Posted on 04/20/2005 11:25:41 PM PDT by FairOpinion
Three weeks will soon have passed since Terri Schindler-Schiavo was forced to die an inhumane and tragic death. Thousands who were against Terri's killing claim they find themselves awake at all hours of the night trying to come to terms with what happened to Terri. Many state they are suffering from overwhelming depression, frustration, and feelings of powerlessness. Others find themselves struggling to understand how America stood by and allowed Terri to be publicly murdered and not receive judicial or police protection.
Only a few short weeks ago, we witnessed thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world rise in protest to the heinous crime involving the murder of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. During the long 14 day period, as Terri laid suffering from starvation and dehydration, members of the US Congress gathered in a weekend forum to vote on a bipartisan bill that would assure Terri's constitutional rights. The bill was aimed at saving her life. The President of the United States who was preparing for Easter with his family, was urgently flown from his vacation ranch home in Texas to the White House to sign a bill that was passed in a 203 to 58 vote. So, why now are we faced with feeling the unsettling side effects of Terri's murder? Why do many seek answers to questions such as: How does a nation justify, publicly watching the death of an innocent disabled woman while no one was capable of stopping her murder?
When trying to find any sense of understanding or acceptance regarding Terri's murder, we must discuss some aspects surrounding the topics of death. Death, as we all know, is defined as: "A permanent cessation of all vital functions." Due to its permanency, we find death very disturbing under any circumstance. Death creates a destabilization of our existence, knowing there is no turning back. Normally, we experience death when it results from illness, unexpected trauma, or old-age. We are seldom, if ever, confronted with the unique emotions associated with murder happening in our family. When we hear about a murder we usually find ourselves gasping at the crime as it makes headline news. The loss of human life is final and emotionally traumatizing on any society. Any way we wish to view it, the intentional infliction of death on a human being, will always be defined as murder. Our country bases its philosophy on the value of "preservation of all life," thus, creating its laws to say, under no circumstances should anyone take the life of an innocent human being. We ask then, why was Terri allowed to be murdered as the world stood by and watched?
Once we are subjected to loss of life, we naturally emerge into what is known as the grieving process. Grief as we know it, has limitless boundaries. Often when we are forced to grieve, we flail aimlessly and timelessly into what appears to be an open abyss. Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross describes in her book "Death and Dying," the 5 stages of grief as: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. In order to move through the grieving process, we must at some point encounter the 5 stages of grief. Many will vacillate between the phases of grief for an undetermined period of time.
We also know there are thousands of people who routinely struggle with the controversial issues surrounding the death penalty. It is not unusual, or unreasonable for people to find difficulty digesting the legal liberties that are given to man when they are authorized to inflict the finalities of death upon any human being. Be the death penalty right or wrong, those who struggle with it can often find some sense of rationale and acceptance in knowing that those on death row were convicted and tried for a crime which brought forth their death sentence. However, what happens to the thousands who are reaching for that same sense of understanding and acceptance when grieving for Terri's publicly inhumane murder? Terri, was not a criminal and never hurt anyone. She was not tried, or convicted of any crime. She was not terminally ill, or unhealthy. She was not taken off to the hidden ominous fields where victims are murdered by their unknown killers. Despite all, we had a nation that was forced to watched Terri's tragic and unnecessary death, making it difficult, if not impossible, to transition into the grieving phases of acceptance.
We recognize that Terri was not any more special to her parents, than any other child is to their parents who love them. It is a given that she will be just as missed by her family, as others tend to miss their family members when they die. However, once again, as we seek some rationalization and acceptance in dealing with Terri's death, like we do in the normal grieving process of others, we find ourselves reaching an emotionally unsettling and angry set of emotions to deal with. Perhaps,it is due to the disturbing visions of a Mother publicly pleading for the life of her daughter; a daughter who would not be dead if it weren't for an estranged spouse who intentionally starved and dehydrated her, to her death. These visions leave the sane population very distraught. We again find ourselves asking, how do we move into the acceptance phase of grief after watching an innocent member of our society be murdered and denied the right to receive help? We knew, and will remember Terri as the innocent woman who through her means of natural communications waited patiently each day for her loving and very dedicated family to visit her so she could smile and laugh with them. We knew how her biological family had struggled for years to be capable of providing her with the therapy and help that we all naturally reach for when we are hurting, or injured. We shall always recall the look of love and warmth on the faces of Terri and her Mother as they embraced each other. Was the love and unity of the Schindler family so wrong a bond that we had to remove one of its members?
For Terri, sadly, the help that we normally would have expected to come her way, never did arrive. Where does this leave the thousands of civilized people who are now in shock, remembering the agonizing expressions on Mary's face as she pleaded for someone, anyone, to help rescue her daughter? How do we as a nation cope with Terri's unnecessary and brutal murder; a murder that we not only heard about over and over again though out every media source, but were also forced to watch as it appeared on national television for 14 long days? How do we justify the murder of a woman who was healthy and did not have to die, yet, we did nothing to stop it? When did America begin denying a family the right to care for one of its members? Who will be next?
I personally refuse to accept the notion that we have become a barbaric society living amongst many others like George Felos, Michael Schiavo, George Greer, and Deborah Bushnell. The four people who comfortably watched Terri slowly have the life sucked out of her, and then later rationalized Terri's death as merciful. Terri's death cannot be defined as anything but cold, callous, inhumane, unnecessary, wrong, and against all the laws that our country was founded upon. Laws that still read, MURDER is illegal! Assuming the majority of our world still believes murder is wrong, we must ask ourselves what can we do to prevent Terri's situation from happening to another individual? How can we seek justice for Terri and see to it that the four people who are responsible for the 14 days of her inhumane killing are brought to legal justice? We must also ask ourselves, is it more reasonable to suggest that the thousands who supported Terri, who were appalled and against her death, the emotionally unstable religious zealots that George Felos suggested they were? Or, is it more reasonable to say that rather it was Terri's estranged spouse, his euthanasia attorneys, and the judge in Pinellas County, who are the emotionally unstable death zealots who need to be convicted for their criminal actions?
More importantly, as a civilized society, we must question, are we going to challenge the inhumane laws that killed Terri, or, are we willing to allow her death to be in vain and chalk it up to becoming the new season preview for Reality Guardianship Murders? I do believe that it is vitally important for every person who grieves Terri's tragic death to have these questions answered, all in an effort to enter into the Acceptance phase of grief.
Viewing 1992 or 1993 videos, Terri is shown swallowing and licking her lips from side to side, purposefully, but I don't expect you to realize that such an act is not possible for someone in PVS.
You have chosen to believe Terri was not there, gone since 1990. So be it, but please don't come on discussion threads regarding Terri and make assertions that you have no desire to challenge by looking at the real facts.
As for a guardian such as the monster, Michael Schiavo, tell us how a man who abused his wife (whom he had set aside in order to father children with another woman for the past ten years) --and yes it is gross abuse to subject her to forced neglect for more than a decade, especially when courts awarded nearly a million dollars to care for her and provide therapy (which he halted as soon as the monies arrived) for the next 51 years-- tell us how such a monster is a fit guardian to decide it is time 'to let her die'?
Now you are cued to lickspittle that a duly elected judge ruled MS as a fit guardian, or offer smarmy facts such as Greer reviewing all the evidence (he did no such thing, actually disallowing anything that didn't fit the predetermined verdict he was to render) and more than 19 other judges reviewing his rulings (not one, not even the contemptuous fool Whittemore, ever looked at the case de novo, and that is the least someone might do in due process of law where an order to execute someone has been issued), and cite such inanities as the way the law is written in Floriduh the judge need only reach a clear and convincing level on evidence, etc. But perhaps you would do us the courtesy of shutting the hell up with the 'she'd been dead since 1990, her brain was liquified, she wasn't at home since 1990' crap when video shot with here then husband proves she could respond and act in ways impossible for a PVS patient.
I thought this was strange, too. The MSM acted like the Republicans were wrong and were going to suffer some sort of consequences for trying to stop Terri's murder. They called it interfering. It didn't make any sense to me. Why would anyone suffer consequences for trying to stop a murder? Makes no sense at all.
Have you read the conclusions of the Guardian ad-litem appointed by Gov. Bush? I have, and they have led to my conclusions. Have you read any of the legal documents, not the propaganda given by parents in denial and an all-too-complicit sensationalist press?
Why are you on this thread - you have no interest in Terri or this case.
Just go on to something of interest instead of promoting state sponsored murder, euthanasia, or murder.
Have you looked at the videos available at Terri's site, shot with her then husband where she responds and licks her lips? I've been involved in this case for six+ years and have read every damn document available to the public. I've studied the medical data, the documents provided by physicians who have spent time diagnosing Terri, and read background materials ad infinitum on the physicians themselves. I've even read the insane Felos's book! Trust me, you don't want to look at the videos because you can't trust your lyin' eyes. You need to believe she was dead for the past 15 years ... you wouldn't believe what you would see in the videos, so don't bother trusting your lyin' eyes.
Maybe we need reexamine the meaning of civilization...
And the burning question is why did he get by with it?!
I read those exact same words in DU. But one thing I find curious. You say she died 16 years ago. I didn't realize a dead person could still smile at her mother.
And there was also that little contribution Felos made to j****Greer's political campaign and the interconnections of that death cult religion they all had ties to.
The press was totally pro death in Terri's case.
And Terri "WANTED" him to get a girlfriend, father children, and go ON with HIS life.
Yea right....
Actions speak louder than words, I don't need to know him personally.
He lost interest in her once he got a hold of HER money, and squandered it on attorneys who would help "legally" to rid himself of his responsibility to her.
It then became a vendetta against the Schindlers. I wouldn't take Michaels word for anything.
Quite possible that Terri would have wanted him to go on with his life.
She would also probably be happy to know that he was able to get some money out of the deal too.
She might even be greatful that he had her life ended.
I will NEVER get over it, never.
To do so will be like sweeping her life and her death under the carpet. We ALL have a purpose, and so did Terri.
This has been a turning point in many of our lives. I'm sorry for those who don't see the enormous shaking of our consciences this case is. No, we will never ever get over it.
Ping to self for later pingout.
How old are you 5.
This has had a very profound effect on you.
What is it that made this case so different from all the other people who routinely have their feeding tubes removed?
I prefer this translation:The reality IS she WAS murdered. It WAS our business, as is all inhumanity to man.
Those who label us as obsessed are indeed the true LOSERS!
If you see a child running across the street where a car is approaching, do you watch and do nothing?
If you see a crime being committed, do you just watch as if it were your favorite TV show?
If something horrible were happening to you, and someone could help you, it's none of our business right? You must be very young, and have no children.
BOVINE FECES!!!!
It's a calling of the spirit, the Holy Spirit.
If you listen, you may hear.
How about bold and italics?
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