US court denies Schiavo parents' request

US court denies Schiavo parents' request:


"The feeding tube was disconnected on Friday, and doctors have said that Terri Schiavo, 41, could survive one to two weeks without water and nutrients."

Two weeks before she dies and that appears to be a very long time. I might as well have my tuppence worth because we are all involved now and there is probably a reason for it. The more people who feel compelled to become involved, the more complicated and ill defined the problem is. When people are very intense about something, there is usually a very good reason and it generally means something is very wrong. Like Cornelia Rau here , we would not be involved in this if there were not something fundamental to be resolved. The same as with Iraq and with the tsunami. It's how we human beings alert each other to the fact there is something quite amiss. This case is very complex in some people's minds. In mine, it is quite simple. If she is going to take the same length of time to die as any other person who is deprived of food and water, then she has the perfect right to live. I had a cousin in a "vegetative state" who was born that way. He was allowed to live until he died and he was cared for. It was sad, it was awful, it was uncomfortable and we talked about it often. She can breathe by herself and her body is still functioning inspite of the trauma to her brain. Kill her and it is possible to kill any number of brain damaged people. It costs time effort and money to own and care for them but they are not like that of their own choice. If she were "dying" , then yes, let her die, but evidence suggests her body is living. Whether we approve of her "vegetative" state or not is irrelevant and it may well be unpleasant and inconvenient, but we are people. She is not an animal to be put down. Nor do I understand the criticisms made of Congress and the American people for debating this long and hard. We talk about all the other issues and matters crucial to us as a society and I actually admire Congress for going to the trouble of giving up their time and energy to debate an issue which is so close to home. That to me is real leadership. While these experienced politicians are debating their legal system, their political system , their citizen's rights and responsibilities they are actually drawing their people into open debate on an extrememly difficult and emotional problem. They are allowing their country to debate a very tough issue and to formulate opinions. By having the guts to debate it it Congress they are saying it is a good idea to tackle the tough stuff head on and to allow people their say.The current mania for a rush to "closure" on such a serious matter is entirely inappropriate. In this way Terri Schiavo, who is unable to represent herself , has the power, through her people, to have a fair and proper hearing. Isn't that what is important? Isn't she the one who needs to be represented? And that is why we need Terri Schiavo's and Cornelia Rau's - they give us the gumption to front up to the good the bad and the ugly in our society and give it animated, open discussion where all points of view are heard. While it is debated she should be fed. Starving her to death is wrong because she is the one who deserves to be heard and we are talking on her behalf. When we are happy and when we have formulated our ideas, the best course of action can be decided without the heat of debate. Currently it is clearly still being discussed. That there is such a split in society and such a split between the husband and the parents is cause to pause and THINK. Get the opinions, the facts, the information. Then decide in a calmer frame of mind. In the meantime, speak out and be heard.

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