It's Not About Terry Schiavo
The unprecedented legal maneuvering by self-styled "supporters" of Terri Schiavo has nothing to do with the facts of her case. Those trying to keep her alive in any condition question her husband's motivations and her own reported wishes, while suspect physicians and untrained members of Congress offer long-distance diagnoses claiming that the hopelessly brain-damaged woman retains some consciousness. But the furor over the case is due to questions not of fact but of politics and religion.
The political motives are made clear in the Republicans' Senate memo, which rejoices that "the pro-life base will be excited" and "This is a great political issue, because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a cosponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats." That just drips moral concern, doesn't it?
But, to quote an ADA motto, it's not just politics. Many of the people allied with the GOP here are religious fundamentalists who fervently believe that it is wrong to end Terri Schiavo's life because it is wrong to end any life (except maybe via capital punishment), even if the patient leaves a living will, even if the family agrees, even if heroic medical measures are required. They even argued in court that withholding treatment would "jeopardize her immortal soul" because the Pope has called withdrawal of feeding tubes "euthanasia by omission." For these fundamentalists the Schiavo case is just an available vehicle, just as waiting periods are a vehicle for opposing choice on abortion.
Death is a painful subject which sparks emotional responses. I still remember shuddering when a terminally ill Cardinal Cooke of New York refused pain medication so he could present his continued suffering "as a beautiful gift to God." On the other hand, I was deeply troubled by the recent death of an infant removed from life-support against his mother's wishes, after an unprecedented ruling under a Texas right-to-die law signed by . . . Governor George Bush.
Many people oppose existing law on these issues for political, moral, or religious reasons. They should have the courage to say what they really believe, instead of hiding their radical positions behind Terri Schiavo's tragedy.
John Brodkin is an ADA member and former Executive Director of the Greater Washington chapter. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of ADA.
The political motives are made clear in the Republicans' Senate memo, which rejoices that "the pro-life base will be excited" and "This is a great political issue, because Senator Nelson of Florida has already refused to become a cosponsor and this is a tough issue for Democrats." That just drips moral concern, doesn't it?
But, to quote an ADA motto, it's not just politics. Many of the people allied with the GOP here are religious fundamentalists who fervently believe that it is wrong to end Terri Schiavo's life because it is wrong to end any life (except maybe via capital punishment), even if the patient leaves a living will, even if the family agrees, even if heroic medical measures are required. They even argued in court that withholding treatment would "jeopardize her immortal soul" because the Pope has called withdrawal of feeding tubes "euthanasia by omission." For these fundamentalists the Schiavo case is just an available vehicle, just as waiting periods are a vehicle for opposing choice on abortion.
Death is a painful subject which sparks emotional responses. I still remember shuddering when a terminally ill Cardinal Cooke of New York refused pain medication so he could present his continued suffering "as a beautiful gift to God." On the other hand, I was deeply troubled by the recent death of an infant removed from life-support against his mother's wishes, after an unprecedented ruling under a Texas right-to-die law signed by . . . Governor George Bush.
Many people oppose existing law on these issues for political, moral, or religious reasons. They should have the courage to say what they really believe, instead of hiding their radical positions behind Terri Schiavo's tragedy.
John Brodkin is an ADA member and former Executive Director of the Greater Washington chapter. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of ADA.
1 Comments:
It's not about Terry Schiavo, its about attacking the judiciary and packing the courts with extremist ideologues.
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