Joseph Farah: Tragedy of Schiavo Case "A Matter of Life and Death"

WND.com ^ | 10-20-03 | Farah, Joseph

[Theodore R.]

A matter of life and death

Posted: October 20, 2003 1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

By the time you read this, Terri Schindler-Schiavo could well be dead – the victim of a court-ordered starvation plan.

If you get your news primarily from the New York Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN or FOX, you may not know who Terri Schindler-Schiavo is. The establishment press has treated her government-mandated torture-execution as if it had little news value.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, while speaking out on the case and offering a brief opposing the taking of Terri's life, now maintains his hands are tied – that he cannot overrule the opinion of one judge.

So, helpless in further appeals to authorities, Terri's loving parents, who want only to help their daughter live and recover from a mysterious, debilitating attack 13 years ago, are forced to watch their daughter starve to death in a horrifying death sentence that would be considered cruel and unusual punishment for even the most heinous criminal in the United States.

The legalized murder of Terri takes place without due process, without Terri being able to express her own views to the court and in contradiction to the opinions of those who love her most.

Is this America?

Yes, this is America, circa 2003.

The sentence is being carried out as we speak. The only thing that seems to matter to Pinellas County Circuit Court Judge George W. Greer, the black-robed priest who pronounced sentence on the 39-year-old woman, is what her estranged husband desires for Terri. Michael Schiavo seemingly only wants to get on with his new life, free of the memory of his still living wife. He long ago moved in with another woman, had a child and is about to have his second.

Schiavo hardly seems like the most objective caretaker in the world.

Terri is not comatose. She responds to stimuli. She reportedly tried to get out of her chair when told she would have her feeding tube removed. She has been systematically denied rehabilitation efforts by the same people who are now committing her to the grave.

This is not only a travesty of justice, it's a moral outrage. It's an indictment of the American conscience.

Terri is clearly being denied life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's a violation of the U.S. Constitution. As well, what is happening to Terri is apparently a violation of the Florida constitution.

Not surprisingly, the politicians have demonstrated an alarming lack of courage in efforts to save Terri's life.

You want to know how the Holocaust began in Germany? I suspect it was in increments. I suspect that politicians and the media didn't ask questions because court orders are court orders.

We hear from Gov. Bush's office about separation of powers. But separation of powers in the American system of jurisprudence has never given license to one branch of government to kill. Separation of powers in the American system of jurisprudence has never given the courts arbitrary and unaccountable authority. Separation of powers in the American system of jurisprudence has never been an excuse for executives or legislators to ignore their constitutional and conscientious duty.

Stories like the Schiavo case make me wonder why more Americans are not resorting to civil disobedience in the face of intolerable government tyranny and inhuman oppression. Stories like the Schiavo case make me wonder how long it will be before the death camps are opened for America's disabled. Stories like the Schiavo case make me wonder why 250 million Americans are silent while Terri starves.

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[Theodore R.]

Farah refutes Bush's insistence on "separation of powers," a position that means Terri's immediate death.

[Angel]

I've seen Terri on Fox news MANY times. Why is he saying they aren't covering it? I don't know about the other news sites.

[syriacus]

If you get your news primarily from the New York Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN or FOX,

FoxNews' Rita Cosby had a great interview with Terri's brother and sister the other night. She let them talk, which was very important for getting Terri's story out.

I hope Freepers will thank Cosby for her efforts.

I can't find an email for her alone, but a "thank you" could be sent to

Comments@foxnews.com

[Tax-chick]

The judge violated the separation of powers by ignoring the clear law of Florida (legislating) and by appointing himself executioner (executive). Of course Bush could act to enforce the laws of Florida, which say (among other relevant provisions) that a person may not be deprived of sustenance unless they have executed a written document to that effect.

[joesnuffy]

Schiavo hardly seems like the most objective caretaker in the world.

The circumstances under which Terri's "condition" occured are suspect...

There is a lot of money on the line...going into hubbie's pocket as soon as Terri is killed

There are a surprising number of politicans with a dog in this fight..both Dems and Repubs who seem to want this state sponsored killing of an innocent woman to go forward..

It's too bad that hubby didnt have an accident that would proclude him from guardianship and Terri's mom and dad replaced him...that alone would insure her life...

Our Govt has no problem with shooting a mother in the head and shooting her son's dog and then the son...or burning to death a house full of children....or deporting a child back to a communist dictatorship after being drugged by one of the dictators henchmen...

Not to mention giving tax payers money to terrorists...(HAMAS)...while alleging a war on terror..

It's not surprising (imo) that the same clowns that rule over us could not only allow this to happen..but find armed police willing to help them run this circus..

"America is great because she is good"...once remarked Toqueville...he also said that "America would cease to be great when she ceased being good"

[joesnuffy]

today on FOX the only story about starvation is about
some attention demanding idiot
who placed himself in a box suspended above the Thames for 40 days
Terri hasnt been mentioned ...so far

[MainFrame65]

I understand from information on a previous thread that this Judge Greer is up for reelection in 2004. This is a non-partisan type of election, where the incumbent is the only candidate named and the question is simply whether to retain the incumbent or not.

Normally, this type of election is automatic, because there is no opponent, no campaign, and no opposition. Florida - and everywhere else where judges so clearly think of themselves as little tin gods - needs to change this system and get rid of these people who ignore the community they are a part of.

Someone needs to form a committee, collect money, and start putting up billboards, making and airing commercials, and starting petition drives to recall this imperious b*t*rd, or impeach him if that won't work.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO PUT THE FEAR OF GOD INTO THESE SATRAPS.

[Barney Gumble]

I agree with Farah. Just because a judge orders something doesn't mean it is legally sound.

Michael Schiavo should have been removed as guardian because of conflicting interest. An independent investigation should have been performed. Judge Greer has consistently sided with Michael and has stifled any sort of investigation.

Now Michael will want her body creamated to remove any evidence. Don't look for Greer to oppose.

I'm disappointed in Jeb Bush's playing of the fence on this one. If he wanted to do more, he could have. He could have at least done more to give it a greater exposure in the media. Press conference anyone?