In case there is any doubt, in light of recent media developments, then I will state it now, before God, the Internet, and the Federal Government: Please don't allow me to carry on in a pitiful approximation of "life", just for the sake of it. When I'm gone, let me be gone, and pull the plug.
Not that I'm terribly worried. My parents already understandthose wishes, and they've expressed the same thing to me. My mother sits on the ethics board at the hospital and so has to deal with issues like this all the time. As such, I think she's had the best comment I've heard on the Schiavo case yet. Isn't it funny how the same moralistic pricks that said gays shouldn't be allowed to marry because it threatens the "sanctity" of marriage are happy to throw away that sanctity when it doesn't suit their purposes?
All issues of the specific case aside, I agree with Chuck. I can't understand how this has anything to do with the federal government. And every court has agreed that a spouse is the legal guardian. It's a rant I've hit before, but again, these are REPUBLICANS? The people who want to keep government out of our lives?
I don't know what the right decision for the family to make is, and its unfortunate that her husband and her parents can't agree. But let me just say on a personal level: If I haven't talked or sang or laughed or done something ridiculous for 15 YEARS, then pull the plug. 'Cause that's obviously not me in there.
About damn time you commented on this. I don't really know why, but I really enjoy it when you post something that allows me to join you in the trashing of the Republican Party.
"but again, these are REPUBLICANS? The people who want to keep government out of our lives?"
I think this really is the difference between the Republicans of yore and those of today. Over the past three decades, the christain coalition has executed a stealth takeover of the Republican party (not so stealth for the past 10 years or so) which is near culmination. I think the Schiavo case, which was picked to "excite the pro-life base", will prove to be a very momentous event in the party which finally pushes the last of the libertarians out. I think the emergency bill that congress whipped together and Bush flew in to sign, effectively attempting to dismantle the federalist structure of the governement as well as appropriate the role of the courts will see to that. Any stragglers should leave when (not if) some militant nut-job assasinates Mr. Schiavo (if I were him, I'd be heading on the first plane... anywhere about now). I think the era of fighting big government is over, at least for the GOP.
Anyway, I've got more nasty things to say about the Republicans, some comments about how the values of each party have changed but our rhetoric has not, and some berating to hurl toward the Democrats for being such a pathetic opposition party, but I'm interested to see where others might lead the discussion (I assume there will be discussion).
So, here's a link:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2115124/
And here's a quote:
"It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so..." R.A.H.
I'm with you, Ish. My old biomedical ethics prof said that if she can't understand Calvin and Hobbes, pull the plug. I hated her and wanted to pull her plug even sooner, but the point is that quality of life matters a BUNCH to me to. So print this out and use it in court some day if need be. PULL THE PLUG ON ME!
As for the Republicans, I wish I could debate, but there is no debate when all is agreed upon!
Whoops. That's "a BUNCH to me too." Sorry, that to/too typo REALLY bugs me.
Correction noted, the grammar deduction has been removed from your record.
The parents are being so selfish by fighting to keep Terry Schiavo alive! They don't want to lose her... I'm sorry but the doctors say she is already gone. Wouldn't it be better to have happy memories of her as a healthy energetic human being? Instead, their memories are of the past 15 years when she has done nothing but blink. Remove the tube, let her pass on and let everyone move on with their own lives.
As for the whole 'marriage' aspect... when I got married the minister asked "Who gives this woman to this man?" and my parents replied "We do". Doesn't that mean they are passing on their responsibility to care for me to my husband? Terry Schiavo's husband should be the person solely responsible for her care. He seems to have realized that she is no longer in the land of the living and has moved on with his life. Her parents seem to be trying to hold on to a corpse!
I may sound cold and heartless but I do not believe that machines should be used to keep people alive when there is very little chance for them to make a full recovery! I also believe that all the lawyers and politicians should mind their own damn business! This is a private family matter... butt out!
Bump to new topic