Volume III. No. 35
 03-20-05
 Terri Schiavo: Neither Dead, Nor Alive
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2005
 

 The pictures that are circulated most frequently in the media now are of 
 a strikingly attractive twenty-something Terri Schiavo. A woman beautiful 
 enough for the silver screen. A heart-rending reminder of what she was 
 before an unfortunate sequence of medical events condemned her to a 
 hellish bedridden existence where she is not dead, but the essence of 
 what she was as a human being is irretrievably gone.

 In the more familiar photographs taken from some anonymous hospital 
 room, Mrs. Schiavo "stares" blankly ahead, her facial features seemingly 
 rigid. Her mouth is fixed in an open grimace. 

 This sorrowful woman is in what is described by medical professionals 
 as a "persistent vegetative state," a common diagnosis for individuals 
 with severe irreversible brain damage. A medial diagnosis that has in the 
 case of Mrs. Schiavo created a cultural maelstrom that is now at full force.

 The reasons for this cultural brouhaha are many. Mrs. Schiavo did not 
 leave a "living will;" precise written instructions of what to do in the event 
 that a medical tragedy had rendered her into the exact condition, that 
 befell her. In other words, instructions that she be allowed to die.

 Her husband Michael, who has moved on in life, is still her legal guardian. 
 He has stated under oath that it was his wife's wish that she not be kept 
 alive by extraordinary medical means. This is in direct opposition to her 
 parents who dispute his assertion, and who apparently, cannot let go of 
 a daughter they believe is still somehow salvageable. 

 This is the crux of the matter. A son-in-law who wants to let his permanently
 brain-damaged wife die with dignity, and not suffer any longer in a state 
 where she is neither dead, nor fully-living. The parents see the matter 
 entirely differently, even if their judgement is clouded by an undying love 
 for the daughter they created out of their own love.

 These kind of disputes between parents, siblings, cousins, in-laws, and relatives,
 near and distant, are commonplace. The state courts in Florida have repeatedly 
 sided with Mr. Schiavo's argument. Even the United States Supreme Court 
 refused to review the matter.

 Enter the politicians...

 The Christian-Right has seized-upon the Schiavo family dispute because 
 it allows them a wonderful opportunity to speak forcefully about conservative 
 values and the "sanctity of life." Issues that will further endear them with 
 the American public - or at least the side of the public that is currently the 
 most vocal. 

 The religious conservatives in Congress seem to have discovered in themselves 
 a willingness to forgo any established political procedure, or bend any law, 
 and even  to speak out AGAINST the sanctity, if you will, of state's rights, 
 when it serves their politcal purpose of the moment.

 Thus we see the extraordinary intrusion of opportunistic politicians into 
 a family dispute. As Mr. Schiavo's lawyer so succinctly stated, the 
 political-grandstanding that is is happening on Capitol Hill is disgusting.

 Some democrats also regard the Schiavo case as a political point-maker with 
 their own constituents. But members from either sides of the aisle, are not 
 really fighting for Mrs. Schiavo. She is a mere political device. Neither do
 the courts a great constitutional matter here. Instead the battle is being 
 instigated by those suffering from a permanent religious-based myopia where 
 every event in the country that threatens their worldview, is to be seized 
 upon and viciously attacked.

 A minimum wage law can wait. { let millions of poor folks make do with
 declining earnings.... } Action on illegal immigration can wait. { murderers 
 and rapist from south of the border may walk freely amonst us... } An 
 investigation into House Majority Leader's Tom Delay's activities can 
 certainly, wait. { well, at least he's no Bill Clinton... }

 Instead, let us save the severely brain-damaged Terri Schiavo from her 
 impatient husband who would be forever rid of her.

 The religious-conservatives who believe they are responsible for Bush's 
 victory last fall, are now thoroughly drunk with power. Broadcast television 
 is under full-assault and the operators of premium cable channels such 
 as HBO and Showtime had better be on their guard. Even the free-for-all 
 entrepreneurship that is the engine of internet commerce is not safe from 
 political interference. The excuse will be that porn and other adult-related 
 activities on the internet, must be more tightly-controlled, as our children 
 need additional protection from such indecency. 

 Damn the First Admendment rights to be trampled upon to get to that 
 point.

 Oh, and lest we forget the zealots who intend to have religion back in 
 our schools, and creationism taught to our children, under the misleading 
 moniker of "intelligent design."

 The interference of Washington politicians in a private family matter is 
 an indicator of a disturbing trend by power-hungry conservatives that 
 instead of weakening is gathering momentum. But they should be wary 
 the powers they unleash upon the land. 

 "Be careful what you ask for."

 Surely, their opportunistic attack on "state's rights" in this instance may 
 come back to haunt them another day. 

 Sadly, for the rest of us, we realized beforehand that a second Bush term 
 would bring along with it a cold conservative wind. 

 We were not wrong. That wind is rather fierce.

 The question remains for faithful liberals, what will be left of the America 
 we know and love once Bush is departed for his Texas homestead, and 
 that political pendulum finally, hopefully, starts back towards the left.
 
 

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