Americans support life

[OCA]

Perhaps the fact that this case kicked around in the system for so long indicates less that it's been heard and heard and heard, than that it has been a juridisctional hot potato. The only true "finding" by any of these courts - in all this time - has been the upholding of Judge Greer as the sole finder of fact. Is that right and proper? Did Greer preclude the introduction of important evidence in a capricious manner? Did the state and federal court systems fail Terri Schiavo, in the most permanent, irreparable sense imaginable? Beats the shit out of me. What do I know?

But surely you'll concede that all of these questions presented Congress with a unique problem. A perfectly plausible possibility existed that an American was about to be deprived of her life without due process. When that possibility exists, states rights are out the window. The Federal Government's duty is clear - the U.S. Constitution MUST prevail. And, let's add to this already convoluted mix the fact that the clock was ticking - had been for some time - on an innocent person's life. Frankly, I don't see where Congress had a choice.

Well then for the first time that I remember with you we'll have to agree to disagree, I believe she was given due process above and beyond the call of duty.

 

[Merlin1047]

Since we don't want to start any more Schiavo-related threads, I had to pick a victim in order to post this. Figured Avatar's thread was as likely a venue as any.

Came across the following cartoon in the opinion pages of our local newspaper. I wish that I could read the signature so that I can credit it properly, but it is illegible. Looks like TRSVER.

Anyway, the panel depicts a man sitting down at a table and writing a document he had initially entitle "My Living Will" but the "Living" was crossed out and "Dying" inserted. Then the following instructions were written

In the event I am in a Persistent Vegetative State, I do not wish to be kept alive by extraordinay means. The decision to pull the plug/feeding tube shall NOT be made by anyone:

(1) in a Persistent Political State;
(2) appearing on a cable TV new show;
(3) with "LIFE" tape over their mouth;
(4) objecting to government involvement after years of government court rulings;
(5) basing a diagnosis on a videotape;
(6) citing a public opinion poll

I'm sure there are individual items anyone can pick to disagree with, but overall seems to me this person hit the mark pretty well.

 

[Merlin1047]

And along the same general lines as my previous, here's something e-mailed to me today. Author unknown.

I, _________________________ (fill in the blank), being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means.

Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of peckerwood politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it.

If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to sit up and ask for a cold beer, it should be presumed that I won't do so ever again. When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my spouse, children and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day.

Under no circumstances shall the members of the Legislature enact a special law to keep me on life-support machinery. It is my wish that these boneheads mind their own damn business, and pay attention instead to the health, education and future of the millions of Americans who aren't in a permanent coma and who nonetheless may be in need of nourishment.

Under no circumstances shall any politicians butt into this case. I don't care how many fundamentalist votes they're trying to scrounge for their run for the presidency in 2008, it is my wish that they play politics with someone else's life and leave me alone to die in peace.

I couldn't care less if a hundred religious zealots send e-mails to legislators in which they pretend to care about me. I don't know these people, and I certainly haven't authorized them to preach and/or crusade on my behalf. They should mind their own damn business, too.

If any of my family goes against my wishes and turns my case into a political cause, I hereby promise to come back from the grave and make his or her existence a living hell.

 

[musicman]

Well then for the first time that I remember with you we'll have to agree to disagree...

There it is, bro.

 

[locknload]

And along the same general lines as my previous, here's something e-mailed to me today. Author unknown.

I've saved that beauty to file. It now rests along side my signed and witnessed living will.

One can never be too careful when trying to avoid the calamitous results of do-gooders.