Posted on 03/29/2005 4:25:34 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
MILDENHALL, England (AP) - First lady Laura Bush said Tuesday the government was right to have intervened in the case of Terri Schiavo, a severely brain-damaged Florida woman whose case has stirred national debate about life and death issues. "I just feel like the federal government has to be involved," Mrs. Bush said. "It is a life issue that really does require government to be involved."
Mrs. Bush commented on the Schiavo case aboard a plane bound for Afghanistan, where she was to promote education and women's rights.
Schiavo's husband, Michael, has waged a long court battle with his parents-in-law, contending his 41-year-old wife, who has been in a persistent vegetative state since 1990, would not want to live that way.
Schiavo's parents, on the other hand, have been pleading with the U.S. Congress, Florida lawmakers, federal judges and in courts in Florida to have their daughter's feeding tube reinserted.
"I am not surprised over the debate," Mrs. Bush said. "I think it's an issue that, you know, everyone is concerned about and interested in.
"I'm sorry for the family that it has to be so public. This is such a very, very difficult time for them and for everyone who watches Terri."
Mrs. Bush said she has been encouraged to hear that the case has prompted more people to inquire about living wills.
"I think that is really good," she said. "The president and I have living wills and, of course, our parents do. They wanted us always to be aware of it. I think that it is important for families to have opportunities to talk about these issues."
Very STRONGLY AGREED.
Wow. Now that is a twist I don't think I would have ever thought of. I wish JJ the best if he can get this done. But I think it will also speak volumns if he is the only one who can get it done. And I'm not speaking about the Bushes but rather that the black caucus would only listen to a black man.
Quote "A "living will" -- what a mockery that term! It is not about life at all. It is about hubris. Why?
Because when able and well a person can hardly imagine that he or she would want to continue living in a state of agony or non-responsiveness, or inability to control any muscles. Or G-d forbid, lessened intellectual function.
Yet once that happens ... a person's mind changes. You find life -- even in pain, without muscle control -- as a mere observer of one's own thoughts, all senses dead or impaired -- still incredibly precious. Incredibly valuable, welcome and desired. Why is that? Perhaps to have that one purposeful thought or re-thought that makes a life on balance a eternal treasury -- for just the hope of that.
It happened to me -- my mindset changed. I was the same as many with regard to my wishes if ever greviously impaired -- yet once in that state (and thankfully for not too long either) I discovered it was stil a great treasure to live, even in pain, unable to control my muscles, to communicate.
Living wills -- written in that natural human emotion of fear of the unknown are like a death sentence your once-bold and proud, yet ignorant self writes upon your own self later. They are not a good thing and they are over- promoted in the winds of the hour.
"
I have mine sitting here...waiting to be signed. Reading all of that certainly makes me wonder what to do. It is not an easy decision...I guess I think it would be easier on my family - but then I look at what is going on with her mom and dad.
There is no winning in this situation
First Lady Laura Bush Says
Government Right to Intervene
in Case of Brain-Damaged Florida Woman
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1373437/posts
Total agreement there.
Miss Laura is a great Lady. I know this because my wife has kept me for almost 35 years. I can tell a great one when I see one. President Bush is doing good because she kept him.
Look at Terri -- she continues! Just water and some food, she'll live.
A living will that says anything less than that in every circumstance possible you'd wish to live -- that's the only will I'd sign. Because once there -- silenced, yet conscious -- you may come to wish that'd you live. None knows their mind beforehand.
My only regret is that they and brother Jeb didn't go far enough to save her. I think the sad thing is that they wouldn't have gotten much support (look at the many pro-death Freepers we have) and this probably would have made it impossible to do anything.
But I wish they would at least come out and say something. And for all those folks who are annoyed about Jesse coming into this - I don't know his motives, and he's late to the game, but at least he's saying something and trying to do something. It couldn't hurt GWB and Jeb to come out and say a little more now - they may have done all they could do under the law, and it didn't work (because they were afraid to enforce it), but we still need to hear from them even so. It's not over yet.
I was referring to clinton's statement, on how he used executive order, and I disagreed with it. But I do believe Terri Schiavo is a worthwhile reason to use it, and Bush ought to use it to save her life .
bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.