Judge George Greer has delivered his decree. Terri Schiavo is to be starved to death.
In a painfully obvious miscarriage of justice, Michael Schiavo has been granted judicial leave to have Terri's feeding tube removed at 1:00 p.m. on March 18.
Judge Greer completely disregarded requests by the Schindlers to pursue additional testing to prove that Terri has more mental faculty than has been thought. He has ignored the fact that state officials are trying to investigate the allegations of Terri's mistreatment. He absolutely refuses to entertain the possibility that Terri might improve enough with actual, active rehabilitation, and one day be able to let people know what she really wants.
I believe that Judge Greer's ruling was wrong on every moral and intellectual level imaginable. Terri is an innocent woman being sentenced to death by starvation -- an end that no judge in his right mind would ever deliver to a convicted felon on death row. How is it that Judge Greer finds it correct to sentence Terri Schindler-Schiavo to such a horrific death?
The questions I have posed in my two previous posts still stand and have become even more urgent. What is going on here, beneath the false veneer of Michael Schiavo's claims that he's only doing what Terri wanted; claims that have never been substantiated independently, or represented in a legal document, such as a Living Will? Moreover, why did Michael wait so long before pursuing the "no artificial means" avenue? I know that my husband would intervene, on the spot, were I in a mortally-injured state in the hospital.
This is a dangerous precedent, and one which we, as a People, must move to scotch. Once the precedent is set, this (to some) seemingly-innocuous case of "right to die" might be used to liberalize euthanasia to the point where almost anyone with "undesirable" life quality could be put to medically-assisted death.
Take a moment to think about the implications of that. Take into account the hospital in Amsterdam, who admitted to euthanizing terminally-ill babies before the law was passed. Like abortion, there are too many mitigating circumstances for a clear rule of law to ever be established for the appropriateness of euthanasia.
There is more to Terri's case than meets the eye. Suspect is Michael Schiavo's cold determination to see her dead. Why won't Michael surrender Terri's care to her parents? They will take care of her, and never trouble him again. He has been told that he can keep the money he won in the lawsuits that he waged "in Terri's interests". He has two children by another woman, who he lives with. Why not divorce Terri, and wash his hands of the situation? How does her continuing life hurt him? What is he hiding?
It is time to help the Schindlers take their fight to higher courts. A Federal case should be filed, and a Grand Jury should probe Judge Greer based upon allegations I referred to in my prior post.
To make a donation to help the Schindlers carry their fight onward, click here.
posted by Linda on February 25, 2005 11:11 PMLinda, I can't believe this is happening! I have been told that there is a point system for the kind of correspondence received. Emails and phone calls are down on the list. Hand written letters get the most points. Typed letters sent by mail get the next most points. I will be hand writing several letters tonight and mailing them out to Jeb Bush, George Bush and everyone else I can think of to save Terri's life. I don't know why this makes my heart swell so much, but it does. I really hope some investigations come out of this. Please ask your friends to write hand written letters and get them in the mail. Thanks, Lucy Stern
Posted by: Lucy Stern at February 26, 2005 01:01 AMMy wife and I are too far away to participate with the upcoming protests, or we would be there to support Terri.
The other day Governor Jeb Bush said he had limited options in the Terri Schiavo case. I wrote Governor Bush and told him that with God there is no such thing as limited options.
I could easily say the same thing. I might not be able to join the protests in Florida, but I have plenty of other options. I have been at work sending e-mails out to the President of the United States, Governor Jeb Bush, Florida State Senators, and many others. I have written many journalists who have published their articles of support for Terri. I have made contributions to help support Mr.& Mrs Bob Schindler with their legal debt. I have requested prayer from the entire congregation at my Church on a number of occasions. I have signed petitions to have Judge Greer removed from the bench. I have signed a number of petitions to pro-life groups fighting for Terri. I have signed petitions begging Governor Bush to intervene for Terri.
I am an unemployable Disabled Vietnam War Veteran, and Governor Bush says his options are limited. Well mine are not.
I wonder how this leftist judge would feel if the state of Florida decided to execute a condemned murderer by withholding food and water? That's exactly what this judge has ordered. Where's the outrage for this poor woman? What crime did she commit?
Why is it that leftists can only muster empathy for criminals, terrorists, and baby seals. Babies and sick people can be killed at the drop of a hat. It makes me sick!
Posted by: remay1 at February 28, 2005 04:44 AMWe seem to be agree on these issues. We have been sending letters to our elected and appointed officials. Maybe we should start sending these letters to the vigilante types and hope one of them goes postal. Is that a bad thought?
Posted by: T. F. Stern at March 1, 2005 12:04 AMWould you consider joining BlogsforTerri?
http://www.blogsforterri.com
http://www.blogsforterri.com/join.php
I wonder if anyone has thought of trying the legal angle that it is a STATE FELONY in FL to starve an animal to death? Surely nobody would deny that she meets the minimum requirement to be considered an animal.
Theoretically, someone could be sentenced to prison in FL for a year for starving their pet goldfish to death.
Posted by: tonyi at March 8, 2005 09:59 PM