While it’s been a busy, busy news week, four stories came to dominate headlines around the world as the Winter Olympics smoothly sped on. Belgian parliament passed a law giving terminally ill children the right to euthanasia, in other words allowing them to end their suffering by choosing to put an end to their lives. Ahead of the NFL draft, Missouri defenseman Michael Sam revealed early during the week that he was gay, initiating a back and forth debate that again shed light on the NFL’s anti-gay culture. In media, you may have thought Comcast’s purchase of NBCUniversal and its subsidiaries was big, but now the mass media company has managed to pull Time Warner Cable under their umbrella as well! Finally, the world said goodbye to actress and U.S. diplomat Shirley Temple, arguably the most famous child star in film’s history.
Welcome back to NEWSFLASH, giving you the week’s biggest stories!
Belgian Lawmakers Vote to Allow Euthanasia For Terminally Ill Children
Should children have the right to choose to end their lives? Can they make the decision with a true understanding of the consequences? On Thursday, Belgium believed so as the country’s parliament voted in favor of a bill that will grant terminally ill children the right to euthanasia should they choose to end their suffering.
The bill passed 86 to 44 in the Belgian parliament, a reflection of the overwhelming support for the law even among the public.
Under the new bill, Belgium’s terminally ill children can fight to have their lives ended if they are in intense agony and suffering. While consent must also be given by the child’s parent and medical team, the law removes any age limit, meaning that even very young children can choose to be euthanized.
The bill has immediately attracted supporters and opponents, with a huge concern centering on the notion that children may not completely understand or grasp the concept of euthanasia.
Belgium’s king is set to sign the bill into law within a few days. The country legalized euthanasia for adults in 2002, during which some politician pushed for children to have the right to be euthanized as well.
College Football Star Michael Sam Reveals That He Is Gay Ahead of NFL Draft
The University of Missouri’s star defensive lineman, Michael Sam, publicly declared that he was gay this week ahead of the NFL draft. The college senior’s revelation sets him on track to becoming the first openly gay professional athlete in the NFL, but also marks his entrance into a sport criticized for its prevalence of anti-gay incidents.
Sam, 24, openly admitted that he was gay to his teammates during a practice.
“I looked in their eyes, and they just started shaking their heads — like, finally, he came out,” recalled the defenseman.
Sam’s statement immediately fired up speculations surrounding the Missouri defenseman’s chances at being picked up at the NFL draft. While some believe that Sam has hurt his professional football career, others claim that Sam’s sexuality will pose no problem for the athlete as he moves on to establish himself in the NFL.
The NFL, however, has come forth with their own statement, declaring that they “admire Michael Sam’s honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the N.F.L,” and that they were “looking forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014.”
This year, Sam was named defensive player of the year in college football’s Southeastern Conference and Missouri’s most valuable player. He was also an integral part of UMissouri’s victory at the Cotton Bowl.
Comcast Purchases Time Warner Cable In Media Giant Merger
Two of America’s largest media companies will merge following Comcast’s purchase of Time Warner Cable, a business move that has terrified the companies’ competitors and viewers alike.
For $45 billion, Comcast purchased Time Warner Cable after a deal that first involved Charter Communications Inc. as well. Charter stepped out of the deal, unsatisfied with the terms, but in an unexpected move Comcast went ahead and closed the agreement with Time Warner.
Comcast, which also owns NBCUniversal and its subsidiaries, are now set to dominate the American media market with one in three Americans subscribing to its services. While the federal government still needs to approve the merger and Comcast has assured its competitors that it will not hold over 30% of the market, viewers and business experts alike are fearful that Comcast will establish a monopoly on U.S. media.
Customers are already concerned about possible service bill hikes and poor service following the merger’s approval. But at the same time, many customers will be offered more channels and services than before, making the Comcast-Time Warner deal both a positive and potential negative for the U.S. media market.
Iconic Former Child Star Shirley Temple Dies
Former child star Shirley Temple Black died late Monday night, leaving behind artistic and political legacies from her work as an actress and U.S. diplomat.
Temple Black, 85, passed away in her Woodside, California home of natural causes. She was surrounded by family, friends and caregivers during her last days, according to a statement.
Temple Black was a huge sensation beginning in the early 1930s with her curly golden locks that dominated the big screen. From the age of 3 to when she was 10, Temple Black was paid $50,000 per movie, an astronomical salary at the time and a testament to her popularity as a film star.
When Temple Black retired from the film industry at 22, she launched a political career that spread her name internationally. She served as a U.S. representative to the United Nations and later served as the U.S. foreign diplomat to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.
George H.W. Bush, who appointed Temple Black to her diplomatic posts, paid his respects.