If anyone wants to help me compose a short punchy message to send out to 34,000 media outlets tonight.. give me a call at 407-925-4141 immediately.
Here's a letter that my friend wrote. Shorter letters have a better chance of being published, but this might offer you some ideas. Time is short.
"I have heard different opinions expressed, including the advice that people
should move beyond this story and get on with their own lives. However, it
is a fair bet that the public is not nearly as sick of hearing about this
story as those closest to Ms. Schiavo are sick over the deadly injustice
being inflicted upon her.
Ms. Schiavo is now dying, without the right to have family, friends, and
numerous medical experts and personal caregivers speak on her behalf. It is
also documented that Ms. Schiavo is conscious, understands, and attempts
meaningful communication. Still, in the moments prior to the feeding tube
being pulled, her cries went unheeded even as she struggled to speak and
say, "I want to live."
The question here is not about the right to die since Ms. Schiavo is being
starved and dehydrated against her will. In fact, one attorney in this
case has observed that the battle is not fending off unwanted medical care,
but getting a doctor to treat you.
Why is there silence by human rights and social justice organizations as
these acts of neglect and court-ordered euthanasia play out before our very
eyes? There should be outraged over the death by decree issued against
Terri Schiavo. "