recently at Harvard University and last year at the University of Florida. He and NSU representatives declined to reveal his fee for Thursday's speech.
Looking ahead to his speech, Kevorkian said he would encourage students to think independently."Think, think honestly and act honestly and talk honestly," he said, adding, "which means you ain't going to succeed in life, so you won't do it."
David Farin asked Kevorkian if he would ever euthanize himself.
"Of course," he replied.
Farin, a 23-year-old music teacher from Hallandale Beach, said he was outraged by the swastika-flag combination. "Isn't this a hate crime? Defacing a U.S. Flag?" he asked. "That guy is ...... crazy!"
Business student David Schweitzer, 21, said he did not agree with the flag display, but understood the statement Kevorkian was making.
"He's just highlighting a point he's been making the entire night, that just because it's a law doesn't mean it's right," he said. "Plus, it's not too out of line with everything else he's done his entire life."
Andrew Ba Tran can be reached at atran@SunSentinel.com or 954-385-7912.
On Thursday night, Jack Kevorkian pulled another stunt in front of an audience of thousands at Nova Southeastern University: "Let's all say the Pledge of Allegiance," he said, then flipped a U.S. flag to reveal a replica on the other side with a swastika where the blue and stars would have been.
A mixture of poor acoustics and a long lecture caused many people to leave 45 minutes in, but during the question-and-answer period, he talked excitedly about a patient's right to death and at the end, unveiled the altered flag. Silence filled the audience, followed by a few boos.
"They should use the machine on you!" an audience member said.
"This is what our country is becoming if we aren't careful," retorted Kevorkian.
Several in the 3,000-member audience applauded.
Before his speech, Kevorkian visited student groups and met with reporters, a platform he used to rail against corrupt politics, the court system and over-population. Above all, he repeated his support for euthanasia and said it should be legalized as a standard medical procedure for willing patients.
"It's a doctor's aim to end suffering," he said. "Any person who has his life ended justifiably, it must be done by a physician, like any operation to save a life or cure a disease."
He began assisting in suicides in 1990, was arrested in 1998 and served eight years in prison. He was released on parole in 2007.
His conditions of release prevent him from speaking about means of assisted suicide. "I'll never consult with a patient on how to do it as long as I'm on parole," he said.
His parole ends in June. Kevorkian declined to elaborate on his post-parole plans.
"I'm free to do anything I want. I so-called 'paid my debt to society,'" he said. "You know, what a farce."
Kevorkian speaks at colleges every few months, recently at Harvard University and last year at the University of Florida. He and NSU representatives declined to reveal his fee for Thursday's speech.
Looking ahead to his speech, Kevorkian said he would encourage students to think independently."Think, think honestly and act honestly and talk honestly," he said, adding, "which means you ain't going to succeed in life, so you won't do it."
David Farin asked Kevorkian if he would ever euthanize himself.
"Of course," he replied.
Farin, a 23-year-old music teacher from Hallandale Beach, said he was outraged by the swastika-flag combination. "Isn't this a hate crime? Defacing a U.S. Flag?" he asked. "That guy is ...... crazy!"
Business student David Schweitzer, 21, said he did not agree with the flag display, but understood the statement Kevorkian was making.
"He's just highlighting a point he's been making the entire night, that just because it's a law doesn't mean it's right," he said. "Plus, it's not too out of line with everything else he's done his entire life."
Andrew Ba Tran can be reached at atran@SunSentinel.com or 954-385-7912.