Thursday, March 24, 2005
Schiavo Case
*sigh* Because I work for a right-to-die organization a lot of my friends and family are interested in hearing not only my views, by my employer's overall views on this specific case. I should say that we are a pro-choice organization, not a pro-death. We (myself included) believe that each and every individual should be able to decide their own fate IF AND ONLY IF they are terminally ill (this can mean anything from Alzheimer's to PVS - persistive vegetative state). We/I do not believe any person "hurt over life" should be able to off themselves. We/I do not believe that if you're old and have had enough and want to "check out" you should be able to. We are saying that if you in a terminal (this means permenant) state of illness, whatever color that illness is, you should be able to save yourself the pain and agony of long, stressful, hurtful dying process. We believe you should be able to die with dignity and not wetting yourself in a hospice bed with only the on-duty nurse to mourn you. We believe you should be able to save your assets and money for your loved ones to thrive on not be wasted on keeping you alive when there is no quality of life or hope for you to enjoy your life the way YOU once did. OR we believe that if you want to hang on to life, to hang on to the hope that you might prevail (because people do wake up from 20 year comas) that YOU should have that right!!! We are not interested in forcing one belief or another onto the citizens of the United States. We are not a cult, or a religious organization that is jamming our choices and morality down the throats of an extremely diverse community. America was founded on the freedom that is ours to curse our President, if we choose, to wear a pink tutu to the grocery store, if we choose, to have children - to have 10 children, if we choose, to pray to God or pray facing the East, whatever WE CHOOSE!!!! Why can't we choose how we die? We do not believe the goverment should have a say in OUR choice. This means the slippery slope argument that if we allow physician aide in dying that eventually the government will have control over who lives and dies. THIS CAN'T BE FURTHER THAN THE TRUTH!!! Cite reference the Terri Schiavo case. The government has no business getting involved. I sympathize with Terri's parents. And don't think that I am just saying that because it's the PC thing to say. I KNOW what it's like to have a child on a life support system. I KNOW what it's like to live in "limbo" not knowing whether your child will live or die, not knowing if you should hold on to that 1 in 1 million chance that your child, your perfect little star, your love, your apple, your strong little trooper might, JUST MIGHT beat the odds and overcome a coma. I KNOW what it's like to look at your child and hold a clipboard that signs away her life. That says you acknowledge that signing this agreement will most likely end in your child's death and YOU and only YOU are responsible. I know what that's like. And I'd rather slit my wrists with a dull knife and drip dry bleed to death than ever go through that limbo again. To go through 15 years, like the Schindler's have, is certain hell. I can imagine a fraction of their pain. But I believe it is time to let go. When she said "I do" she emancipated herself. She gave guardianship to Michael. You can't choose your parents, you can choose your spouse. I believe with all my being that Terri would not want to live this way and expressed this to her love, her husband. I believe it is time to let her soul go. Where ever it will go, let her fly. Let her be free. Let us all be free to choose.
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3 comments:
Well put C. I believe one point this debates poses for all of us is one you touched on here and that is the freedom of choice.
I've debated this topic heavly with many in my life throughout the years and feel very strongly about everyones right to make their own choices in our life. I respect each individuals right to have their own voice and opinion, just as mine should be respected.
Most every single person I know has lost someone close to them in their life time, it is a natural part of existance on this planet. No matter how painful, as human beings we are self aware and know each of us will face the death of a loved one in our life time.
However, I think when death or dying occurs outside the confines of what one might consider the "natural progression" is when it causes incredible internal and societal conflicts for all of us, thus you have a situation like we have on our hands now. To me that is the pschology of it, seems easy enough to grasp.
What is not easy for me to grasp and what concerns me greatly is how this issue is being monopolized into a campaign for right wing conservatives. To me, this situation has escalated past the point of mereley publically debating ethics, morals, spiritual beliefs or what have you...but has now some how become a tool to intervene into the lives of those in our community facing already very painful and difficult decisions.
When did we have to fight our own government to have the simple RIGHT to make our own choices? I know I didn't vote for that.
I guess as long as human beings exist we will try to control one another and certainly there is a balance, but this seems so blatant and wrong to me I can't even get over it.
I don't mean to sound insensative here either, my heart goes out to all involved as this is most definately very difficult and painful subject. However, I can't help but feel like there is a wider, more global issue at play here and I'll say it again...it seems blatant and damn wrong if you ask me.
Exactly Sarah. My heart goes out to all the players involved in Terri Schiavo's world. There is a greater dynamic at stake here. And it is sad that the right wing world is using Terri as a martyr for their cause. At this point, I question everyone's motives - her parents, Michael, the Bush family, congress, the justices - everyone seems to have a different agenda meanwhile a woman is slowly starving to death. I am positive that this is not what Terri would have wanted.
86 your pants
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