skizo said:
The husband says that's what she wanted, the dr. thinks that's what she would have wanted, and she's brain dead. ffs, what is keeping that feeding tube gonna do except run up the hospital bills some more? NOTHING.
but that's just my two pennies...
Keeping her alive keeps the parents hopes alive. Maybe she'll just get better, they think. She won't. She never will. But, to them, it's a dream. It's something they so very much wish for. But, it'll never happen.
For the politicians its just yet more chess games. Political posturing and gain and hell, they'll gain respect from their constituents. President Bush supposedly won the election all because of his views on abortion and such from the religious people, right? Why can't other politicians cash in on this?
For the Christian groups, the Lifers, the Anti-Death, etc, it's a perfect way for them to market and publicize their views in a form that the news media will readily and insanely over-publicize. How often do all these groups get the chance to shove their agenda down the entire U.S. populations throat? Well, they are getting it now and the politicians are on the same side at this point. Why look not take it while they've got it?
Personally, I see far more downsides to this entire situation than a positive influence.
1. States' Rights are being restricted by the Federal government in this case. Choices like this have always been a State's decision. It should remain as such
or we once and for all create a Federal guideline on death/euthenasia in cases like this. This cannot just become a free-for-all everytime a case takes place.
2. A Governor [Good 'ol Jeb] overstepped his bounds and got involved in a case he shouldn't have, IMO. Maybe he's trying to be more like his brother or maybe he just likes the controversy. He's great at being Governor in a state in utter chaos. "Missing" foster children, what I term
Chadgate, etc. Great track record. Of course this doesn't reflect upon Jeb specifically but it was all under his watch.
3. The Judiciary is being absolutely ignored and they are trying to steamroll them. How many times has this case been before a court? In the last 8 years I think there were at least 14 cases in Florida courts and in each case the Court sided with the husband. The State Supreme Court sided with the husband. The U.S. Supreme Court on 4 occassions refused getting involved. A Federal Court ruled for the husband. Is the entire Judiciary now worthless and unecessary? Do they serve no purpose? Do they lack any power? They said NO over and over to the parents and all the other people trying to keep Schiavo brain-dead but "living". If the U.S. Supreme Court actually takes the case now and does anything other than say let Schiavo die then the entire Judicial branch of the U.S. has lost any value because it will have been tainted and fallen to pressure from other branches of the government and all checks and balances will have been lost. As it is I already believe the Legislative and Executive branches have overstepped their bounds.
4. The entire case right now is allowing Christian groups and all the related groups (ie Pro-Life, etc) to try and gain yet more foothold in American politics. There is a separation between Church and State. This doesn't mean a politician cannot be religious however I do not want my government ruled by the Bible and slowly this is happening and this case alone will push it even further. I respect and support religious freedom but I will not tolerate the Church becoming part of the State. I am not an atheist, btw, but neither do I subscribe to any set religion and my parents gave me chance to grow up and form my own opinions and beliefs rather than be indoctrinated. They were both religious growing up but of different religious backgrounds.
I say let the suffering end. I'm not even referring to Schiavo's suffering because I don't think she is. I'm referring to the parents and the husband and her siblings. It's time the parents accepted the reality of the matter and once she is "officially" dead then they can begin to accept things and move on with their lives.
Some may say that I'm cruel but I don't see it as such. It's a very personal decision to make when something like this involves you. And, the law states the husband has the decision and not the parents. That's how it is... accept it. People who don't like it or who have parents who don't want this to ever happen... There is an easy solution don't get married.
rotjong