“The tragedy is that Terri’s parents simply want their daughter back from the man who promised to care for her, but who backed away from his promise. It appears that they can’t have her.”
Tony Woodlief speaks sad truth. Many of us are crying and will cry- for our various reasons- and there is a real lasting sorrow in the Schindler’s lives.
I’ve heard noises from the Left that the interventions on Terri’s behalf and the laws that are being proposed are “bad law” and “unconstitutional”. But where is the discussion on the same basis that the judicial activism that takes the will of the people off the books is, and has been, unconstitutional? Where is that admission?
It is quibbling to point out the interest of those who are pro-life in this case of Terri Schiavo. These are matters concerning the morality of ending life, particularly life that is innocent of convicted wrongdoing, as defined by the laws of the land.
Does the conviction that life has dignity and rights in any way diminish the sincerity of protest in this case? I can’t see the logic in that reasoning.
I do see the reason in the voices that give expression to the idea that our imaginations of what a person would desire to choose couldn’t possibly be projected from afar. This is life, not ivory tower chess games.
It is not “bad Law’ to put a persons medical choice into the hands of that person and in those who are representing their best interest. It seems reasonable to add opinions of the attending physicians within the definition of those best interests. Most living wills are set up that way.
“If you were to be Terri Schiavo’s place, on which side would you like the world to err?”
Woodlief is right. We will go back to our lives when this blows over and away from the public eye. But what will we have done to ensure that our laws are clear and protecting our most important freedom: the right to exist when others may find us inconvenient or burdensome?
That is the question that keeps me thinking about this case…. what will become of us as a society that values the life of the individual if we do not face squarely the tragedy of the Schindler’s and their daughter?
A criminal through executive pardon has more chance at reprieve from execution than someone like Terri in our present system.
How unjust is that?
Great post – – this is a such a tragedy. It is especially sad when you think of the joy that could come from her rehabilitation.
Ilona, as always a perspective of truth and enlightenment. Particularly your comment about a person’s choice being projected from afar. If Terri’s casual comment about ‘not wanting to live like that’ is as valid as a formally written living will, then I guess the rest of us better be careful that we never casually say to family members. “I love living, I love life, I want to live forever.” That would mean no end to the extraordinary efforts made on our behalf.
Thanks Keely. It is affecting me surprisingly deeply to see this unfold.
It has so many ramifications, Roberta. And it is worrisome when so many of us have problems communicating our inmost thoughts on death, anyway.
I may want to live forever… but not here. I still think the basic trouble is in the god-role that men make for themselves.
for that I have no easy answers. Well, I do, but people have to choose it for themselves 🙂
Ilona,
I definitely don’t want to humble you. I think we are all humbled in the face of these events, their implications, the human suffering involved and the question of our own responsibility.
I can’t accept that this is just. I can’t accept that this is ethical. I can’t believe that many people aren’t being done to death on the basis of laws like these purely because we are too selfish to recognize that they are human beings who have the right to food and water.
I will never be able to accept this as being the right thing to do and I will never be able to stop bothering Congress to recognize the implications.
This is the mother of all civil rights issues to me. When we decide that water and food is extraordinary medical treatment and that it is an experimental procedure to try to feed someone by mouth we have subjected every person in this country to the risk of an arbitrary and cruel execution for the crime of being mentally incompetent.
I support the right of an individual to make such a choice. I can’t support the right of others to make it for him or her.
Michael Schaivo is trying to kill Terri because she is no longer convenient for him. That is the sad truth. Terrible that we have reached the point of disposable humans.
I do have hope, however, that so many good people are fighting for Terri. We may just yet avoid a Brave New World.