Tannishblog

Dear Robert and Mary Schindler,

How many time can you hear the word “no” and refuse to accept this? Exactly what part of “no” do you not understand?

From the NY Times:
Speaking to reporters Tuesday night, Governor Bush said, “Tomorrow’s the day. If it doesn’t happen then, I don’t believe there’s any other legislative fix that is possible.”

Mrs. Schindler, pausing briefly as she arrived at the hospice here in the late afternoon, said: “Please, senators, for the love of God, I’m begging you, don’t let my daughter die of thirst.”

But State Senator Tom Lee, Republican of Brandon and the president of the Senate, said he regretted that some of his members were under attack by “people who want to demonize and vilify them,” and he would not pressure them to change their votes.

“I think with every day that passes,” he said, “there is less likelihood there is going to be a legislative or legal remedy that can save Terri Schiavo’s life.”

While I understand and empathize with your pain, I do not understand your reactions to it. I am far enough removed to see that the duration of your suffering is a result of your own unwillingness to accept a difficult reality. If all this had happened 100 years ago, Terri would have died shortly after her stroke. Medical science wasn’t then up to the task of keeping her alive. A century ago, your options would have been limited to prayerful vigils until she passed. You would have asked God why, you would have picked up your life and moved on, as all people must do in the face of insurmountable tragedy.
Because of the miracle that is modern medicine, Terri, Michael, and yourselves have been suffering needlessly for fifteen years. Because of the false hope that a medical breakthrough or some other miracle will fix your daughter. This will not happen. It is time to move on, time to pray, time to begin the long healing process. Count your blessings; you still have family, friends, and a growing community of empathetic strangers who are all willing to help you heal. Take advantage of these gifts, for gifts they are, and realize what you already know in your hearts: God works in mysterious ways.

If I were Judge James D. Whitmore, I’d be asking the State of Florida for some protection. The NY Times has plastered his picture onto its latest piece on the Schiavo debacle. Now any murdering madman can find him on the street and try his luck. This, I feel, is irresponsible. Are we, by the end of the week, going to list all the judges that have “wronged” Robert and Mary Schindler? A firing squad would be more humane; at least then they would not have to look over their shoulders for weeks to come. I know - I’m old-fashion, expecting the media to think of consequences, how silly! Despite frequent disappointments, I expect most of humanity to think of the consequences of their actions before they act.

How Victorian of me!

It seems that the “Wild West” of the internet, as evidenced by the rise of the untamed blogger, is now being tamed. The first shots have been fired at the unshaven wrangler-bloggers as Google takes a hit from the French Media. More is sure to follow as MSM struggles to re-assert its dominance.

The weather report says a 80% chance of a flurry of lawsuits…

Badtux the Snarky Penguin finds a good one: I wish I thought of that!

By now you’ve heard about the cheese sandwich with the image of the virgin Mary. Weirdness, huh? Now we have (for your religious titliation) a turtle who survived a fire that destroyed nine businesses and offices in Indiana. The turtle, named Lucky, seems to be doing all right, except for the “image of Satan” on its shell. Look for yourself. I see only a trick of the light. In a world seemingly full of weeping virgins, this is a new twist. But I must ask; just how gullible are we supposed to be?

Did Terri Schiavo vote republican in the last two elections? There are thousands of people dying in hospitals this weekend, what makes Terri’s case so political? My guess is that Terri’s parents gave money to RNC last year. Why else would this become such a political farce? If  Terri was Democratic Muslim, would they care as much? 

Tom DeLay said: ”We should investigate every avenue before we take the life of a living human being. That is the very least we can do.”

Scott McClellan, said: “Everyone recognises that time is important here. This is about defending life.”

Bill Frist said he is committed “to see this legislation pass and give Terri Schiavo one last chance at life.”

Speaking of Persistent Vegetative State, our favourite Shrubbery is leaving the ranch early to add spectacle to this debacle. SHEESH! As I mentioned before, this fervour has nothing to do with Terri and Michael’s perceived rights. It’s about forcing right-wing “morality” on the defenceless.

Too bad they don’t have the same “ethics” when dealing with the Iraqis or Afghans. Defending life overseas just isn’t so important to our leaders.

I’ve always phant’sied* myself a writer. I even wrote a novel-length manuscript once; the story embarrasses me, now. Back in the Paleolithic, when I was in 9^th grade, an English teacher had us all write on an index card what we wanted to be “when we grew up”. At the end of the school year, she showed us her favourite answers, of which mine was one. I had written that I wanted to be a “Wrighter”. I still can’t spell too goodly, but modern software helps hide my ignorance. Well… maybe not.

Blogging feeds the writer in me. Frustrated for decades, my muse has had to make do with inventing cutting remarks and insults, blindsiding innocents and perpetrators indiscriminately. You’ve noticed that, you say. Now, I can attempt to restrain my muse with more socially acceptable writing practices. That’s right, just like your doctor, I am practising on you. I promise I won’t charge you anything for the dubious pleasure of being my sounding board.

Also, writing is cathartic. As I practice my meditation, I have become aware of the vast quantities of garbage that has been recirculating in my cranium. Time to purge myself of these poisonous humours, bleeding thoughts onto a virtual page. Ah, I feel better already. Biz Stone says that bloggers are smart, that the longer we blog, the smarter we become due to the writing process itself. My ego likes that idea. I can go from smart-ass to smart just by typing? Cool!

As with any practice, mistakes will be made: my writing voice must be polished over time, and the blog itself will settle down eventually. I thank you in advance for your patience, as I encourage you to leave your comments. Writing in a vacuum will not improve this experience for anyone. So c’mon, people, let’s blog!

* Thank you, Neil Stephenson, wherever you are.

Terri Schiavo is not really living. She had expressed to her husband that she does not want to be kept alive by machines. Her parents cannot accept this, and in a style that speaks volumes about the Christian mind-set, has turned everyones life into a living hell trying for ten years to get their way. This case is not about morality, it is about selfishness and self-righteousness.

• The patient wants to be let go.
• The husband sides with the patient.
• The doctor sides with the patient.
• Finally, the court sides with the patient.

There is a “Quality of Life” issue that is being ignored by the patient’s parents. This fight is not about legality, it’s about forcing the parents brand of morality on their adult daughter who had already expressed her opinion about being kept alive. I’m sure it is a hard lesson for the parents to learn, but their daughter is an adult, has been for some time; she has more right to speak for her body and for her life then they do. There comes a point in any parents life when they are through raising their child, when all lessons are wrapped up and the child, now an adult, must be let to fly in their own. For Terri, this point has long been past.

When are people like Terri’s parents going to realize that not all humans need to think as they do, that such diversity of philosophy is a good thing for humanity. I ,for one, am quite weary of being force-fed Christian morality. Not every American is Christian! Not all Christians agree with each other! There is no perfect answer to all of life’s problems. Go ahead, scour your bibles all you want, I’m betting there’s no mention of feeding tubes. Let the poor woman die, for Christ’s sake and for the sake of Terri and Michael.

Terri, we wish you the gentlest of passing. May you find all your hopes fulfilled on the other side.

A South Dakota couple is marketing candles that allegedly smell like Jesus. I understand there is a huge market for Christian iconography, but I don’t get the spiritual connection implied here. I can’t fathom how a candle’s scent “…provides a really new dimension to one’s experience with Jesus.” At $18 a whiff, couldn’t at least some of the money go to charity? That would be a Christian thing to do.

A poignant, if lenghty account of human tragedy.