I wasn't going to write anything more on the Terri Schiavo case, but this weekend's events have brought me back to her. Reading comments on other sites and listening to news programs today when I would otherwise have been watching basketball made me realize how strongly people in this country feel about this case. Terri aside, it is amazing to read the discussions, so many of them purporting to have the facts, so many of them running on pure emotional adrenaline.
Back in the 70's when the abortion laws were being debated the opposition would often state that it was just a short jump from abortion to euthanasia. Naturally, pro-abortion spokesmen denied this, saying one had nothing to do with the other. But now, the question being debated is "What is life worth?" Or "What is life?" That short jump has already been leaped in this country probably more times than we would be willing to believe. The elderly, the infirm, those who cannot speak for themselves. Who speaks for them? Often it is those who are healthy who are deciding what is a viable quality of life, both in hospitals and in the law. There are even polls out this weekend asking everyone with a computer to weigh in. Polls? To decide who lives or dies?
Can we learn from those who are helpless? Have we ever? I believe we used to, but are now so caught up in the belief that the human mind and body must conform to a kind of shimmery parameter of acceptable function that we are seeing the beginnings of the creation of a sliding scale of usefulness. We should be afraid,or at the least, wary. They may come for us when we become less than useful. All the old arguments about euthanasia are in our laps. And not just because of Terri Schiavo. The young think they will always be young and vigorous. They think that when they are not they will want to be left to die. At least that is what I am reading into so many comments on so many sites. They are wrong.
Like, or not, what congress is doing this weekend, creating a law which would allow a federal court to hear Terri's case. What can be learned from this is that if you are ever in a position where you cannot speak for yourself, there are people who will speak for you in large numbers and elected officials who will not turn a deaf ear. Politics or not, that is a comforting thought. Make your living wills, but make certain you are specific about what should or should not be done. Think it through, you will not always be strong and healthy, what specifics will determine whether you live or die...and who shall decide.
Murder is murder. You can't strap a sane person to a bed and not feed or water! Sick Babies can't make a decide whether to eat or drink. Should they be starved to death! NO!
I myself do not want to be kept alive by artificial means. But I don't want to die of dehydration or starve....That's just sick and murder.
Besides, I don't think her husband wants her to recover. I think he made her that way!...I had an eating disorder a few years back...Lack of eating and drinking....It hurts, terribly. Dehydration effects the brain as well as every other body part,my kidneys hurt so much, and god, the headaches are tremendous!...and my blood levels of potassium, proteins, etc DROPPED dangerously.
I think he gave her the potassium that caused it. You can get it easily and the records from back then are sealed so it can't be investigated!
If he no longer wants his wife. Why doesn't he release her to her parents.Playing god!The power over her life or death. Guess what? He wants her dead so she will never be able to tell!
Besides, The opinion around our town is that one bullit would solve the issue. She lives, no arguement!
Posted by: Lynne | March 24, 2005 at 12:32 AM