Tubal Litigation

Once again, the sad tale of Terri Schiavo captures the nation's attention as politicians valiantly usurped both state and judicial rights in an effort to pander to the anti-abortion mob. Of course, Dumbya rushed back to Washington to make sure that this unbelievable made-to-order law was signed in time to benefit Terri's family in their pathetic attempt to keep her alive for their own deluded happiness. Does that sound unfairly harsh? No apologies here.

Her parents have tried to demonize Michael Schiavo with anything and everything that they can. They have claimed that he is motivated by money; although, he has turned down an offer for $10 million to release her care to her parent or others. They have hinted and/or implied that Michael was somehow responsible for Terri's condition through abuse or assault and yet I have not seen nor read anything that would support such implications. This sort of slander and underhanded behavior only reflects badly on the parents and siblings. I haven't come across anything similar that Michael has done is response. Of course, reading through the 15 years of the battle would take more time than I care to commit... I'm a blogger not a journalist; this is opinion not reporting.

All of the proponents of this tragic misuse/abuse of the legislative and executive branches of our government claim that they are only trying to assure that "we err on the side of life" (or any facsimile thereof). Apparently, these guardians of life think that all of the previous and redundant court decisions over the past decade or so might have been erroneous because they didn't support Terri's parents delusion that she was just a happy-go-lucky girl with some minor medical setbacks.

I would not want to be kept alive if I were in Terri's condition and her husband insists that she wouldn't either. As is his legal right Terri's husband, Michael, wants to remove her feeding tube and end her suffering; her parents want to keep her alive to ease theirs. I understand the reasons behind her parents insistence that she could recover in spite of all the medical evidence that this is not the case. If it were my daughter, I would cling to that hope as well; but, after a passing of time (which would obviously vary with each individual) with no signs of improvement, I would hope that I could reach a loving and logical resolution to my daughter's life or lack thereof. I hope that all parents could and, even more, that they would never have to. I believe that allowing my child to spend 15 years in such a state would border on abuse.

This decision is as personal as any can get, and I do not believe that the federal government should be interfering in an obvious effort to advance the personal beliefs of the majority party. Jeb, George and the republican congress have used this case to advance their agendas and it is shameful.

I could go on and on about both sides of this decision but the repetition would grow annoying to all of us. Each of has an idea of where they want to draw the line between hope and delusion. All I can say is that all of us should make our wishes known in detailed clarity to all of our loved ones. Analyze, clarify and notarize.

Don't let this happen to you and your loved ones.