I’ve been aware of the Terri Schiavo case for a year or more, having read about her on one of the websites I frequent. I’m a bit surprised that the issue has been elevated to national status, though.
I am saddened about what happened to her, and know the battle between her husband and her parents has got to be painful for everyone involved. However, Terri left no living will. Under Florida law, Michael Schiavo, her husband and legal guardian, has the sole legal authority to determine her life or death. Not her parents. Not the Florida governor or legislature. Not the Congress or the President of the United States. Time and time again, Florida courts have sided with Mr. Schiavo.
I don’t happen to hold Michael Schiavo in paticularly high regard, but that is irrelavent. Legal guardianship is a very powerful, very sacred authority. Attempting to thwart it in an “emergency” (or in other words, politicans using her life to politically grandstand, calling it “a great political issue” ), is clearly unconstitutional.
On a related note, it really pisses me off when politicans say “we want to uphold the sanctity of all life,” and yet have no qualms about executing prisoners. Hypocrisy, anyone?
Dubya holds this woman’s life in high regard but has absolutely no problem sending hunderds of thousands of Americans troops into harms way in Iraq … way over 1500 dead and way way over 10,00 wounded in this worthless war!!!
Matt
Thanks, Matt. You’re right on.
“Why should we hear about body bags and deaths? It’s not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?” – Barbara Bush