Posted on 03/26/2005 12:05:54 PM PST by wagglebee
There is a tremendous amount of suffering in the world. In the United States the suffering of Terri Schindler-Schiavo and her family has been the lead news story for weeks. Now it's the Christian Holy Week, where the suffering of Jesus is the religious focus of Christians around the globe.
Even Terri's maiden name, Schindler, is a reminder of the millions who suffered under Hitler. If you'll recall, Oskar Schindler was the man who rescued a thousand Jews from Nazi persecution and death. On Fox News, the Schindler family's spiritual adviser, Brother Paul O'Donnell, drew a parallel between the plight of Terri and the suffering of Christ. He spoke of how Terri's mother, Mary, cannot comfort her child as she dies. She cannot even offer her an ice chip to ease her pain. An armed police officer stands guard at Terri's bedside to assure that no intervention is attempted, and the death process continues.
The similarities that Brother O'Donnell points out are intriguing. Of course, this is not to suggest that the Schindlers are the holy family, but to remind us that suffering is no different today than it was 2,000 years ago. And that the persecution of man by man continues.
The court-ordered death of a disabled woman makes me wonder if we've learned anything about compassion, caring and humanity in those 2,000 years. It appears we've become more barbaric, continuing to make the same mistakes time after time, and we should know better.
Is it even remotely humane that a court has order that Terri Schiavo must die a slow, agonizing death by starvation? And where is the humanity in forcing her family to sit idly by as she dies? We don't even allow animals to be starved to death, and in many instances would prosecute any individual who so mistreated an animal.
It's imperative to point out that Terri was not being kept alive by heroic medicine. She was not on a respirator or any other form of life support. Like many disabled citizens of our nation, Terri simply can't feed herself.
Dr. Bill Hammesfahr, a neurologist specializing in brain-damaged patients, spent ten hours with Terri. He also spent months examining Terri's case, all of this at no cost to anyone. In interviews with Sean Hannity, Dr. Hammesfahr stated definitively that Terri is not in a coma and she is not in a vegetative state. Dr. Hammesfahr said that Terri is very aware, understands what is said to her and is responsive. He also explained that she could be rehabilitated if allowed the necessary therapy.
Terri's estranged husband, Michael Schiavo, claims that she wouldn't want to live this way. This comes from a man who's fathered two children with his 10-year live-in, Jodi Centonze, while remaining married to Terri. It's interesting to note that Schiavo never mentioned that these were Terri's wishes until seven years into her disability.
Since 1991, Michael Schiavo has denied Terri any therapy. Thirty allegations of "abuse, neglect or exploitation" by Schiavo have recently been filed in court by the Department or Children and Families in Florida.
The imposed suffering and death of Terri will be an atrocity. If this can happen in the United States of America, then no one is safe, anywhere.
Michael Schiavo is denying Terri her life. And we're allowing it to happen.
What's even more important to point out is the fact that the leftist media is totally ignoring this most important piece of information.
I wonder if Jeb and George have even considered the possibility, what with their faith in the courts and all.
Indeed!
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TERRI is US
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Jeb is a weak noodle.
ABSOLUTELY! It is a travesty and a HUGE UGLY stain on our nation.
I'm sure I need to put on my flameproof lederhosen, but,
Terri is only one of hundreds of millions who have been destroyed beacuse it is "legal" and convenient.
It scares the hell out of me to consider that one day a judge will decide that my life or the life of someone I love is no longer "viable" enough to recieve food and liquid.
That has been vaguely on my mind for the last couple of weeks.
No, you're right. They all need to be protected.
True, and don't get caught up in the Living Will fallacy, either.
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It scares the HELL out of the POPE as well,
GOD Bless him.
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This is the "ROE v. WADE" of Euthanasia...
Living will (advanced medical directives, powers of attorney, and etc.) will all be meaningless when society decides that a judge will be the final arbiter in whether we live or die.
What the hell have we become that we would starve an innocent woman by court order?
They're not only ignoring it - they taking polls based on telling people that she is on life support - when she never was.
Pat Caddell was just on FOX and he related the questions CBS and ABC were using and he chastised them for misleading the public as to the real situation and thereby forming the question - TO GET THE DESIRED ANSWER.
The media did the same thing during impeachment - they kept saying 75% of the public doesn't want Bill Clinton removed from office. However, ONE YEAR LATER - the very same 75% had changed their minds and now believed HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM OFFICE. Amazing what a little education can do for people.
Also Pat pointed out that only 16% of those polled were even following the case. So their 85% which believe Congress overreached - it based on faulty data in order to arrive at the answer they wanted.
I WAS SCREAMING AT FOX EARLIER - and I ask them to please ask people - HAVE YOU READ ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION. It the person says NO, then the conversation is over. Article III says that CONGRESS regulates the courts and determines their jurisdictions - not vice versa. Not only did Congress NOT overreach - Congress did not act strongly enough - in my opinion.
Will be???? It IS an atrocity.
Last night there was a thread here about a poll whether the Pope and/or Terri Schiavo would survive the weekend. It would appear that the left believes our lives should be measured based upon an internet poll and that God should oblige the outcome.
The Hemlock society must be partying hard this weekend. Hope none of their cohorts puts arsenic in their martinis while they're "celebrating"...
Can the state of Fla. demand an autopsy?
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