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.
What is wrong with the politicians in this country that they are impotent in the face of tin-horn, backwater judges and courts (that includes most of them in my book) when one of these judges blatantly exhibits CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS AND THE CONTEMPT AND DEFIANCE OF BOTH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CONGRESS? The intent of both were crystal clear, but the tin-horn Greer was above them all. Why?
It appears to even the casual observer that Greer seemed to always rule in favor of Mikey. If so, why so?
I think she couldn't communicate. She was incapacititated. But she was not in a coma and she was not in a PVS. Mae's living will recites that if she is in a coma or PVS, that food and water are to be withheld. I think that is NOT what Mae wanted however. The "form" Living Will that Mae signed is confusing, and many people who tick off the "including food and water" selection believe that the are asking to have food and water if they are comatose or PVS. But ticking off "including food and water" has the legal effect, when reading the entire document, of withholding food and water.
One error of the LaGrange hospital and hospice was based on the fact that Mae was not comatose or PVS. Another error was accepting Gaddy's representation that she had medical power of attorney. But there was no error associated with the Living Will because its terms don't become operable until Mae is in a coma, or is PVS.
Thanks for the post. Great article. It's the same battle that has been going on for thousands of years...the innocent vs. the criminal, the individual vs. the collective.
...reading.
I had an extremely unsettling dream last night. I had been invited to a party. In the midst of the gathering was Terri Schiavo...not well, but recouperarting. She could speak haltingly and said she was so grateful for the chance to begin to get better and how very much she was looking forward to her future, given that she was still so young. Would this constitute a nightmare?
When you "get over" what the Nazis did during World War II and can brush that under the carpet with a shrug and an impatient wave, we'll get over the cold blooded brutal murder of Terri Schindler...deal?
Not to mention all the police who protected them, and the governor who respected them.
No doubt. Medical professionals aren't immune to the siren songs of the culture of death. Once they get a taste for killing, they find it difficult to stop. Just look at what is happening now in the Netherlands.
There needs to be some measure passed in this country that allows doctors to be healers but not killers. Being both leads down a dangerous path.
CAPITAL SWITCHBOARD TOLL FREE: 1-866-808-0065 (last wk).
You are encouraged to call your Senator today. Please ask them to back the "Constitutional Option." The Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
The Constitutional Option is a simple procedure designed to stop the obstruction of President Bush's judicial nominees and allow them to finally get up-or-down votes by the full Senate.
Stand with us as we Confront the Judicial War on Faith.
http://www.StopActivistJudges.org
FV SAYS: This advocacy group has many coalitions within it. They are really fit to be tied re: what the judicial system did to Terri. In addition, they are FED UP WITH THE NOMINEE FILIBUSTERING BY THE DEMS. YOu can sign up for their newsletter. They are new and need joiners.
It was so horrific that I'll never forget. Our leaders failed Terri. Future elections will not be straight ticket affairs.
Are GOPers pro-life or pro-death? Too bad we can't trust the GOPers to be pro-life.
I want justice for Terri. Florida failed her and the US failed her. She didn't get freedom and liberty. She got death.
Behind evil, Greer, Felos, et al, there is even more evil - Soros.
*****NEW COALITION FOR THOSE INTERESTED:
Special ACTION Alert:
CAPITAL SWITCHBOARD TOLL FREE: 1-866-808-0065 (last wk).
You are encouraged to call your Senator today. Please ask them to back the "Constitutional Option." The Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
The Constitutional Option is a simple procedure designed to stop the obstruction of President Bush's judicial nominees and allow them to finally get up-or-down votes by the full Senate.
Stand with us as we Confront the Judicial War on Faith.
http://www.StopActivistJudges.org
FV SAYS: This advocacy group has many coalitions within it. They are really fit to be tied re: what the judicial system did to Terri. In addition, they are FED UP WITH THE NOMINEE FILIBUSTERING BY THE DEMS. YOu can sign up for their newsletter.
I know the respirator was turned off, but as I understand it, his father was brain dead at the time.
If that is the case, then the two scenarios are not comparable. (A respirator is life support, while a feeding tube is a pallative measure, not life support. In additon, Terri was not brain dead.)
If you claim that is not the case, then please provide some reliable support for your claim.
Mae is asking for fried chicken and ice cream. She can communicate now that she's out of hospice's hands and safe in an Alabama hospital. She's so glad to be safe and alive in Alabama. Freepers helped her get out of the Georgia Hospice in LaGrange, GA. Read more about MAE's excellent progress at www.worldnetdaily.com.
Get over yourself.
Ping.
"Get over it. You'll die one day too, hopefully more quickly than Terri."
I guess you think murder is perfectly fine, right, after all everyone is going to die, so the murderer just "helps" people along, therefore it's OK?
"... publicly watching the death of an innocent disabled woman while no one was capable of stopping her murder?" This is far from the reality for there were people in power who were allowed, even mandated, to save Terri from the evil that the rubber stamptroopers in black robes inflicted, but those leaders were incapable of acting in their required fealty to OUR Constitution because of their political impotence, not because of constitutional impotence.
The Democrats (the Dem senators just avoided voting, as if they would have political cover for what they wanted, the oligarchical affirmation of the twisted leftist judiciary) are consolidating their empowerment through a beyond-the-constitution judiciary, and the Republicans holding the majority are acquiescing to that perfidy by not having the courage to act when they are required to in order to protect a disabled woman from being executed under the guise of 'clear and convincing' as determined by ONE probate court judge for execution orders [for reference, a capital criminal is executed only upon the standard of 'beyond a reasonable doubt', and that after exhaustive appeals and review of evidence by numerous courts].
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