The Terri Schiavo Case
I have read and listened with great interest to the Terri Schiavo drama that is being played out. I have read others journals about this, and now feel that I will add my 2 cents worth. I am making this a public post, so hopefully others will comment as well as those on my friends list.
I think what is happening is a total travesty. This woman made her feelings known to her husband before this happened to her. What this proves is that we need to have in writing what we want to happen to us, if God forbid, something like this should indeed happens to us. A living will, a medical power of attorney, and letters to our doctors and our family or friends are apparantly an abolute must. As a member of the Live Journal Community, I am telling you all right now, that I do not want any mechanical means used to keep me alive. I do not want any kind of feeding tubes or hydration tubes. If it is my time to die, so be it. Let me go.
For this to be played out in the media and in state and federal courts and legislatures is to me an embarassment. For the Congress of the United States to be doing what they are is a total violation of a person's right to privacy. To me, the government is way too involved in trying to find out what we do, as individuals. As far as I know, the Constitution of the United States guarantees us the right to that privacy. I am very scared as to what this could mean in the future. As a gay male, I feel intruded upon by the government and the "right wing conservatives" in the government. Now, before anyone starts bashing me for being gay, let me also add that I am a Christian. I attend church, I teach Bible study, and I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Because you see, the Jesus I know loves everybody, just as we all should if we are indeed followers of His. Just remember that song that I think we all heard and maybe learned as a child- "Jesus Love Me this I know, for the the Bible tells me so." Let me also add, that I am a proud member of the National Rifle Association also. So you see, I have varied interests and ideals.
I have heard and read about people talking about this being a "right to life" issue. I think this is the furthest thing from the truth. Life to me is being able to enjoy the world that we live in. That is what I call QUALITY OF LIFE. This woman, Terri Schiavo, does NOT have that. What to me is being argued is the QUANTITY OF LIFE. The number of years that we have to spend on the planet. These are two different aspects all together. I think that if we all had the choice, we would take a quick and hopefully painless death than to lay in suffering. I have lost both of my parents, one with a long death, the other very quick. Believe me, watching someone you love dearly waste away is horrible. I ended up praying for my mother to be released from her suffering, knowing that she would be at peace. I know that she felt that way too, as we talked about these things. And her doctor knew that under no circumstances were any mechanical means to be used to extend her quantity of life.
I guess I should end this, or I am really going to take up a lot of space on my friends page. To me here is what should be done in this situation. I know that many of you have many different beliefs and I respect and admire all of them. I ask you to pray to whatever you call your Supreme Being and ask that this woman be allowed to die, to be released from her suffering and to let the circus, that I do not believe that she would want, to come to an end.
I think what is happening is a total travesty. This woman made her feelings known to her husband before this happened to her. What this proves is that we need to have in writing what we want to happen to us, if God forbid, something like this should indeed happens to us. A living will, a medical power of attorney, and letters to our doctors and our family or friends are apparantly an abolute must. As a member of the Live Journal Community, I am telling you all right now, that I do not want any mechanical means used to keep me alive. I do not want any kind of feeding tubes or hydration tubes. If it is my time to die, so be it. Let me go.
For this to be played out in the media and in state and federal courts and legislatures is to me an embarassment. For the Congress of the United States to be doing what they are is a total violation of a person's right to privacy. To me, the government is way too involved in trying to find out what we do, as individuals. As far as I know, the Constitution of the United States guarantees us the right to that privacy. I am very scared as to what this could mean in the future. As a gay male, I feel intruded upon by the government and the "right wing conservatives" in the government. Now, before anyone starts bashing me for being gay, let me also add that I am a Christian. I attend church, I teach Bible study, and I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Because you see, the Jesus I know loves everybody, just as we all should if we are indeed followers of His. Just remember that song that I think we all heard and maybe learned as a child- "Jesus Love Me this I know, for the the Bible tells me so." Let me also add, that I am a proud member of the National Rifle Association also. So you see, I have varied interests and ideals.
I have heard and read about people talking about this being a "right to life" issue. I think this is the furthest thing from the truth. Life to me is being able to enjoy the world that we live in. That is what I call QUALITY OF LIFE. This woman, Terri Schiavo, does NOT have that. What to me is being argued is the QUANTITY OF LIFE. The number of years that we have to spend on the planet. These are two different aspects all together. I think that if we all had the choice, we would take a quick and hopefully painless death than to lay in suffering. I have lost both of my parents, one with a long death, the other very quick. Believe me, watching someone you love dearly waste away is horrible. I ended up praying for my mother to be released from her suffering, knowing that she would be at peace. I know that she felt that way too, as we talked about these things. And her doctor knew that under no circumstances were any mechanical means to be used to extend her quantity of life.
I guess I should end this, or I am really going to take up a lot of space on my friends page. To me here is what should be done in this situation. I know that many of you have many different beliefs and I respect and admire all of them. I ask you to pray to whatever you call your Supreme Being and ask that this woman be allowed to die, to be released from her suffering and to let the circus, that I do not believe that she would want, to come to an end.