Feline Warrior

“Jeb Bush and the state’s social services agency filed a petition in state court to take custody of Schiavo and, presumably, reconnect her feeding tube. It cites new allegations of neglect and challenges Schiavo’s diagnosis as being in a persistent vegetative state. The request is based on the opinion of a neurologist working for the state who observed Schiavo at her bedside but did not conduct an examination of her.”

You can call this “right-to-die” or “pro-life” or “murder” or “mercy” or whatever. Hell, you can call it “Bob,” for all I care.

Here’s the thing: In happier, healthier times, Terri Schiavo told her husband, Michael, that she would not want to live like this (how she’s living now). He is honoring that desire. Her parents, God love ‘em, are desparately trying to save their daughter from going… where? Where, people? To heaven! To God! To Roman Catholic God, for cryin’ out loud!

Jeb’s state-appointed neurologist who “examined” Terri in the last 24 hours did not actually examine her - he looked at her. If that’s all they wanted, I’d have been happy to go down to Florida and have a look at the gal. I’d even hold her hand, say a prayer, and do exactly what I did when my friend William was dying: I’d tell her that it’s okay to go if she’s ready. That everyone loves her, that she did a bang-up job here on earth, and that I’m certain God has some excellent jobs waiting for her.

One thing that I feel more and more certain about is this: Terri would not have been thrilled to have millions of people watching videos of her in this condition. If the Schindlers feel so strongly about “moral issues,” what about this business of letting the world in on highly private moments? What about letting the world observe a once-beautiful woman in a gerry-chair, head bobbing about, mouth hanging open, and eyes that do not seem to be looking back? I have a difficult time finding the dignity in that whole bit.

Other things that have recently pissed me off (”recently,” as in the last 24 hours) include the yammering about how much Dubya and Co. value human life, knowing that 1700 people have died so far during the invasion of Iraq. (A future blog will discuss my views on that!)