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According to a FOX News poll [1], 59% of those polled would remove Schiavo’s feeding tube. This is absolutely shocking when one considers that this case is not a right-to-die case, at least in the classic sense. Terry Schiavo is not on any sort of life support other than required to provide food and water, the basic necessities of life.

This is an excerpt from a Monday article at American Daily.com

http://www.americandaily.com/article/7021

MR.Donald Umbarger of Bristol, Tenn. will be getting email from me---GRRRRR!

Politicizing Schiavo's case
TriCities.com
Mar 9, 6:36 PM EST

http://www.tricities.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI%2FMGArticle%2FTRI_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031781480262

Just when one thinks the conservative columnists writing for your paper can’t get any more bizarre, along comes a disgusting article like that of Michael Reagan (Mar. 2) concerning the circumstance of Terri Schiavo. Not only does he use several colossal distortions and shallow logic to try and make his point, he reveals once again the flawed understanding of real compassion characteristic of the right-wing crowd.

Reagan tries to convince us that Schiavo is "fully alert, smiling, and reacting to her parent’s presence." This is absolutely not true. I admit to not having all the facts, (opinions abound), but from all I’ve seen and heard this lady has been in a vegetative state for 15 long years, requiring around-the-clock care.

A multitude of doctors and experts have examined her time and time again, always with the same analysis. She is void of any cognitive functions. The picture he tries to paint for us is a slightly-disabled woman who is at the mercy of a bad ex-husband and some liberal judges who are out to kill her in a most horrible way. It sounds like Reagan is simply trying to take some cheap shots at liberals.

If it’s true Schiavo is somewhat functional and capable of feeling pain, that would seem even more reason to let go of her with some kind of dignity, for it means she has been suffering all these years with no way to communicate. And for those who choose to use Biblical principles to verify their position, our faith tells us there is something far better on the other side.

It doesn’t appear the crowd making all the noise over this sad and complex question is doing so because they care that much. It seems to be rooted in an on-going pattern they have of grabbing on to a divisive social issue and milking it for all it’s worth for personal and political gain.

For those concerned with others having a life, there are a multitude of ways to work towards social and economic justice, seeing that everyone has equal opportunity towards life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Donald Umbarger
Bristol, Tenn.

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