After a long drawn-out fight, Michael Schiavo has succeeded in his goal to starve his wife to death. Terri Schiavo is dead and has entered eternity. Michael Schiavo must live on with the consequences of his murderous choices.
It is a dark day in American history. We have been tested ethically and morally, and have failed as a nation. We are moving towards the European model of euthenasia, where other people decide whether or not someone else has a "quality of life" worthy of continued life. After that? It's shades of Nazi Germany.
Sure, there are those who will call me radical. To those people, I ask you this. How did it all start in Nazi Germany? Once you educate yourself and discover the truth, you will be unable to disguise the frightening parallels.
The slippery slope keeps getting slippier.
Who really deserves justice in this case?
Michael Schiavo - I'd like to ask Mr. Schiavo why he never allowed a catscan on Terri while she was alive? And why will the autopsy not explore Terri's broken bones?
Judge Greer - Join the fight to Impeach Judge Greer, a man who has absolutely no interest in truth, and no business occupying an important seat in the U.S. judiciary.
Here are reasons that Judge George Greer should be removed from the bench:
Failed to require Terri’s guardian to obey guardianship law and file annual reports. Refused to enforce lawfully issued subpoenas to compel witnesses to be questioned by the family’s attorney. Denied repeated requests for Terri to have her own attorney. Denied repeated requests for an unbiased guardian ad litem to advise the court on an ongoing basis. Ruled on the ultimate question, that is, Terri’s wishes, on what should have been inadmissible hearsay evidence alone, and with no other significant and material evidence allowed or contemplated. Failed to consider expert opinion on behalf of Terri’s family when reaching the ultimate findings of fact. Displayed open contempt for co-equal branches of the sovereign State of Florida, declaring that the People’s representatives have no legitimate interest in scrutinizing his decrees from his bench. Failed to admit into evidence or give proper weight to evidence presented, in good faith, that Terri was being neglected or abused in an ongoing manner as a patient. Failed to grant Terri due process, by repeatedly denying requests to compel medical testing that meets accepted standards for diagnosis. Disregarded the State’s statutorily-mandated duty to investigate credible allegations of abuse and neglect, effectively voiding the laws of the legislative branch and frustrating the mandatory responsibilities of the executive branch. Took the extraordinary step of not just authorizing the guardian (Michael Schiavo) to make the decision to remove Terri’s feeding tube, but ordered, twice that it will be done, no matter what, an unprecedented exercise of authority that he does not possess. Denied request to allow Terri to attempt to eat on her own after the feeding tube is removed, taking the extraordinary step of ruling that the woman must die even in the event that she may be able to sustain herself without an artificial assistance.
The Mainstream Media - Of course, ABC/CBS/NBC continue to enjoy the slow death that they deserve.
The Right to Die crowd - Just wait until they are on the other end of the feeding tube. Sad, misguided and dangerous.
My heart goes out the family and friends of Terri Schiavo. May God have mercy on us all...
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
April 1, 2005 11:36 PM
Joel,
Your claim that there wasn't a cat scan is dishonest.
April 2, 2005 02:24 AM
Joel.. I am not trying to deceive or be dishonest, so I will stand corrected if it is false. But, I believe her last CAT scan was 15 years ago. Since that time, there have been incredible advances in medical technology. However, Michael Schiavo refused to allow any such testing.
April 2, 2005 03:07 AM
Cat scans were done in 1996 and 2002. That's not 15 years ago.
April 3, 2005 02:57 PM
She had a CAT scan but not an MRI which tells more which she should have had. Very small error Joel made.There is a much bigger picture here.
I heard Pat,her former atty.,on Sean Thurs the day she was murdered. She knows the story.
Joel, I agree completely with you. It is frightening, diabolic and outrageous. How these men(Schiavo and Felos)were allowed to willfully, with malice and forethought, execute Terri, sanctioned by the courts, especially Greer. The Baptist Ch. kicked his --- out.
Have you seen the article on newsmax.com? 89 reports of abuse to Terri that were reported to the DCF of FL. They wanted some days to invest-igate it but Greer sealed the files and refused. I doubt we'll get the truth re:autopsy since Dr.Wecht, asked by the Schindlers,was not allowed to be present. Do you have any idea how we can find out about the broken neck,pelvis, knee(s),ankle(s),ribs etc?
This absolutely can not be dropped which the MSM would like to do since they have already influenced the Amer.people to be biased with them.They claim 80% of us think bla, bla. They never asked me or anyone I know that thinks this is an outrage.They are gald they have the Pope story now to talk about instead.
What can we do to get the truth out? Your poem by Niemoller was poignant,timely and true. Thank you for speaking out.
April 3, 2005 11:42 PM
You got it, my friend. As my Representative said, "You can't treat a dog like that in my State". Feeding tube? She didn't need it, they put it in there for convenience. Terri was left in a quiet room, no tv or radio for ten years. Absolutely no brain stimulation. She could indeed speak when she was getting therapy but a funny thing happened after the settlement payoff. It all stopped. The only blessing is that Michael will be living in Hell on Earth, never being able to shake this stigma for the rest of his life. She was not aged, nor in a coma, nor terminal, yet in a hospice. This just screams that something is corrupt. You know, like Michael's attorney being a former board member at the hospice. No, that's not a conflict of interest, is it? Thanks go to Fox News and the commentary of Glenn Beck for keeping Terri on the forefront.
Anyone with a handicapped child had a shiver run up thier spine the day Terri died. An innocent person that committed no crime was sentenced to death.
April 4, 2005 12:25 AM
You know, I am truly saddened by this issue. Yes, there is something amiss and I hope there is further investigation to clear up the unanswered questions. I am saddened that Terry suffered so much and her REAL wishes were never known. But I am more saddened that this woman was used as a POLITICAL PAWN for both groups on the left AND the right to further their own agendas. I am saddened that her face was splashed across the news for weeks and her family's grief was aired for all the world to see. Did Terry need support? YES. Did Terry need hlp? YES. But this was really a private family matter, and although it should have been battled in court, my question is this - would TERRY have wanted the bullcrap talking heads on both Liberal AND Conservative fronts to turn her terrible situation into a media circus to promote POLITICS rather than compassion for her? I wonder. Liberals wanted to promote supposed state's laws and Conservatives wanted to push Christian moral values. Both sides refused to look at the other's perspective and Terry's last hours on this planet were turned into a disgusting media frenzy where strangers tried to USE her to promote their OWN point of view. I don't know about you, but that is NOT how I want to spend my last time on this earth. I would rather spend my last hours in whatever peace and love that I could attain from myself and my family, instead of knowing that my life was a tool to politics.
April 4, 2005 02:24 PM
And how many innocent men and women have been sentenced to death for crimes they did not commit?
This one incident has been used by the media to build up their ratings. Nothing more, nothing less.
Larry Souter, who servered 13 years in prison, has lost quality of life for that period. I don't see those of you who were saying Terri was mistreated jumping up and down about him. Was it because he was 40 years onld and trying to get his end away with a 19 year old? Or is it simply you don't really care about anything except what the media tells you to care about?
Had the death sentence been available there, he would likely be dead. That, to me, is far more horrific.
Grow up America. You higher than thou attitudes need a reality check. There is plenty of attrocities going that don't get media attention that your energies would be better spent on stopping.
April 6, 2005 12:39 AM
I watched doctors try to do the same thing to my Wonderful Father after brain surgery for 11 days.
But my father was dying with a brain tumor (Gleoblastoma Multiform Grade 4 tumor). Terri was not dying. I fought hard for my father after I had to sit there and fight for those days by myself. His lips split and were bleeding, he had sores in his mouth. I became very loud and they finally took my threats seriously of making it very public. I had my Mom at home bedridden, she had been bedridden for 3 years, I had 5 young children at home and a farm to keep going. My wonderful husband and children stepped in and took over alot of the care for my Mom while my oldest daughter, then 13 years old and I fought for my Father. The feeding tube was put in on the 11th day. Two days later I took my father home, to share the room with his wife of 60 years and to love and care for them. I had trouble when my children cut their finger, but I learned in those years how love can carry you through, and you handle medical needs because they have been left to you to take care of. I became a good nurse. I learned more than ever how important empathy and compassion are to teach your children. My father went to sleep peacefully during a nap one afternoon, a month after he came
home. He could not speak, but he knew we were there and responded very well to all of us until he closed his eyes 3 days before his death and rested comfortably, my Mother followed and passed away at home, surrounded by love of family
18 months later. Michael Schiavo will live his Hell one day, I hope it is while he is on this earth. He did not love his wife, he was a greedy, selfish, man without a soul. The others I feel so sorry for are the children that he has fathered, that have to grow up and know that Michael Schiavo is their father, what a terrible reality. He does not deserve children. I wonder if one of his children were in the same situation if he would murder them just as easily. Those people who truly loved her, were her family, her blood, that wanted to love and care for her.
He murdered her, along with anyone that supported him. I have walked only part of the path they had to walk. There were many days my Parents were not very responsive, but there were many that they were, and we are greatful for every moment we had with them. What Michael Schiavo is responsible for is to much for me to think about sometimes. I walked that journey with that poor family and Terri, they don't know me but they don't know how close to my heart that touched. I have been there, I have watched, I have watched cold hearted people want to let someone you love dearly die. May his life on this earth be a living Hell for the rest of his days, he will never be forgiven for such a terrible deed. Someone should watch how life goes for him and keep everyone informed so that he can always be reminded.
It is important that people express what they feel about his. There are really no words that can be said. I wish her family healing of their broken hearts and comfort in each other and in the knowing they did all they could do, they are a loving family who stood together through a time no one can imagine that has not been there.
thanks for your comment page and I hope no one in this country ever has to experience anything like this in their lifetime, to watch helplessly while someone murders their loved one slowly, someone that is not even related to them except by a piece of paper, a piece of paper that the vows were broken years ago.
April 9, 2005 05:51 PM
Mae Magouirk safe for now. See Tekgnosis for further details.
Tell the Media to report the REAL Schiavo polls!
http://capwiz.com/sicminc/issues/alert/?alertid=7351686&type=ME
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/4/emw226586.htm
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/prweb/20050408/bs_prweb/prweb226586_3
My account, etc. of Terri Schindler's Funeral Mass:
http://tekgnosis.typepad.com