The Case of Terri Schindler Schiavo...

Thursday, October 16, 2003

~8:57am~ CST
I dedicated nearly my full broadcast to this topic yesterday. The case of Terri Schindler Schiavo is a sad one by every measure.

1. It is sad for Terri, because even though she obviously has the will to live. She is currently being starved/dehydrated to death. And this is one barbaric way to go.

2. It is sad for Terri's parents. They would perfectly willing to pick up the tab and pay for the care that it would take to continue to get Terri therapy and help. It is sad for them on another level as well. They are being forced to undergo criminal consequences (or at least the possibility of) in order to just be able to tell the truth about Terri's condition. The videotape that they were able to secure, in violation of a court order, shows Terri responding to her name, trying to sit up when her mom calls out to her, her eyes widening with joy at the sound of her parents voices. In other sections of it - it shows Terri giggling with delight when her mother gives her a hug and tries to speak to her mom when her mom asks her questions.

3. It is sad for the justice system in this country because three levels of the Florida courts have been involved and all of them have sided with the husband who wishes to end his wife's life. (That sounds evil just typing it - "husband who wishes to end his wife's life" - whatever happened to "in sickness and in health"?) And now for the first time the courts have spoken and said that there is a type of life that is "not worth living". HELLO!!!! Does this sound like something we've heard before like in the 1930's and 40's?????

4. It is sad for Micahel Schiavo - he has failed his commitments to his wife to love and cherish her. But he has also gone out an had an adulterous affair with another woman. (not divorcing Terri in the meantime AND making sure he hung on to the million dollar settlement he recieved as a result of her injuries) In addition to the affair - it appears he has fathered two children by the new woman as well...what kind of dad will this put before their eyes?

5. It is sad for the plight of the handicapped and developmentally challeneged. Going back to the issues of the 1930's the academics were fascinated with the philosophical question - "Is there a life not worthy of being lived?" Hitler bought into it and believed in it and ran with it. It's bad enough he murdered millions of Jews, but he added to that the infirm, the handicapped, the challenged...are we ready to start down that philosophical path of debate all over again?

6. It is another example of how sad the mainstream press has been to respond to a real crisis. This woman has only 9-13 days left to live. her body will endure horrible pain and trauma as she starves. The Governor of Florida has gotten involved in this case trying to raise its awareness. The family has received over 40,000 e-mails and phone calls. Why is there so little press on it? Even the blogs have ignored it for the most part...WHY?