National Review Online: "Killed by Euphemisms"
“Next time it will be easier. It always is.”
The editors at National Review Online note that, from those on the side of depriving Terri Schiavo of food and water in order to bring about her death, "we saw euphemism after euphemism deployed to cloud the issues."
It took this poor woman nearly 2 weeks to die after being deprived of the basic necessities of food and water. Does that sound like someone who is on the verge of death? Terri Schiavo wasn't dying - it sounds to me like she was as healthy as a horse apart from her brain damage. And she clearly was not brain dead."Perhaps chief among these was the fiction that we were "letting her die." On March 18, Schiavo was in no medical danger of death. She was profoundly brain-damaged (although just how profoundly remains unknown), but she was not in a coma or on a respirator. She was not being kept alive by artificial means, any more than small children are kept alive by artificial means when their parents feed them. Her body was functioning, there is some reason to believe she was minimally conscious, and she was responsive to stimuli (it's been reported she was actually being administered pain medication). She had devoted parents and siblings who were willing to care for her. She could easily have gone on in these conditions for many years. She was not close to dying. For death to arrive, she would have to be killed."
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The notion that we hear from the other side and from the mainstream media (redundant?) that Terri Schiavo was "allowed to die" flies in the face of this reality. She was not dying until her estranged husband, sanctioned by the courts of this nation, took action to deprive her of her life. That's called murder.
posted by Pro Ecclesia 12:01 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
It was Terri's wish not to live like this. 15 years ago living wills weren't common knowledge.(remember it took 15 years to go through the court system) placing the feeding tube INITIALLY was against her will.
I am a nurse and used to work in neurosurgery for about 5 years, not that that makes me an expert by any means, but I do understand brain scans and various other tests. She wasn't in a coma, she had brain damage, if she were to "wake up", she had no brain left to function to wake up with. It's a shame that so many GOD loving people some of which had verbalized death threats against "the Husband" got themselves involved without knowing all of the facts.Yes it was only a few folks, that gave a bad name, but they are definitely encouraged by the majority of christians that were out there.
I respect your freedom to follow the catholic religion, in fact I was raised catholic. Or more correctly I was brainwashed catholic, what I mean by that is I was taught only the catholic beliefs, and told all others were wrong and would go to hell. I'm an athiest now and live a very good life. Common sense of not coveting your neighbors wife, or killing anyone etc etc. I respect others rights to choose to follow any religion they want, but allow me mine, (non belief).
For true religious freedom, NO ONE RELIGION SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE,NOR STAND IN JUDGEMENT OF OTHERS. Religion needs to be kept out of schools government and all agencies that are viewed to be in charge of people. The fact that you are involved in a high government position concerns me that you may allow your religious beliefs to sway your decisions. Our country is really hurting thanks to George Bush and his entourage.
Our country with all of our diversity, all of our religions and non religions shouldn't have any one belief held at a higher level than others. I certainly don't want your religion representing me. As you probably wouldn't want my thoughts as rules to be followed for you.
So if you want to believe Jesus Christ and the catholic teachings good for you, but don't judge me for not following. Alot of catholics seem to think that it's their duty to stand in judgement of others, and actually are pretty hateful of anyone different than themselves.
Please relook at your position. Stay home and love your own family, and stay out of others or stop thinking it's your god given right to judge Terri's situation.
"It was Terri's wish not to live like this."
Sorry, but I need a little bit more to go on than the self-interested hearsay produced by her estranged husband and his kin - which they suddenly remembered years after Terri's initial incapacity.
"Please relook at your position. Stay home and love your own family, and stay out of others or stop thinking it's your god given right to judge Terri's situation."
I am morally obliged to speak up if I believe there is an injustice taking place. I will not stay silent and mind my own business in the face of something that I consider murder.
Thank you. I really do appreciate your posting here. Please feel free to come back.
Did you see where the husband was offered one million dollars to give up on his wife's desire to not live this way, and he chose to respect his wife's request?
"I am morally obliged to speak up"
in other words judge and condemn anyone with different views than your own.
"I will not stay silent and mind my own business in the face of something that I consider murder"
Search your "soul" have you been actively "speaking up" for all the other injustices occurring around us? Have you started a blog about them as well? See below;
Congress and the President now have a golden opportunity to honor the life of Terri Schiavo by restoring to the 2006 budget the Traumatic Brain Injury Program that has helped thousands of Terri Schiavos in 49 states since 1997, as well as restoring 13 other programs for the disabled, children and families that were entirely cut by President Bush.
Terri's medications were paid for with Medicaid, which the President also plans for huge, life-altering decreases. Before its Easter break. the Senate delivered a stinging rebuke to the mean-spirited Bush/Delay 2006 budget by entirely restoring all Republican cuts to Medicaid, which provides health services for 50 million disabled, children and low-income families.
To honor the legacy and lessons of Terri Schiavo, the 2006 budget should entirely reinstate all budgets cuts to Health & Human Services programs planned by President Bush and blessed by Tom DeLay.
To do less would clearly demonstrate that Republican pro-life words are merely cheap political rhetoric.
And it would clearly demonstrate that Democrats, who are championing lifeline programs for the disabled, children, elderly and low-income famiies, are the party that celebrates life in deeds, not just words.
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