What is the next step?
This has been a brutal, bitter hard week for anyone trying to save Terri Schiavo from cruel and powerful men. There are still a few chances left, and I am thankful and heartened to see the Schindler family still pursuing those options. Who knows, some powerful person may yet find the courage to act justly.
But if the cowardly delaying tactics of courts and legislators succeed in their clear aim of murdering Terri Schiavo, I want to ask my fellow bloggers not to give up this fight. There are helpless others who will soon have the knives at their throats, and we can't simply leave them to the mercy of men like Greer.
So what do we do for the next target of judicial homicide? In spite of the callous recalcitrance of the courts, there are some encouraging events we need to build on. I want to ask for help figuring out what went right, as well as what went wrong, so we can be more effective more quickly. (Blogs For Terri can't take comments right now because of the current massive traffic, but when the media has lost interest and the trolls have moved their graffiti efforts to other blogs, we need to have a longer conversation about this. In the meantime, you're welcome to leave comments on our blog and I'm sure any of the other blogs on the BFT blogroll.)
First encouraging sign, there is evidence that the much-overused dichotomy between Left and Right has bent and cracked in this case. Had we been able to break through the consistent media mantra that Terri is PVS, it might have shattered completely.
Second, both the Legislative and Executive branches of our federal government came together in an extraordinary fashion to try to break through judicial stonewalling. And it wasn't a party-line vote, either.
Third, there have been some judges - not enough yet, but we need to acknowledge them - who tried to stop this insanity. Is there any way we can give them a louder voice?
It will obviously be tempting to focus entirely on what (we think) went wrong. Strategies could have been modified, statements could be worded slightly differently. There is a lot of talk even now about this legal phrase, that legal twist, some other slight variation on the scenario that might have tipped the balance. Personally, I'm unconvinced that slight variations on the theme would have been enough. The recalcitrance of the courts has to be dealt with on a deeper, longer-term level.
We've made some important allies here and seen some extraordinary events. I would appreciate ideas on how to build on those advances for the next time a judge's hands are at the throat of an innocent helpless disabled person.
Cross-posted on BFT.
But if the cowardly delaying tactics of courts and legislators succeed in their clear aim of murdering Terri Schiavo, I want to ask my fellow bloggers not to give up this fight. There are helpless others who will soon have the knives at their throats, and we can't simply leave them to the mercy of men like Greer.
So what do we do for the next target of judicial homicide? In spite of the callous recalcitrance of the courts, there are some encouraging events we need to build on. I want to ask for help figuring out what went right, as well as what went wrong, so we can be more effective more quickly. (Blogs For Terri can't take comments right now because of the current massive traffic, but when the media has lost interest and the trolls have moved their graffiti efforts to other blogs, we need to have a longer conversation about this. In the meantime, you're welcome to leave comments on our blog and I'm sure any of the other blogs on the BFT blogroll.)
First encouraging sign, there is evidence that the much-overused dichotomy between Left and Right has bent and cracked in this case. Had we been able to break through the consistent media mantra that Terri is PVS, it might have shattered completely.
Second, both the Legislative and Executive branches of our federal government came together in an extraordinary fashion to try to break through judicial stonewalling. And it wasn't a party-line vote, either.
Third, there have been some judges - not enough yet, but we need to acknowledge them - who tried to stop this insanity. Is there any way we can give them a louder voice?
It will obviously be tempting to focus entirely on what (we think) went wrong. Strategies could have been modified, statements could be worded slightly differently. There is a lot of talk even now about this legal phrase, that legal twist, some other slight variation on the scenario that might have tipped the balance. Personally, I'm unconvinced that slight variations on the theme would have been enough. The recalcitrance of the courts has to be dealt with on a deeper, longer-term level.
We've made some important allies here and seen some extraordinary events. I would appreciate ideas on how to build on those advances for the next time a judge's hands are at the throat of an innocent helpless disabled person.
Cross-posted on BFT.
posted by Crazy Diamond | 5:14 AM
37 Comments:
There are a lot of things I don't understand about this whole situation.
First of all, how they took the word of Terri's adulterous husband that she wouldn't want to live this way. Even though they had evidence from others that it was not true. Why didn't they simply put food and water up to Terri's mouth to see if she refused?? I don't understand how the "judge" could have ordered no food or water by mouth.
Terri has not been allowed to practice her religion. Being catholic, she would never have chosen to commit suicide by not eating or drinking. She is certainly going through the passion with Jesus. Betrayal by her Judas husband, corrupt courts and condemnation of someone innocent.
How is it possible that everything in her favor has been ignored?
If this can happen to her, it can happen to anyone. What else has been going on in these hospitals and courts?
Last of all, if euthanasia in illegal in Florida, how could what is happening to Terri ever have been possible???
God help us all.
What I don't understand is why the FL courts said Evian Gonzales should stay in this country and the Federal Marshalls went in and deported him.
Why couldn't the Federal Marshalls have gone in and saved Terri? If they can override the courts in one case, why can't they in another?
We bloggers need to get together and figure out what needs to be done here, then get it done.
Although I have believed in the Governor and the President, until they explain their ineffectiveness on this, I no longer support them.
President Bush can pardon criminals, why wouldn't he free Terri?
Excellent original post. Yes, there's been a lot of right done during this battle. Yes, the eyes of the world will turn to other news but the basic flaws in our system will continue. Now we know just about all of the angles and all of the ploys. Time to get working to focus light and legislative efforts on the protection of life in non-criminal cases.
I've heard the angle that "Terri would have been better of if she had been a condemned criminal on death row." I blogged that position myself.
But we need to turn this around from a negative to a positive. It is NOT a bad thing that convicted criminals in capital cases are given every possible chance. That the law errs on the side of letting them live. It would be VERY WRONG to keep attacking this as some kind of liberal foolishness. It is good, basic protection of life, and it is an understanding of just what the stakes are when death is on the line.
What we need is to put in place structures that recognize that there exist non-criminal capital cases, that these are played out in hospitals and nursing homes every day, and that the people who are helpless to control their own fate in these situations need the same overwhelmingly thorough protective measures as we rightly afford to death row criminals.
That's just one angle. but it's one I think we should get in our heads to start thinking and writing more positively about. Don't diss the liberals and the Democrats for affording protections in criminal cases. Get the same protections in place for non-criminal life issue cases.
Rae
Rae, that is exactly the sort of brainstorming I'm looking for. Do you know of any state- or federal-level representatives that you think would be particularly receptive to the idea of introducing non-criminal capital case legislation? Maybe we can coordinate efforts to contact them.
anonymous and sunnye t, we're all thoroughly frustrated with this situation. Please don't just walk away in disgust at the lack of action on the part of those we tried so hard to convince. Instead, really look at what they said and did, and ask yourself what was the twisted logic that made sense to them, and what were the principles violated? There are plenty of people nauseated by this but feeling helpless. If you can give words to the formless disgust they're feeling, we might get enough people understanding the issues to make the difference.
Look, Crazy Diamond, I think "What is the next step?" was way too early to post, as if Terri were yet in the past tense. I'm not done fighting for Terri yet. Terri, remember Terri??
I can post my ideas for fixing this country when the time comes, but they won't fix the current problem in time for Terri.
First of all I'd like to ask that if this comes across as a troll rather than a comment that you'll please read it again because it's an attempt to be constructive, or at the worst constructive criticism.
Furthermore, since you're asking for ideas or suggestions concerning the future beyond Terri's current situation, I'd like to ask that you read it with that in mind and not assume that I mean Terri any ill will, quite the contrary.
I can see how, especially given your convinctions, you would feel that all of this is about the 'murder of a disabled person', but I honestly don't think that this is the case. The court ruled that Terri is in a PVS state from which she would never recover and ruled that Terri has the right to refuse and would have exercised that right to pass away instead.
If the court had ruled that she wasn't in a PVS state, but merely disabled, the feeding tube wouldn't have been disconnected. Similarly, if the court had ruled that her wish had been to live no matter what, her wish would have been respected and the feeding tube wouldn't have been disconnected either.
So instead of blaming the justice system, I think you should instead try and seek reform in area of accepted diagnosis and how to determine the the right to live or die when no living will is present.
The opinions of medicial professionals in Terri's case were very widespread so maybe something along the lines of a 'panel of doctors' who ultimately decide on the condition of the patient instead of leaving it up to a judge when it involves a case where the end result is about ending a life or not could help immensly (of course with ample opportunity for both sides to select a doctor they feel is necessary to make the decision).
If there had been no doubt on Terri's condition (either way on PVS or disabled) then none of this would have ever taken place.
For the second part, a much greater push for continued family meetings with arbitration so that at the very least a compromise could be reached. This never belonged in the courts and I think that that's something that both sides can agree on. Any measure that would keep a deeply personal family dispute like this one out of the courts, while still offering a forum for both parties to reach some sort of compromise would be an improovement.
Secondly, and I don't really have a workable suggestion for this, to find a way that will leave little to no doubt about what a person would want should they ever become incapacitated and incapable of voicing their own wishes. It could be something where life insurance companies include a section on "end of life" before granting an insurance so that people are forced to think about it, discuss it and have it on record.
A great many people have indicated that they feel the need for a living will now, but I do fear that since it's a voluntary act to have one, many will end up not having one on record.
To reiterate, I really don't think there was a conspiracy or breakdown of the system because if you 'err on the side of life' in all cases where there is a dispute, there will be people who are kept alive even if they had written wishes that stated they wouldn't want to be, because all it would take is a family member that disagrees.
I honestly believe it's much more important to find a way so that a court will rule on a medical diagnosis that is proven to be accurate and irrefutable (by running more, or more extensive tests, etc).
Unfortunately I think everyone should also come to the realization that it's impossible in rare situations like this to always reach a satisfying conclusion. Someone will always in a dramatic way loose.
(Note: the last paragraph does not apply to Terri since while I believe the system didn't break, I do believe not everything was done to show that one party or the other's arguements were irrefutably wrong)
I write about Terri in a number of different places--including in blogs I have here--but my actual main Terri blog is at Blogit, and you must be a subscriber to the bloging site to read more than a few words of it.
But a subscription is very reasonable (with different options on time-lengths), and it will allow you to write as many blogs as you want.
I think I might have been about the first person there to create a blog devoted pretty much to Terri and her situation, but there are other ones there, too, who have written from both sides of the coin.
Once subscribed, I would put the word Schiavo into the site search. Once the results come up, sort them by date, and you'll be given the latest ones at the top.
If you click on this link:
Terri Schindler-Schiavo, etc.
you will be taken straight to my blog, if you're already a logged-on subscriber. If not, you'll need to log on or subscribe before viewing much.
Once subscribed, you can view my blog and make comments about it.
You can also create a whole bunch of your own blogs.
Your blogs--depending on readership--actually pay you something.
Won't make you independently-wealthy (hasn't happened to me, anyway--though the experience has made me rich in the ways that count), but it's always nice to have a little pin-money, and it's a sign that you have a readership.
When you get there, check out how I do my blog-entries, and it will give you some ideas re: your own.
You can also visit my blogs here--especially, my main one called Baby Bear's Cozy Cave--and I wish you would so that we can be sure to stay in touch.
The etc. part of the title of my Terri blog means that this blog will also cover related cases, though its main focus is on Terri at this time.
What would really be delicious to me would be the chance to change the name of my blog to Terri Schindler, etc., because, at this time, it's one hyphen and seven letters too long for my personal tastes!
Keep up the wonderful work re: Terri! No matter what, this war isn't over until it has been won by OUR side!!!
Write On!
AJ :o)
WHY HAS NOT THE FACT STATED ON BLOGS FOR TERRI .COM THAT JUDGE GREER DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER SWORN OATH OF OFFICE WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA BE CONFRONTED? HOW CAN HE RULE FROM HIS BENCH. MY NEXT QUESTION IS HOW DOES THE U.S. HAVE THE MORAL AUTHORITY TO GO AROUND THE WORLD TRYING TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHO ARE UNDER DURESS WHILE TERRI IS UNDER SEVERE DURESS WITHIN THIS COUNTRY. IF TERRI CAN TALK AS SWORN IN COURT LAST NIGHT AND REPORTED THAT SHE CAN SWALLOW THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF HOMICIDE.
Yo, Suzanne, we're not giving up on Terri. We're still trying to convince the DCF and Governor Bush to act here. (Phone, people, phone! Email!) But I was afraid that if I waited, any news or rumor of Terri's death might be so devastating to the traffic at BlogsForTerri that we might lose all the networking opportunities to be involved in saving someone else's life, too. If we win, we'll be screaming hot for months to come. But if we lose this one, I don't want to lose the next one because I didn't get a conversation started.
I informed my husband that if he wrote a living will instructing doctors to starve him to death, that I would tear it up.
I can do it, you see: I have absolute power over him, to make him live or to make him die. The courts have decreed: he's my property.
My cats, no. I don't want to get arrested.
Baillie
As suggested, I'm asking myself "what was the twisted logic" present in this situation? More here:
http://skyanchor.blogspot.com/
I am very grateful to the Schindler's for their determination to fight for Terri's life, which has made her case become national news. Because of the Schindler's incredible courage many pro-lifers including myself have become aware of the horrifying mistreatment of mentally disabled people in hospitals- this is not the first case. Here is a case in Virginia almost identical to Terri's, involving a brain damaged man whose wife ordered his feeding tube removed.
Hugh Finn
We need to urge our lawmakers to pass legislation to protect the lives of our most helpless citizens.
Abortion has become a major issue in our elections because of the efforts of the pro-life movement. We need to make euthanasia an issue as well.
Here's an email I just sent to Gov. Bush:
-----------------------------
Dear Gov. Bush,
Thank you for trying so hard to save Terri Schaivo!
Please start immediately to issue pardons to anyone crossing Greer to save her. Make it clear to the police forces that they answer to the executives in their jurisdictions, not the courts.
The world is watching, and we need to let them know that America doesn't believe in killing the weak for convenience!!!
Urgently,
Sharon
--------------------------------
I'm afraid the mistake that's been made by the attorneys defending Terri is that they keep emphasising her religious beliefs. The emphasis should have been on her actual condition and the lack of any hard evidence that she would want a feeding tube removed.
I agree that her religious rights have been violated, but unfortunately we Christians are currently considered fair game by the media, "right to die" activists, and the left in general
You'd better believe the whole world is watching and I'm emailing every blog and person I know of (including in the U.K.)to forward the message to BOYCOTT FLORIDA TOURISM and PRODUCTS, effective immediately. This is an inhumane and despicable state. Cancel all travel plans to Florida NOW!
Why is it that we can't get a hold of anyone on behalf of Terri?
I know their all on their Easter weekend, and life or death issues don't mean a thing.
I don't even know how to get a hold of any one that is legally representing Terri.
My son who likes looking for loopholes in the law states, if you can't keep a person on water and food by artificial means, then it can't be illegal to give terri water through natural means.
Applause to the original post. I'm not giving up -- I've spent every spare minute this week calling the Governor (no answer, not even voice mail today) and DCF and writing news outlets and political leaders (and trying to recover from lack of sleep and emotional exhaustion) -- but simultaneously looking to the next step is the only thing that will keep me sane. I have been galvanized by this. The judiciary is out of control, and it's up to us to keep our numbers joined and active and turn Terri's suffering into a force for change, so someday American families can know they are safe from this insanity. I'm reading "Men in Black; How the Supreme Court is Destroying America." We should all read this book. I'm going to figure out how to make a web site and become a blogger, meanwhile anyone building a network of likeminded folks please add me to your list. badcat2@earthlink.net
Thank you all for stopping by and for the great comments. Please keep them coming. Some good ideas have been brought up; I think it will be a matter of figuring out in what order to organize and implement them. We will, of course, be posting our own thoughts in the coming days, so feel free to stop by again.
I, too, have been baffled and bewildered about the Elian Gonzalez case.
Why can't the attorney general of the U.S. do that now? Didn't Reno send federal marshals down there to get Elian in violation of a court's order?
Here in Madison, our cathedral burned down last week.
Our bishop----"in exile" at a nearby parish------ has been talking about Terry during our Triduum Liturgy. He has mentioned her at every Mass, and probably will tomorrow, too, I hope.
I said, "Pray for Terry," to some people I didn't know. They didn't have to ask which Terry I meant.
Terry was named after Theresa of Avila, one of the Doctors of the Church.
God bless.
All night long I've been thinking about Terri, crying for Terri and her family and wondering -- what in the heck am I going to be able to do something about this. This post and these comments have finally given me hope! I believe that nothing happens by accident. There are probably hundreds of Terri's every day that this happens to, that are killed without their consent, but never get national attention because they did not and do not have an incredible family like Terri's who fought tooth and nail to save their daughter and sister. I was amazed at their tenacity. What love -- anyone would be blessed to have parents and siblings like that. Now that the nation and the world are aware -- and awareness of a problem is ALWAYS the first step to a solution -- we can work on a solution together.
One commenter said that we should not criticize those who clamoured for the rights of convicted criminals -- it is true that many have been found innocent after the conviction. What we need to do is to find out what those who fought for the criminals' right did correctly and follow those steps when it comes to the non-criminal "death penalties." We have to be smart and focused. I am no lawyer, but I do have energy and the drive to make our voice be heard. I am a promoter for whatever I believe in and can point the way to those who have expertise. I can say to those who are still asleep or groggy, "Hey, wake up! You've got to read this, or hear this." I am one of many who can direct people to this cause.
Another thing to think about: Tonight on the Laura Ingraham show she talked about how we as a nation have gotten to think of judges as somehow the smartest and most revered of the land.
A caller asked why judges were never called publicly into question about their judgements. She said there is no reason for this, they just have never been approached. This shroud of sanctity around the blacked robed gods is something that only helps to continue the tryanny of the judicial system. Anyway, I am grateful that you guys are here and I am ready to hop on board to help in any way I can for the cause.
Crazy Diamond, I would love to have your e-mail address. You have the voice of reason, optimism and hope that I have been searching for through all this. Do you have a blog or website? Please let me know. If you don't you should. I would put in on my desktop as must read. I love what you said: "If you can give words to the formless disgust they're feeling, we might get enough people understanding the issues to make the difference." While people are feeling this disgust and hopelessness/helplessness is the best time for us to say, "Here -- here's what you can do, here's what we can do, to make sure there is never another Terri Schiavo." Thank you! Beth
I just posted a comment but it didn't show up? What did I do wrong? I really like this blog and I want to be able to participate. Thanks, Beth (bethtopaz@yahoo.com)
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