Posted on 03/24/2005 6:55:06 PM PST by MrBallroom
ENDING THE MADNESS
by Timothy Rollins, Editor and Publisher
March 25, 2005
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Now that the Supreme Court of the United States has once again justifiably rejected the pathetic puppy-dog pleas of Bob and Mary Schindler (right) to have the feeding tube of their daughter Terri Schiavo reinserted, they need to just let go and let their daughter slip away from this life into the next. As it stands, Terri is faced with two kinds of unspeakable agony; one, being wilting away from lack of food and water, and the other being indefinitely trapped in a body that has in fact become a prison for her soul.
In the middle of all this, we have a number of players - all of whom are to blame for the situation - who had no right to get involved in what was supposed to be a private family matter. If anything, it was supposed to be a private disagreement between Terri's husband Michael and her parents Bob and Mary Schindler, the latter of who took their tiff national with the news media by releasing a videotape of their daughter in her vegetative state, which I found repulsive to the extreme. While I may have colleagues who have totally opposite views on this issue - which I respect - I must disagree with the extreme measures being taken at this point to keep America's "Cabbage Patch Girl" alive.
For openers, as a rule of law, Bob and Mary Schindler have no right whatsoever to be filing any legal actions on their daughter's behalf - period. Whether it be Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck or any other nationally syndicated talk show host, news pundit or anyone else, Terri's parents do not have any legal standing to act in their daughter's behalf, and that is why they have lost at every level in the court system and it is also why the Supreme Court has refused not only once, but twice to hear their appeals and their desperate, pathetic cries for help.
Before anyone goes and calls me heartless - or worse - keep in mind that if the tables were turned and it was me in that hospice, I would want to be allowed to die rather than be in a persistent vegetative state with severe irreversible brain damage. Wishful thinking on the part of Terri's parents and others will not change that, and there is more than enough blame to go around on this national disgrace.
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For openers, Bob and Mary Schindler lead the list for releasing the videotape nationally, thus stripping their daughter of her remaining dignity and turning her into a national freak show the likes of such I was expecting Sally Jessy Raphael to appear at any moment, what with all the do-gooders getting themselves arrested trying to bring Terri water. What type of point were they trying to prove? Then there is Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo (left). While he may have had his appropriate mourning period at losing the Terri he loved and married to this vegetative state, rather than divorcing her and letting her parents take over her care as he should have, he had a woman move in with him and has had two children by this other woman, thus becoming an adulterer and winning him no sympathy in the process. As a result, his credibility is largely shot to pieces on this as well as on other grounds.
Add to the list both houses of the United States Congress - who in their perpetual pursuit of the Congressional circle jerk - held nationally televised debate in an 'emergency session' to make themselves (a); look good, and (b); look as if they were doing something which they knew would go nowhere. All of this was done in a classic case of ego masturbation and free face time on network television in pursuit of a reelection victory in next year's midterms. To make matters worse, President Bush gets in on the act by signing off on this legislation which is a direct repudiation of legislation he signed as Texas Governor that went in the opposite direction. Lastly and finally, Terri Schiavo is herself to blame for her current predicament, for had she obtained medical help for her bulimia, and not continued her binging and purging, the heart attack and subsequent heart stoppage and attendant brain damage would have never occurred.
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Most people looking at this situation fail to realize that in this case the tragedy was entirely preventable. They - especially the Schindlers - also fail to realize that Terri stopped being the Terri Schiavo they knew and loved (left) when she suffered her brain damage and became a shell of what she once was (right). As much as it may hurt to let her go and slip gradually from this life into the next, it needs to occur sooner rather than later. In so doing, the Schindlers will come to see what Michael Schiavo probably already knows - that an end to this current suffering will free her from the pain and torment that has racked her body and what is left of her brain for over 15 years. It will also bring to an end the Schindler family's suffering as well. Nobody wins in this situation. Not Michael Schiavo, not Bob and Mary Schindler and their other children, not the nation as a whole that has had to witness and endure this tragedy, and most importantly, not Terri.
It is time for her prolonged suffering to end. If we as a nation can learn anything from this, it is to follow the example former President Richard Nixon set when he had the stroke in 1994 that led to his death a week later. Nixon had an advance directive filled out specifying no extraordinary measures were to be taken to either save or prolong his life, and had a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) tag placed on his chart. By making such a decision - in advance - he saved his bickering daughters Julie and Trisha, who have not spoken to each other in years, from what would have been an inevitable national sideshow much like this one. ***
© 2005 Timothy Rollins
EDITOR'S UPDATE: Since this article went to press, Governor Jeb Bush (R-Florida) has failed in his emergency bid for the state to win custody of Terri, thus effectively bringing the battle to keep Terri alive to an end. The Schindlers are seeking a restraining order in federal court in hopes of keeping their daughter alive a little longer; however, in light of their 0-4 track record in the federal court system, not to mention their complete failure to win any petitions in state court, about all they can do at this point is prepare to say their goodbyes to Terri and let her go.***
COPYRIGHT © 2005 BY THE AMERICAN PARTISAN
All writers retain rights to their work.
Ah yes, a partially functional eater. And one who could pay his own way, of course. Do forgive me.
Perhaps you can enlighten us with the lines you draw in the sand for when disabled people are worthy of life, and when they should, instead, be dehydrated to death?
As to the money angle, I have long thought that Michael Schiavo was a money-grubbing adulterous weasel. Unfortunately, the state and Terri's parents were unable to gather sufficient evidence of legal wrongdoing to have him removed as her guardian and have themselves put in place to care for her instead.
Had they been able to do so, Terri would be in her hospice bed, the Schindlers would have acted as agent for Terri in divorcing Michael, and all would be back to quiet anonymity for Terri and we would be concentrating on another story.
I would say how amazed I am at how someone with a law degree can be a real schmuck but I can't. There was a judge here that set bail at $20,000 for a man who was accused of triple murder of his wife and two kids (he also allegedly molested the daughter). Everyone said pay off for that and I say pay off for this one. The judge is heartless and wouldn't be too shocked if he met the same fate as judges do in Colombia, etc.
I'm not sure there is a mainstream 'Mormon' opinion of this case. I don't have a Mormon list either. However, I can tell you my views, and views of others I have talked to in Utah who are LDS.
If Michael Schiavo is responsible in any way for Terri's death and is lying about her wishes, the blood is on his hands. He will be punished in the next life. If Terri dies in the next few days, she will be definitely be in a better place.
That said, we definitely come down on the side of life. Each case is different, but if there is any question, come down on the side of life. I talked with my sister and a friend last night about this case, we all have been on both sides of the issue. The common response has been that we all thought that she had designated that she wanted to die, and so have been on both sides of the issue. After some research, I'm firmly on the side of letting her live. It's an extraordinarily difficult decision to make, but again, land on the side of life.
As far as the authur of the posted article goes, he could use a little more compassion and a lot less sarcasm. And in my experience, no, his article does not reflect the opinion of Utah members of the LDS church that I have talked to (perhaps 15 members.) The church has not come out with a declaration specifically on the Schiavo case, but have stated that life is sacred.
Sorry I've been a bit scattered, this case has really discombobulated me. I hope that the Schindler family finds peace and comfort in the coming weeks, and that the Lord blesses them. To see Terri's mother especially with Terri and how much she loves her and has to now watch her die a death that is horrible must be gut wrenching.
And I will blast the lawyers and judges in this case. In the Book of Mormon, it says that the Nephite civilization was brought down by the devious machinations of the lawyers and judges. The lawyers are behaving exactly like it says in the Book of Mormon. Somehow they can find it in the 'law' to extend the life of serial killers, murderers, child molestors, etc, but just wring their hands when it comes to the life of an innocent woman. I was especially disgusted by the opinion of the Atlanta court of appeals, who said that this is such a human tragedy, and that the loved ones want her to stay alive, and that there should be a way, but hey, the law has gotta be followed.
As far as Michael Schiavo goes, he is a very unfeeling person. To bury his 'wife' in Pennsylvania when she dies from dehydration and starvation. How cruel and unfeeling. Several of his comments have been eye poppingly insensitive.
You're right on the money, MarMema. No way is it representative.
I have read several of the opinions of doctors who say that people in a persistent vegetative state do not feel pain, the cerebral cortex is gone or so compromised that their brain doesn't register pain. If so, then why do they give Terry Schiavo ibuprofen or naproxen for menstrual cramps? Why was there a protocol written in 2002 for her when the tube was removed, and the main topic was how to deal with her pain? So many inconsistencies with what is happening, but the overriding comment for Michael Schiave and his lawyer and the judge is that Terri once stated that she didn't want to live like that (a statement made when a grandmother was dying.) That is the overriding sentiment, and no matter what anyone says, she wants to die and that is her right and anything that might reverse that is just evil and wrong because afterall, who would want to live like Terri? That is what makes me so nauseated about this case, the utter smugness of Michael Schiavo's lawyer.
And what a sweetie.
Another delightful euphemism. She's not succumbing to some terminal illness. She's being KILLED.
You're reprehensible.
Utah Girl, thank you for shedding some very important light on this issue. As you said, there are members of the Church who have taken one side of the issue, while others have taken the other. You have shown with great respect and open mindedness that Church members like you and I can have differing opinions on this issue - in other words, agree to disagree - without being disagreeable, and for that I thank you, as it speaks very well of you.
You are right about that weasel husband of hers. If he is directly or indirectly responsible for her death, he WILL answer for it when he stands before the judgment bar of Christ on that great day; however, as I have stated clearly before, there are quality of life issues here as well. Yes, Terri's parents love her very dearly and will miss her incredibly. However, I do believe at some point that her spirit needs to be released from the prison of a body it is currently trapped in, and as such, I have taken the position I have.
Granted, I have my faults and being flip and sometimes sarcastic is one of them. That is something I am working on. Yet the reality of Terri's agony - even while on the feeding tube - is something that cannot be ignored, even by those advocating that she stay on it in perpetuity. You are most definitely right when you cite the lawyers and judges behaving as it describes in The Book of Mormon, as it pertains to what amounts to evil machinations. Florida has very strong sunshine laws as it pertains to making public court records, and if an investigation was done where Michael was suspected of abusing Terri, then he should have been removed for cause as Terri's guardian. If not, then due process afforded by the 5th and 6th amendments of the Constitution need to be afforded Michael.
Again, as you said, if Michael IS guilty in any way of hastening Terri's death, he will have a LOT of explaining to do when he stands before the Lord.
Until then, it is best that Terri be granted in the Lord's due time, her eternal reward.
And you're uninformed and unenlightened.
I am very well informed, and I know the culture of death when I smell it. You're saturated with the stink of it.
"America's Cabbage Patch Girl?" That's some pretty shitty writing, not to mention being wildly insensitive and degrading.
Breaking news?
LOL
You seem unable to read and follow instructions (see below on your reply box): "Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.
Unless you can write civil dialog in responding to this article, may I suggest you keep your mouth and/or fingers quiet.
As for the breaking news shot: It is in relations to an ongoing breaking news story with regular updates as the ghoulish whores from the MSM hover over and outside her hospice violating her privacy right until the very end like the buzzards and predatory vultures they are and regularly show themselves to be.
The truth is often painful.
Please "inform" and "enlighten" us all. And while you're at it, please explain what you meant by, "Cabbage patch girl". Many of us are still waiting. Thanks.
From my wife:
"All those wanting to live life in a chronic vegetative state with no means to clearly articulate your wishes or communicate, please raise your hands, because I want to meet you, and I want to know why you'd want to be content to 'live' that way."
BR> Let Terri rest in peace.
MrBallroom here again: All in favor of living in a chronic vegetative state indefinitely with no hope of recovery, please have a relative raise your atrophied hands for you.
No hands raised?
I didn't think so.
Game. Set. Match. ***
NOT ESTABLISHED.
Depends on which battery of doctors you're talking to ... Michael the Weasel's doctors, Mommy and Daddy's doctors, or the independent doctors, and who is paying the doctors in question...
You admit there's uncertainty about her prognosis and still you want her killed?
Wow.
Depends on which battery of doctors you talk to ... Michael's doctors, Mom and Dad's doctors, or the 'independent' doctors... also consider who is paying for each of the analysis involved...
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