The End of Musical Geniuses

The End of Musical Geniuses

Abolish MAiD I Bill Vassilopoulos

When we think of classical music, we think of Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach — composers who faced significant health challenges throughout their lives and yet created some of the most beautiful and unforgettable works in musical history.

Today, famous artists with disabilities such as Ray Charles (who lost his sight at age seven), Stevie Wonder (blind shortly after birth), and Andrea Bocelli (who lost his sight at age twelve) might not be here if they had been born in Canada. Could this be the end of musical geniuses?

Canada is currently discussing the possibility of euthanizing infants with disabilities from ages 0–2, allowing a doctor to override a parent’s wishes to keep their child alive. What is deeply concerning is the growing culture surrounding death in Canada, on social media, and in mainstream media — a culture that suggests a person may request Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for almost any reason, even children ages 12 and up, without parental consent.

This is no longer simply a moral crisis in Canada. It reflects a country that no longer appears to value its vulnerable citizens, especially when they are seen as a financial burden on an already strained healthcare system.

I’ve worked with people with a wide range of disabilities and advocated for them for ten years. I can personally say that not one of them ever expressed a desire to die through medical assistance in dying (MAiD). The reason group homes and assisted living facilities exist throughout Canada is because the government once believed that vulnerable people simply needed support to live healthy, meaningful lives. I know this because the government funded nonprofit organizations to provide those supports and services.

I was educated about the history of the Eugenics movement by an organization that once passionately believed it was wrong to force medications or sterilization on people with disabilities — a belief grounded in the Nuremberg Code after World War II. But much has changed since 2020, during the COVID lockdowns and restrictions. I was repeatedly taught that my job was to protect vulnerable people from the possibility of government overreach or medical abuse, similar to what occurred during the Eugenics movement, when people with disabilities were prevented from marrying or having children. These ideas also appeared during the Holocaust and the Bolshevik era.

What strikes me today is that we seem to be living through a revival of eugenics-like thinking in Canada. Once proud and compassionate Canadians now appear increasingly open to ending the lives of infants, children, teenagers, seniors, people with disabilities, those with mental health challenges, and even those facing financial hardship. What do all these vulnerable groups have in common? They can be perceived as burdens on a failing healthcare system that has lost its sense of purpose in helping people live long and meaningful lives.

MAiD is not healthcare. It is the ending of a life deemed to have little worth or value in society for the sake of “progressive” science — the same type of thinking supported by figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Winston Churchill during the early eugenics era. Modern forms of eugenics could include efforts to reduce the number of “unwanted” or “burdensome” lives, such as through organizations like Planned Parenthood.

What is the solution? Perhaps we should consider abolishing MAiD, just as the Eugenics movement was eventually rejected. MAiD is no longer limited to competent adults with terminal illnesses that are irreversible and expected to result in death within six months. And since there are no guardrails in place to stop this expansion, it must end now.

Imagine if Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, or Andrea Bocelli were born in Canada today. Their parents — and those advocating for them — might lose them to MAiD. Thank God they were not born in this era. The world would have missed out on their extraordinary gifts.

If you are struggling today, please hear this:

You are irreplaceable.

You are unrepeatable.

You are highly valued.

You are not a burden. (Matthew 11:28–29)

From 2018 to 2025, I worked on my book addressing the question: Why is suicide such a significant problem in our world? I interviewed frontline workers and families affected by suicide. It is a book of hope with a surprising ending that invites readers to reflect on life and its purpose.

My new ebook, Eyes Above the Water, is now available for a limited time for $9.99 (regularly $12.99) with promo code SAVE30.

Please take the time to read and share my Twilight Tuesday blogs to better understand the growing crisis of suicide in our world — and what we can do to help.

A portion of my book sales will fund workshops teaching people how to support those struggling with suicide and mental health challenges.

Warmly, Your friend,

Bill Vassilopoulos

ps Watch a flute player with a disability display his gift of Vivaldi, Winter the Four Seasons https://youtube.com/shorts/DDVXibCrKiY?si=Jt0xClv4Z5CUgHI2