Posted on 03/28/2005 6:43:57 AM PST by NYer
No, actually, this may help the political case. If Terri can't be saved, at least this will reveal the true horror of Michael Schiavo.
I'm not so sure about that. MS isn't as popular as you assume. I was talking with my mom last night (she's one of those people you refer to as "sheeple" - that kind of underestimation has cost the dems a lot of support) and she wasn't the least bit enamoured with MS or his freaky lawyer. Remember, most of the polls were slanted and bogus and just because majority of people weren't aware of Terri and her family's plight until it became a major news story doesn't mean they don't understand the issues or their importance. My mom is a pretty typical yuppie baby boomer who usually gets her news from a half hour of an alphabet network and a half hour of the local affiliate and an occasional dose of O'Reilly on the radio & she loves Oprah and Dr. Phil, but she knew about the injustice of denying Terri communion. She was appalled that her constitutional freedom to worship (regardless of her condition) was so easily violated. MS's insistence on cremating Terri and moving her far away from her family pretty much erased any sympathy she had for him. Both of these she considered disgusting, but also thought it was awful that such a private tragedy would be played out so publicly. Because she has grown children herself, she identified with the Schindlers and thought MS, his lawyer and Judge Greer were being unnecessarily cruel. Like a lot of people, she grapples with the quality of life issue, but understood the judiciary was over-reaching. Average Americans understand more than you realize.
Cindie
You raise an interesting point? I am not sure how I feel about that question. Actually, right now I am thinking an equal say between spouse and parent might be at the most fair. It's hard to imagine that once my children are married that I am no longer considered 'family' and no longer will have any standing on the care of my child, in the eyes of some courts anyway. I would consider myself at least equal to the spouse in wanting only the best for my child. Especially if the spouse has moved on with his/her life and had a couple kids by a new partner. Spouse trumping parents without question is not something I am totally comfortable with in life and death matters.
It seems your mom exhibits some common sense,,IMHO.
< Also make you wonder, if the parents have no ulterior motives, why won't they respect the husband's wishes? Regardless of how you feel about the Terri Schaivo case, it is his wife and Michael has the final say. Otherwise, do you believe parents have a stronger legal voice that a spouse? >
I think what the parents are doing is out of love for their daughter AND suspicions of the son-in-law's motive. Under different circumstances, I would whole-heartedly agree with you and the law. However, there are too many questions here to just go ahead with anything the husband says. There are reasons to be suspicious.
I say err on the side of life. That's not to say surrender to the feelings of the parents. It's saying choose life, at least til it's all exposed and sorted out...not with info from 7 years ago, but anew. Let's go with what we have now.
All these court decisions are based on old info. The courts have refused to look at anything new. I see nothing wrong with questioning the court at this point. Something smells very bad.
...with each denial he issues, Michael Schavio is looking more and more suspect in the public's eye.....I hope he keeps this up....even the MSM will have to ask questions...but I'm not holding my breath...
As hideous as it, this has been a wakeup call for more people than we may know. It'll probably take a 2x4 to get them the rest of the way into the kingdom, but it's a start.
The SOB didn't even know Terri personally. How would he know what she would have wanted?
Boy, do I agree with what you just posted.
My sister is just like your mother. She has no exposure to FR , internet or cable. Her world is the alphabet channels and Dr. Phil and Oprah. She felt it was just an awkward circumstance that should not be played out in public. Even though it finally happened, when she first heard that he was denying communion she did a 180. Yesterday when I told her about the court order already written for cremation she was incensed.
Some powerful intercessions to St. Joseph of Arimathea might be appropriate and efficaceous. If you aren't into praying to saints, you could pray that God would call St. Joseph of Arimathea to do something. His role in the passion has always been kind of underplayed. What he did took a lot of courage, and I feel certain God rewarded him for it.
What about a wrongful death suit against Michael or whomever? Could her body be confiscated as possible evidence if such a suit were filed? Could such a suit be filed?
Neither a parent nor a husband has a right to be a guardian or a legal voice. You wouldn't know it from the discussion in the media, but the only person in this entire scenario who has "rights" is Terri.
Parents, spouse, relatives, etc. are granted authority by the state to act in Terri's best interests. The law does provide a presumption (subject to rebuttal) that a spouse is the person the ward would want to serve and be granted that authority.
Yep! And while I don't think MS gives a rat's butt about public opinion, politicians and the media do. That kind of public outrage could easily launch an investigation. Too bad this didn't happen a couple months earlier. It could've saved Terri's life.
Cindie
You're not going to like what I'm about to say, but I think I know what MS is thinking. If there is a burial and a grave, it'll constantly be used by the right to lifers and continually in the news. And he doesn't think that's what Terri would have wanted. I'm not making a judgement, mind you. I'm just trying to give you a understandable explanation as to why he insists on this.
I know there are a lot of stories flying around out there, and one of them I read was a statement by a doctor, who for some reason had occasion to observe Mrs. Schaivo.
He said her condition and symptoms were consistent with trauma (he mentioned some broken bones) and strangulation. He claims the strangulation may have caused the loss of blood to the brain which caused the brain damage. It*s what her family has claimed all along.
An autopsy might be able to prove this, and also the extent of damage to her brain, which may not be as extensive as claimed. Full tests were never really given to find the extent.
There are too many questions that could be answred by an autopsy, which most surely the parents would insist on, that might find MS and judge Greer culpable of colusion in her death.
Destroying the evidence? They still don't know what caused her collapse, do they? Michael Schiavo is an evil man. Laws need to be changed because it is infuriating that a man who has no ties through children or even marriage anymore is calling all the shots. HE HAS A FIANCE AND TWO CHILDREN AND HAS NO MARRIAGE TO TERRI ANYMORE. The courts and people find it ok that he continue to control the decisions with knowledge of his open adultery and end of the marriage? He's made a million dollars off her and God knows what he's getting for her death.
Another possibleexplanation is: if pictures of Terri, after 11 days of dehydration, were ever released it would turn public opinion and set back the right-to die movement.
I don't know...all I know is that both Michael and the Schindlers are three of the most stubborn people we've ever seen.
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