Posted on 03/15/2005 12:49:39 PM PST by nickcarraway
In just a few short days, the United States - under the ruling of Florida 6th Circuit Judge George W. Greer - will take a step toward ridding itself of those it does not see fit to live.
This Nazi-like mentality has played out in the case of Terri Schiavo of Florida, whose estranged husband, Michael, has been pursuing legal action since 2000 to have her feeding tube removed.
Judge Greer last month set 1 p.m. March 18 as the time and day in which Terri will begin one of the most heinous of deaths - starvation. Until this point, Terri's family has been successful in delaying the removal of her feeding tube. They've stalled the court for five years, with the support of the Florida Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush. But it appears they've exhausted legal and legislative remedies, and time is running out.
Terri's plight began in 1990 when she collapsed in her home, suffering severe brain damage when a chemical imbalance caused her heart to stop and cut off oxygen to her brain. Michael Schiavo sued for malpractice in the case and was awarded more than $1 million to be used toward Terri's rehabilitation.
Soon after the award was granted, however, Michael purported that a "normal" Terri would not want to live in a disabled state, although no written record exists indicating these wishes. And, many of Terri's closest friends and family dispute Michael's claim, based on their conversations with her, as well as Terri's religious beliefs.
Terri has had no meaningful rehabilitation since 1991, although some speech-language pathologists have indicated she is a good candidate for speech therapy. And, several experts have also said that with proper treatment, she may eventually be weaned off a feeding tube.
But instead of investing in Terri's recovery, Michael Schiavo is investing in her death. Very little money from the malpractice lawsuit on behalf of Terri has been used to further her recovery.
Michael has started a new life, fathering two children with a woman he has lived with for several years. Terri is now no more than a burden to him.
Despite the common misperceptions of Terri's state, she is aware of and responds to her surroundings. While Michael Schiavo's hand-picked doctors - who spent very little time with Terri - have proclaimed her to be in a "persistent vegetative state," plenty of other doctors have disagreed with this opinion.
Videos, available at www.terris fight.org, show joy in Terri's face as her mother enters the room and embraces her face. Another video shows Terri's eyes following a balloon as it travels across her bed. Terri has also been known to blink her eyes on command, laugh, cry, and smile when listening to music. She has also said words, such as "mommy" and "help me."
The national media has done little to absolve another common misperception: that Terri relies on extensive life support systems. Terri is not in a coma, and the only outside intervention keeping her alive are the nutrients and hydration she gains from a feeding tube. Even if doctors agreed that Terri had no hope of rehabilitation, every human being deserves the opportunity to be a miracle.
But this argument isn't about shedding false hope that Terri will someday make a full recovery. It's about her life holding value - value to her many friends and family. Her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, would give anything to be able to care for their daughter and provide her with the loving care she deserves.
Removing Terri's feeding tube would endanger the millions of other Americans with severe disabilities. A society that devalues lives that are not physically perfect heads down a destructive path. Not the courts, the legislature, or any human being is in a place to judge what life is not worth living. Although the Florida courts have set Terri's death date, her life retains worth. No one can take away the value Terri has in the eyes of her friends, her family and her God.
- Lisa Lawrason is the Herald Times Feature Publications editor. You may write her at PO Box 598, 2058 S. Otsego Ave., Gaylord, MI 49735, or by e-mail, lisa@gaylordheraldtimes.
ping
Ping!
If you don't like it, why don't you just leave these threads? Go someplace else.
You are kind of bossy for having just signed up yesterday, aren't you? I suppose you are going to write a letter to Jim Rob and tell him how to run his website now?
Hey- I have an idea- why not contact Jim and tell him you are an expert on websites- and have some advice for him. You could write up your previous experience with first class, world renown ,conservative websites which specialize in activism. I mean you have four years- or one days experience.
I mean you have four years- or one days experience.<<
LOL! Is that you sKerry?
I have placed a call to the FBI and notified them that you are being held against your will and being forced to read certain threads on FR. G Menn will arrive to rescue you within moments. Don't bother thanking me, just doing my civic duty...
ProLife Ping!
If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.
I suggest you pull your own Freeper log-on feeding tube... before Judge Greer orders it so !!! ;-))
Are you offering an arm a leg or a neck...:)
Thanks for posting this.
Ignore the cold hearted distractors.
SR92
Since Mar 14, 2005
ONLY signed up YESTERDAY?
Unfortunately this forum is not designed to cater to you.
BTW, why not hobble back to DU where you belong.
How much coverage would YOU want if your life was being taken away against your will this week? Would you want one channel covering it, or ALL posts, ALL channels ALL the time until you were rescued?
Would you want people who had spoken for you before to stop speaking because they had already spoken once?
Because you don't care about yourself, or others, or God, you do not have His mercy to give. Do you see the direct correlation? You are unwilling to help, because YOU are empty. You view rescue attempts as "slathering." You need to re-think if this is how you want to be and live your life.
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