What If Terri Schiavo Wants To Live? (David Limbaugh Slams Culture Of Death Alert)

Worldnetdaily.com ^ | 03/22/05 | David Limbaugh

[goldstategop]

Just what is it that so earnestly motivates those who zealously want Terri Schiavo's feeding tube to be removed? While there are plenty of exceptions, I dare say that most people in this camp are not driven by constitutional concerns, despite their hollow protests to the contrary.

As my brother Rush cogently noted, it is easy to understand what drives those who want to save Terri's life: the human urge to protect and save the life of another human being. The motivation of those fighting with equal fervor to remove the tube is not so self-evident.

The more I read about this case, the more it weighs on me – the more a creeping feeling of horror sweeps over me. If, in fact, Terri Schiavo wants to live and is going to be denied that right, the prospect of a court-ordered removal of her feeding tube is no less horrifying than that of a person being buried alive.

If Terri truly wants to live – as a lawyer visiting with her when her feeding tube was removed avers – how could any caring person wish death upon her? The question is not whether we think we would want to live in Terri's state, but whether in fact she wants to. Are those advocating Terri's death allowing themselves to consider that this woman truly wants to live – just like they do?

I doubt I'll ever be able to understand, much less relate to, the sympathies of certain people. Generally speaking, they seem to feel more compassion for wildlife than animals, more for animals than human beings, more for guilty human beings than innocent ones, more for Communist dictators and tyrannical thugs than freedom fighters, and more for the vindication of an abstract principle devaluing human life than for an actual human being like Terri Schiavo, who, though severely disabled, may truly want to live.

How can we possibly view in a favorable light the position of those who protest to save the lives of convicted killers on death row and who bend over backward to believe their most incredible stories of innocence, but won't lift a finger in support of Terri Schiavo and won't even momentarily consider that Terri wants to live? Where are the "Free Mumia" chanters when Terri needs them?

I realize some believe that many advocating for Terri's life are using her for their own political purposes and that even Terri's parents, the Schindlers, are putting their own selfish wishes to keep Terri alive above those of Terri herself.

But do we actually believe that loving parents – parents who would eagerly trade places with Terri in an instant – would place their own comfort above their daughter's? If not, how can we possibly believe they would fight to prolong her suffering? In examining this case from a distance, isn't it much easier to believe Terri's parents' assessment of her desire to continue living than that of her adulterous husband, whose conflict of interest should disqualify him from guardianship in this case and participation in this decision?

And isn't the essential argument of those wanting the tube removed that Terri's wishes ought to be honored? Since Terri left no legal document directing her death in these circumstances, shouldn't the system require clear and convincing evidence that Terri indeed would want to die in these circumstances? Yet the court is relying on the hearsay evidence of Terri's estranged husband, Michael.

The question is whether as a society we want to resolve these very difficult, doubtful cases in favor of death.

I detect more than a bit of intellectual dishonesty among many favoring Terri's death. They are claiming they merely want to honor Terri's wishes, yet they rely on her tainted husband, callously discount the testimony of her loving parents, blindly accept the disinformation that Terri is in a purely vegetative state, and ignore multiple firsthand accounts, including from examining physicians and nurses, that Terri is responsive, sometimes animated, and definitely wants to go on living.

Could it be that something besides Terri's wishes motivates many of the death-soldiers, such as an allegiance to the culture of death, or some abject, inhumane resentment that we spend so much money keeping severely disabled people alive? I've received appalling e-mails from people complaining about the financial burden to society of keeping Terri alive.

I'm not pointing fingers at anyone specifically, because I know that many who want the tube removed are motivated by their perceived compassion for Terri and even honoring Terri's wishes. But I fear that many arguing for tube removal are doing so with complete disregard for Terri's actual wishes in this case. To the extent that is going on, we are witnessing up-close the face of evil.

We must fight on. … More prayers for Terri

[AntiGuv]

I admit that I don't know the fine details of the case through the years, but my opinion is that the law should require a minimal standard of rehabilitative therapy be provided (in cases with no living will) and that a guardian who fails to provide for that should be deemed negligent and potentially removed. I cannot specify better than that because I don't have the medical expertise to frame it better, but I'm basically referring to standard motion & speech therapy.

I don't really understand how she could be deemed to be vegetative if a physician gave such an assessment. I would say that it's very disturbing if true, even more so if accurate. It's really hard to make heads or tails of all the contradictory statements throughout this dreadfully sad case. I'm glad I'm not the judge.

[AntiGuv]

I am not under any illusion that all, or even most, people would share my views on all this, much less that Terri Schiavo would in particular. The whole point that I began with is that I don't pretend to know with any confidence what she wanted.

But, I do know what I know now, and what I know now is that that's what I would want if I were in a vegetative state as it's understood to be. Yes, I would rather just go by lethal injection, but if the options were either death by dehydration or irreversible vegetation I would choose the former.

[jonrick46]

Here is a good report by the National Ledger for you to read:

http://www.nationalledger.com/commentary/article_1240.shtml

[Concerned]

ANTIGUV WROTE: "But, I don't know what Terri would want, so I can't have a very passionate view without that information."

Maybe Terri should have a sharp knife put into her fist. If she stabs herself, we'll know she wants to die...and she will die, even sooner than Michael's satanic plot for her.

If she stabs Michael, however, we'll know she wants to live and wants Michael dead. Then, HE will die and SHE will have PROTECTION as a CRIMINAL.

[AntiGuv]

Wow, that is all very distressing - in particular the evaluation of the 14 physicians who refute the PVS diagnosis. If all this is true, then I certainly do agree that Terri Schiavo's case demands further review. I wish I knew more about Florida law, because in this context I find it quite odd that so many courts would have upheld Judge Greer's decisions.

I can see why so many people are so passionate about the case, and if Terri Schiavo is not truly in PVS this is beyond dreadful.

[Ready2go]

Might I suggest a small experiment...just to make sure you know what you're asking for. See how long you can go without a drop of water or food and how it feels, before you put it in writing.

This isn't for you but, I'd like to see everyone that's wanting to kill Terri, the so-called husband, the lawyers, the judges, be forced to do without just as long as she is.

[MeekOneGOP]

bump! bump! bump!

[A'elian' nation]

Amen.
Since Terri has been condemned to death by a judge, why can't President Bush just pardon her ? Seems pretty simple to me.
Clinton can pardon a fugitive like Marc Rich, but we can't pardon Terri? What is becoming of this once God-fearing land?

[AntiGuv]

If I were truly in a persistent vegetative state then I wouldn't know the difference. Vegetables don't feel pain..

[American in Israel]

Why are so many eager to take her life?

Because Evil really does exist, and Evil has a Majority in life. All the more reason for a Republic than a Socialist Democracy. After this, I am for putting the Church BACK in State.

[American in Israel]

If I knew firsthand what she had or hadn't told Michael Schiavo 16+ years ago then I wouldn't have any problem deciding what I thought.

What if in the last 16 years Teri became wiser and now wants to live? Why should a stupid decision made years ago when she was a teenage know it all and had no understanding of disability have more weight that what she feels now?

She may be dain bramaged, but she is not as stupid as she once was...

[Proud_texan]

"I find it quite odd that so many courts would have upheld Judge Greer's decisions."

It's my understanding that the other courts didn't review the facts, only Florida law. Only Greer has ruled on the facts of her circumstances.

I can only guess that the medical definition of PVS is very different than the lay definition; everyone I know, including myself, thinks of PVS as one where there is no evidence of life; you're on a ventilator and without that you'd die.

If you want to be passionate about this hunt down the video of Terri. If this is what the "experts" call PVS then be very, very scared about how many people diagnosed PVS have been unplugged.

[American in Israel]

She thought of the respirator type of artificial life support if she thought of artificial life support. The feeding tube is not artificial life support.

Very good point!

[AntiGuv]

Well, my short answer would be that if she now has an opinion one way or the other then she is not in a vegetative state and the question is moot.

[Ladysmith]

What distresses me is the argument that the law voted on and signed by President Bush "isn't constitutional." That it doesn't allow for laws over individual situations.

The thing is, when the Constitution was written, I seriously doubt the Founding Fathers considered euthanasia as an option. It's clear to me that their whole point of view while drafting the Constitution was for Life, not death, with the one exception of capital punishment.

So now that we've reached the age (again) that damn near anything goes where human life is concerned, Congress and the President have attempted to use the "checks and balances" of our system to give one innocent victim her right to life and to due process as afforded by the Constitution. Yet she's still being starved to death thanks to the Judicial branch of our country who believe the actions of Sunday night are unconstitutional.

We are now no different than pre-WWII Germany. I'm losing faith in a system that puts "procedure" that has been hijacked, twisted, and distorted above the life of a helpless, innocent human being. (Not that I've had much faith in it lately. What little I've had is quickly being flushed down the toilet, and not just over Terri.)

A good friend warned me about putting your faith in other people because, eventually, they will disappoint you. The truth of this is glaring at the moment. It's moments like this when the desire to get off this rock and got Home is the strongest.

Maranatha, Lord Jesus.

[trisham]

"Tod Macht Frei"="Death Makes You Free" a modification of the German concentration camp slogan, which hung over the camp entrance..

From notdeadyet.org

[Ready2go]

That may be right AntiGuv, but according to a couple of women that were pronounced PVS, and then recovered...they were aware of everything that was happening to them...
they could hear folks talking about them as if they were dead, but were unable to move to let them know they were "in there". How awful.

[restornu]

Terri Brother .................. Terri early on in a hospice

At this time Terri was able to chew and swallow and was learning to use the pararall bars to walk again...as soon as the malpactice law suit was won Michael Schiavo remember his wife wanted to die...so he would move her from one location to another every time they thought she was ready to start rehab again!

The problem I have is this: What If Terri Schiavo Wants To Die? ~ AntiGuv

If she wanted to die she would have check out years ago inspite of us!

It don't take one 15 years to will one self to leave!

Michael has let his wife deteriate!
Compare the early Hospice Photo

BTW
SHERIFF HIRED MICHAEL SCHIAVO AS JAIL NURSE

[AntiGuv]

Yes, and that definitely worries me. That's why I included the whole caveat about the cerebral cortex having disintegrated before I would want the tube pulled. Although in hindsight, not that I would have any at that point, if it were to come to that then I would wish that I'd just been let to go from the initial trauma before ever coming out of the full coma. Or, I guess that's foresight (you know what I mean).

But, that's beside the point, because many people would have a totally different view, and many would want sustenance indefinitely. A lot of people want to go quiet and calm, in their sleep or whatnot. I certainly don't want to die, ever, but if my time comes then I want it to be spectacular and memorable - exhilirating but not excruciating. You know, like maybe one of those apocalyptic movies, except that I'd wanna be far enough away to see the asteroid strike but not so far away that the actual end wouldn't be instant. =)

But, getting back to the point, everyone is different. The key is the wishes of the given individual and we just don't really know in this instance. My impulse is to err on the side of life, but I have a hard time being confident about that when I can't know if that's truly the person's wish.

This is all very morbid, and life is rarely like the movies..

[restornu]

Well, my short answer would be that if she now has an opinion one way or the other then she is not in a vegetative state and the question is moot.

I am really trying to understand people like you do you search on you own for both sides or just what the buzz words of the media.....?

She is not brain dead she is brain damage!
She was making progress until her husband haulted her rehab!
She is able to understand and had been able to communicate when she was getting rehab!

Retarded and alsheimer have some kind of brain damage do we let them die too?

Countless NDE people have told stories when they were in a coma or thought dead they knew everything going on and had a choice to leave or return!

What do people like you do to arrive to the conclusion or ideas you have.....sincerely I would like to better understand?